I didn't see this posted yet. Looks like the 2014 Yamaha's are just getting the BNG treatment. WTF. I was planning on trading my 848 in on an all new R6. Maybe I should thank them for saving me money. Maybe next year. http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport/products/modeloverview/cat/2014/58/model_overview.aspx
The R6 has been basically the same for 8 years and exactly the same for 6 now. I guess it's still working but definitely boring, and sad. I'm interested to see if what Suzuki does for the next GSX-R1000. I don't think there are any changes for 2014 but maybe next year?
Their 2014 GSXR 1K 50th anniversary is BNG and polish. I'm thinking there's nothing new on their front either, dammit.
Honda needs to bring back the Superhawk with FI and the CBR1K with TC and +25 hp. Oh, and take that sweet 450 motor and make an aluminum framed street-legal motard, Mkaaaay. That's not too much to ask, is it?
Remember the good old days, when people bought all the new models from their local dealers, instead of driving 800 miles to save $200?
It is what it is. I mean look at the %age of inflation on the price of a new bike compared to that of a new car. The MSRP on new bikes have jumped up quite a bit in less than 10 years.
Especially sport bikes, but that's because they seem to have to totally upgrade every three years or so.
The new FZ-09 is awesome and cheap. The Supersport bikes segment is losing ground to nakeds and adventure touring. This is where the manufacturers are investing their R&D.
Because $11,000 600's and $14,500 1000's are a tough sell once the customer prices full coverage insurance.
on the "bright side".. my spares bins have been full of useable r6 parts for some time now No need to sell off/give away the outdated parts and scramble to re-stock. And for those spares ya do need, they are at least usually readily available for a decent price. Unlike a part that only had a 2 yr production run. Again.. just a "glass half full" perspective.
That is back when improvements were easy to come by...the bikes are getting to be so refined now that there isn't much more to do for the average street rider, keeping in mind the percentage of bikes sold actually hit the track is very, very small. JMO
That and the resale of "your" clapped out, smoking pile of motorized monkey shit stays a bit higher. No need to lose as much cash when (and if) you go to sell.
The two year cycle was definitely nuts; four year seemed about right. What's interesting though is how models are getting prioritized nowadays. A buddy who runs a Suzuki dealership was just telling me how they ordered 6 DRZ400sm's this year but only received three - and those sold right away. Now they have a waiting list and none to sell. He also talked about riders wanting to buy standards and 'retros' that are few and far between, and how the more transformer-looking standards haven't been getting the action they expected. Perhaps the Japanese OEMs should consider bringing back some of the mainstays for a bit - Superhawks, ZRXs, etc. Bikes where the tooling's been paid for and modest updates would make them desirable to the market. Especially when sportbike prices continue to go through the roof while sales drop.
Tell me about it, I went up to the suzuki dealership to see if they had a left over DRZ400SM and they guy laughed. Smokin' deals on Hayabusas and GSXRs but he said he sells the SMs faster than he gets them. He gets calls from all over looking for 'em.
