Maybe the crisis is $100 cell phone bills with $1100 phones and $6 lattes and $17 a month game pass and $16 Disney Plus, $7 Net Flix… damn did I just spent $200 a month? I could have a Ducati with insurance. The crisis is people want to afford everything… my dad had a Harley and none of that sh*t. I have two bikes instead of more new junk, and gas money instead of another trip flying somewhere. Just choose bikes!
@@streetsandpeaks3013I never understood the phone problem. People need to start realizing there is no difference between prepaid phone carriers like boost cricket google fi. And the top brands like Verizon’s At and t and t mobile. I spend 43 dollar a month for unlimited everything and I’m good. So would always recommend people going that route
@@streetsandpeaks3013interesting math you have there… it’s almost like you ignored a global crisis and blamed people buying phones (something you cannot live without) and a bit of take away food, for being affected by a global cost of living crisis.
@ I am commenting on society accepting the cost of these things “you cannot live without”. Real estate increases are real. But we cannot live without a $1000 iPhone? A $6 Latte? Really? I have a 20 year old son who afforded his own bike. Like Yammy said, the cost of bikes is keeping pace with wages and at 3.9% lending rates, people can afford them if they want to finance them. What I also said is that a Yamaha is the same price as a Ducati now…there is no reason Japanese bikes increased in price at a higher rate than Ducati’s of all bikes. The point is, bikes are still far more affordable than cars or purchasing homes.
We have less of a "motorcycle luxury" issue and more of a "luxury motorcycle" issue. Even the beginner bikes are loaded with stuff that you don't need but you have to pay for it.
@@MrKillervincent I bought one at the Triumph dealer over here and I saw 5 other people checking out the Speed 400 and ignored pretty much every other bike on the floor. The salesman told me they are already on their third order. They had 15 on their first order and that didn't even fulfill all their deposit orders. I am seeing more REs on the road as well.
In the UK, if we want to start at 17, we have to do a CBT, then an A2, then a full A (unrestricted) license. It can cost around £1400 JUST to have a license? Then you get shafted by insurance prices, bike prices, then tax!
That licensing cost sucks, but its honestly a good thing. Here in the US when I got my motorcycle license in 2008 all I had to do was pass a written test and I was free to ride any bike in the world. It makes for a lot of really careless new riders buying R1's as their first bike and throwing themselves into street signs.
What is insurance cost in the uk? In germany i pay about 350€/year for the 07 ZX 6R, taxes are about 2,50 € per 25cc here. A buddy of me owns a S1000RR and he pays about 1k full coverage for it
100% agree. EFI but no further. No launch control or GPS. No bluetooth or riders aids...it watered down what it means to ride a motorcycle. With all the farkles and gizmos it's just a 2 wheeled car at that point.
@@stewie84 Yeah? Boycotting them in the West will have no effect on their sales elsewhere. If they don't make a profit, they'll simply stop supply to that region.
It’s all a matter of personal perspective. I have been an avid motorcyclist for 52 years, and have owned around 40 nice, dependable and perfectly capable bikes. I have crossed the country 3 times on them so far, and done pretty much everything else that can be done on motorcycles, both on road and off, alone and 2-up with Wifey. And the most I ever paid for one was $3,900.00. That was pre-COVID, but thousands of nice, low mileage used bikes are still out there, and great deals still abound for the savvy shopper that knows what bikes are the best value.
@@user-bmw528it's possible. trading in, or selling bikes after a few months to a year, the bike doesn't lose much value or even make some profit if you are really savvy. I know a 27 year old kid who did this with around 15 bikes already.
I found this out when I bought my first bike this past summer. I'm in my 30's and had been wanting a bike since I was 18. I remember looking back then and seeing higher end bikes were sub $10k. Now oof some of them cost the same as a full car.
The biggest issue isn’t that prices are high… but that people are prepared to pay them. When I was a lot younger you had to be an absolute baller just to drive a BMW. There were literally only a handful in my entire area and when they rolled by we would stop in awe. Now 30 years later I see McDonald’s staff turning up to work in newish BMWs. Everyone is living their best life despite not really being at that level financially. Our parents drove modest cars, didn’t travel that far on holiday (if they went on holiday at all) and would carry a flask instead of buying a coffee on the road. Now that retailers know they can bleed us for so much they have pushed prices up to eye watering levels. We stop buying and prices will come down
One of the many reasons I started on a 150cc scooter. Was able to buy a nicely used scooter in my area for $350. Used that for 2 summers, saving money until I was able to buy a used 2016 Honda CTX700 for $2700. I recommend scooters for first time riders as they are cheap and easy to maintain, then when you have saved enough cash, upgrade to a bigger bike.
Yes, I started on a Vespa, I was filtering the other day on my Triumph, and thought, "good thing I learned that on the Scoot". I still have my BV 400 as my grocery/errands bike, no car.
@@grtbgf Lame? 😂 The most practical vehicle, period. We just don't have the landscape. I've done 600 mile trips on my BV 400, comfortable, easy to ride, storage, easy on gas. I know plenty of motorcyclists that own both. In the city, there's nothing better.
I agree. I bought a bike that is capable of going all around the world twice in a dependable manner, 7 years old but only 16k on it and hardly a mark, it has super handling, 120bhp, FOR £7,500. In 1983 my dad, RIP, bought an MZ East German 150 cc which would have fallen apart at 30k miles, and had terrible electrics and was always giving problems in the winter. Very basic tyres that offered low grip and very poor drum brakes. It was, in terms of his salary, and adjusting for inflation, as expensive as my purchase.
It is why it’s best imho to buy one and take care r it and keep it. I have a 2015 KTM 1290 Super Duke R I purchased new in 2015. It is almost 10, will still do way more than I am capable of. Add the fact I am 66 and I sure don’t need anything better.
The economy taking a shit could also harken a renaissance of motorcycling, imagine if interest in motorcycling rekindled from people trying to save a buck, true mass adoption of bikes occurs in the USA, suddenly intensive investment in motorcycle manufacturing occurs and new threshold of speed, power, value, efficiency occurs
Hey yam, from India here.. So basically, all these really premium brands like Harley and Triumph and KTM have come to India and have done some colabs with Indian manufactures like Bajaj and Hero, and like over here, we get this Harley bike called the X440 for like 4000$ on road, and its good for upto 90mph.. and we all know the success story of triumph.. So me personally? I feel like manufactures are realising that the higher end of the market isnt that keen on a motorcycle, whereas u have some 25 year old who will put down the cash to buy a really fun and peppy bike and sell like 50000 of them every year
not having a ton of money for a motorcycle when I got back into it a couple years ago i bought a 2003 BMW F650CS for less than $2500. This bike while not the coolest checked all the boxes for me, fuel injection, ABS, and no chain to maintain (belt drive). I bought this bike after not having a bike for 25 years. My bike back then was a 1983 Kawasaki GPZ750.
Corparate Greed destroyed the motorcycle community. Companies keep raising prices to keep up with inflation, but don't want to pay their stafff any more and refuse to raise the pay to keep up with the price increases.
In my country if you look at Harley owners they are mostly directors, ceo's, dentists... harley in my country is basically unfordable for majority of working class. Cheapest harley is 18k. If you have money but also a family it's an expensive toy that will be used once a while during summer weekend. Majority of people are riding 10+ yo middle class bikes and 125cc (my 1st one was CB 125R used). Weather is also often factor... right now it's winter and I switch from my XSR to tram... it's not like california where you can ride whole year.
For the record… North America is a credit driven society. Our houses are mortgaged, we lease our cars and boats can be amortized to 20 years! Hell, we even load our Starbucks App with our credit cards via Apple Pay. So why is it even remotely surprising that we finance bikes we can’t afford cash? The crazy thing in Canada 🇨🇦 anyways, is that a Yamaha, KTM or a Triumph are all as expensive as a Ducati. Why not buy a Ducati? … and not for the crazy credit numbers you mention, why not buy one for 3.99%?! For under $150 a paycheque you can ride around on a Ducati bro. Or better yet, how about a KTM off brand like Husqvarna or Gasgas 700?? Guess what, they are already on sale for thousands off thanks to their parent company woes. I picked up a new GasGas ES 700 for $12K CDN while the same KTM 690 was almost $17K…the same bike and I don’t even like orange! The bigger question is moto is so cult … why do 20 and 30 somethings order $40 Skip the Dishes lunches daily and buy $1100 iPhones instead of buying new bikes??? I’ll age myself here … when I was young, I chose to spend less money on food and beer and rent just so I could ride. Same story at 55 (cue Gen X comments) … I have a nice modest house, I have money for my kids to go to college if they want to, and a midsize truck. Moderation young people … less really is more. More motorcycles!! 🤘🏼
I think a more accurate feel of how our economic system works is to play two games of Monopoly. In the first one, play from the beginning and see how well you do. In the second one, start in the middle of the game when everyone else has already bought up all the property. I'm Gen X; everything we had was ridiculously cheap and easy. Rent, education, transportation, even dating was all mostly "just show up and you'll be fine." That's not what Mills and Gen Z is seeing.
Well, it's bloody simple and motorcycles are just one of the many examples of the trend: over time less people accumulate more wealth, so the average purchase power drops. You have less and less pople that can afford mid and high range goods, with a small group that can afford more and more. Second Gilded Age, plain and simple. You can see the same thing in the UK.
It's not that motorcycle are unaffordable, it's that cars are way too cheap. If cars were actually charged with how much infrastructure they required instead of being heavily subsidized, then you'd see motorcycles being used much more than cars.
I bought 2 new bikes in the 80s, a 1981 KZ 750 and a 1987 CBR 600F. Both of those bikes were best in class in terms of performance. Adjusted for inflation, the prices of those bikes is comparable to what you can get today, although the Kawasaki at, I believe, $2750 was a particularly good bargain, probably in no small part because the engine was basically a punched out KZ 650. Despite having no money in the 80s, I was able to get my hands on those bikes. Today, a bleeding edge middleweight bike just feels a lot harder to reach. I guess it's a good thing I'm an old man now and not so hellbent on min/maxing.
Look at aviation if you want to see the effect of a shrinking market and reducing the supply of new models. The 30 year old Cessna training plane that sold for $20k 20 years ago is now a 50 year old plane going for $120k.
Here in the UK, younger riders face expensive training, huge Insurance and the inconvenience of poor weather...So hard for entry folk. Often taking up driving cars later in life.
Bikes as a flex are only maybe a flex for other riders. To the rest of the non riding world any bike is a flex. Younger people are struggling to make payments on 15 year old Civics. The last thing on their mind is a vehicle they won't use year round but have to pay on year round.
Most people hate driving as it is.. so you have to convince them that having zero protection, a good chance to die and a small bucket of money needing to be set on fire as well as a bunch of extra licensing steps are a good idea.
I despise driving, so I try and ride as much as possible. But when I am lane filtering and I see people smoking joints, on their cell phones, eating and grooming it makes me wonder if riding is the safest option.
@@christopherking9338 ditto. I pay $200 a month for my motorcycle including payment and insurance... compared to almost every car possible, the payments are usually $300+ and then you have insurance.
In the UK you could, up until 1983, go out and buy a 250cc motorcycle and ride it on learner plates. Two stroke 250s, such as the Yamaha RD could easily out accelerate nearly every car around. Pass your one part test and you could choose any bike. Not the same now. And those who bought the more powerful bikes did so because it was their only form of transport, not as a fun toy in addition to a car. The world has changed. Bikes are better than ever, but fast ones are unavailable to teen rebels without jumping thru hoops to pass various tests. The market is no longer there.
My first bike (not moped - Garelli step-through BTW) was a very secondhand MZ TS250. 250cc single 2 stroke in 1981. Even that could out accelerate most family cars on the road. It even had a welded on spanner and bolt for the gear lever! That was something I found out when I wanted to take the side case off 😂
@dowster64 Sounds like you had a deluxe model! I remember the MZ bikes. I worked with a guy who had one. He was always extolling the virtues of them. On first seeing one I thought "Fck me. Looks like it's been fabricated out of a dustbin and scaffolding pipes."
Its the entire reason why ive exclusively ridden scooters since i got my license 8 years ago, add the insane tax that the government has on any mode of transport here, and something like my Downtown 350 starts at around 10k USD, and its one of the cheaper scooters at its displacment
Good thing is we have used Japanese bikes which run and will run for a long time. I ride an '02 VFR, 90k km and I'll use it for as long as I want to ride. I put 33k km on it in less than 4 years without any serious issues.
Eight years ago I bought a 2007 VFR800 with only 7500 miles. I loved that bike, I rode it across the country and all over my area, the engine especially was incredible. Sadly she died when a deer ran in front of us and I could not avoid hitting it. To me it's a benchmark motorcycle, it had everything: fantastic engine, superb handling, comfort (once you upgraded the stock seat), looks. I hope you enjoy yours for many years to come.
Great video! I really like the way you present the material - everything is clear, understandable and professional. Keep making us happy with your work!🍋🦮🪱
Another thing about paying the high motorcycle prices is that, unless you live somewhere like Florida, you can only ride about half of the year because of weather and temperatures.
@@tomblewomble3369yes plenty of people do. But when bikes are view has a luxury and not alternative transportation in the state. Because of that less people will be willing to ride in the cold.
Give me my '13 GSXR-750, and I'm fine. Fast enough for thrills, safe enough even without all the nanny options that just increase the cost on not only initial purchase, but maintenance as well. I don't know who the hell can afford to purchase a Panigale or a M1000RR in their 20's/30's without sacrificing other aspects of their lives to the detriment of their financial wellbeing. Even if they can, is it even worth it? Is there much of a difference between 180mph and 200mph? For me, it's taking a nice sweeper leading into a hairpin, and I don't need a $40k or $50k bike that goes ~200mph to enjoy that ride.
I could not afford a new car. I really couldnt justify a used, questionably maintained, high mileage and overpriced used car. I bought a CRF300 rally. Its cheap to insure. It gets great mileage. It was a great and practical choice for me. I sunk a bit more cash into it to upgrade the suspension (and maybe a few other things). Still have ~9k in it all told. Plus its a swiss-army bike. It does everything and its great fun. Its loaded with features that you dont usually see at this price point. So, while motorcycling may look bleak in some aspects - it attracted me as a first time rider, because it was the most practical choice.
The proliferation of finance products in the EU and USA has added to the creep in new bike prices - few people really 'buy' a bike now and there's less emphasis on the screen price than there is on the monthly repayments. I got my first new bike in 2016 and it never really felt that it belonged to me - because it didn't.
Criminally excessive dealer mark-ups/fees, price gouging insurance companies, & a lack of interest by manufacturers in curbing that behavior accounts for the huge part of market loss. You go in for new Ninja 500 & the dealer wants to extort you with $1500-2000 “fees”. Then insurance companies wanna charge you rates within a hair of a 100+ horsepower super-sport.
I bought a dr650 new for 7800 yami now that u have a true dual sport u should cover some of the quick, cheap, insane reliability, and capable bikes that are the 650s. I'm 24 and took a month to research what I should get and the suzuki is best buck for value in my opinion. I thought about a tenure 700 but. For the dollar the suzuki reigns supreme in value and longevity 🎉
Outside the US, for example here in the UK, the other problem is storage. Not every house has a garage, hell, not every house has a driveway or a designated parking spot. That means insurance for those people is significantly higher. Here they have also increased the barrier to enter the bike market - you now need to pass three different tests to get an A2 licence.
Interesting would also be, how many bikes are in ownership? Do people keep their bikes longer? 1000cc sport bikes cost about the same as 20 years ago, considering inflation. But I wonder if the expensive middle class was a bet that didn't go as planned. I'd buy models like the new Honda Hornet 1000 for 10k, but I'd never buy middle class 660 RS for 11.5k, much less a 990 Duke for 12.5k, just because they try really hard to sell me a parallel twin with electronic features most people never need or just don't value the extra charge. And only because "noone needs 200+ hp" in a bike doesn't mean that noone wants 150+. For too long, the race for more hp was an exciting driver, so going back 25 years in power is not what I find attractive.
Affording a gallon of milk is becoming a luxury item too. Because the billionaires want it that way. People need to politically address the deflation of real wages over the last 40 years.
Motorcycles are all part of people rethinking car culture. As costs soar, if you are just moving yourself and a backpack, perhaps people might rethink their personal mode of transport. In particular as populations become more urban. A smallish machine that both zips through side streets and yet can still make an hour ride to the nearest town might appeal. But the luxury brands are indeed in trouble. KTM and Harley $ seem to bear this out. Motorcycle roots are in the affordable simple machines that work reliably.
I’d like to see companies offer trim packages on bikes. The bike you want, with basic level 1 equipment, or spec up to 2, get a color display with basic connectivity and a USB charger, spec up to 3 and get a quick shifter, dynamic stability control, cruise, heated grips, Apple CarPlay, etc.
Considering hondas cb500f only because of how much the price increase on thw nx is and how anything above 10k out the door is very unaffordable as a side vehicle. If I am broke enough I might just get the cb300r I originally planned on before finding a rebel 300 for cheap.
I have found that States often call the street moto a recreational vehicle, yet for me that would be a dirt bike, R.V., Snow mobile, 4 or 3 wheelers and such. But a street bike must have all this stuff like a vehicle. They even charge more for insurance to be on a moto and give little coverage. These dealerships that are upping the price for a commodity that is done by few is in part my opinion, why they jack up the prices. But also since COVID and the supply chain crisis they've continued to gouge the people because they keep paying the price. It isn't a lack of Moto's, but a trend that was pushed by Corporations. It'll change soon. 😎
Great vid yam! The issue is people have bought things they can't (or shouldn't be willing to) afford for far too long, leaving companies like Harley thinking they will be ok. But once the market is no longer buying, the companies will have to adjust to the market, like triumph is trying with the 400, or die. I say let it happen.
Im 40 yrs old been driving trucks for the last ten years but now buying a bike (250cc) for transport to and from truck driving job (9.7klm/6 miles) but im excited for my new bike getting delivered to my house this week. Coming in just $10,000 out of pocket (wife not happy lol)
I bought a new Suzuki GSX-8R this year. Out the door cost including 7% sales tax was a little over $10,000. It was definitely on the high end of what I wanted to pay. (I took Suzuki up on their 1.99% financing offer and kept the money I would have spent from savings in the bank where it was earning higher interest.) For me this bike has way more engine than I'll ever need; I could have bought something less powerful, but you've got to admit the GSX-8R looks pretty sweet. It's a very versatile bike that can be used for everything from grocery store runs to commuting to long distance touring. (It does need a better seat to be a competent tourer IMHO.) I'm hoping it, and other bikes at its price point and below are successful. And that the people who buy them learn to ride safely.
Couldn't agree with you more, although I just bought something I consider 'mid-market' - a new MT09 SP. I appreciate I'm in a fortunate position to be able to buy one without financing.
Fellow Brazilian here. It's very interesting how different motorcycle feels here in the US vs Brazil. I used to ride in Brazil to save money on fuel and taxes. Here in the US, it's just a hobby that i spend money on. In some ways, i miss some aspect of riding in Brazil.. that being that you almost didn't have to follow any rules... Lane splitting, running red lights, speeding, etc... no one cared. Of course, the accident rate there ... proportional to the lack of rules
I recently picked up a used XT225 for 1700 bucks which is a great price these days for any working motorcycle, but I plan to add a 2025 MT-07 to the stable not just because they finally gave it proper suspension, but because I want to help stimulate the market in hopes that others will follow suit.
I'm enjoying the new more sophisticated Yammie Noob content. So many other videos could spin out of this one. Here's an example of the challenges facing the industry; today I priced insurance for a 2022 MV Agusta F3 RR, $3900 a year for respectable coverage limits (not bare bones coverage)... More than double what I was already paying for three other bikes. Insurance is sky rocketing.
After commenting about the state of the current UK license system, there used to be a very easy pathway into biking. You could ride a 50cc moped at 16. I just did a (voluntary) off road morning training (very worth it) and away I went. Europe was very similar, even with smaller cc motorised bycicles I think for even younger riders.
I personally love the tech, the reality is that it doesnt add that much actual cost to toss in an IMU. Most of the rest of the tech is mandatory or dam near it. There's really not much other than traction controls/ABS and their cornering variants via IMU's (which can save your ass in those corners where it often goes wrong). Now if you start throwing in cameras and stuff then sure thats overkill but the rest is fine and really doesnt add much so quit pretending it does. If the manufacturer wants to charge ten times what it costs, then they are the problem, not the part. I'd gladly pay for the "SP" version of a bike to get the premium tech if it was available over a standard bike. I own a '24 390 duke that has more tech than a lot of liter bikes and I dont like the fact that if i "upgrade" im gonna lose a lot of awesome features.( And this bike is not expensive, esp considering how much better it is than its competition. Having said all that, if you want a bare bones bike with no traction control/abs/imu etc and if its legal where you are, let em sell it, but thats just askin for an accident from stupid things that this tech could prevent and I hope you pay thru the nose for insurance. I would definitely charge you more if you rode a bike like that.
Motorcycle companies use expensive parts. You don't need a $1500 rear suspension unit for an external reservoir with adjustments. Companies just choose to go with a basic spring or go all out for ohlins or something
You mean when taxes shift from the poor and middle class to foreign nations, driving up wages and bringing more production back to the US? How about we just tax you 90% on income and no tariffs? All while th countries you buy your crap from has massive tariffs in shit you produce, so you can't sell your product in foreign markets at all
Here in Aus, a Jacket, jeans & armour just cost me $500 on a Black Friday sale. Still need a helmet, gloves, boots; so there’s another $1k probably. Learners permit course costs $500, mandatory check ride $280, licence assessment course $320. So I’m in the hole over $2500 before I even consider buying a bike
Appreciate your videos Yammy! If you're ever around Tokyo and wanna go for a late night ride, let me know!
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It's not just buying them, it's servicing costs too. I was quoted around $400 to change the coolant. (And that's with the gas tank and all the plastics already removed)
You nailed it. I spent 10 years traveling to rural Nicaragua, and I watched the locals go from horseback to bicycle to motorcycles under 200cc. Out of necessity, there are mechanics all over and almost as many females as guys riding. Getting your bike repaired or serviced is fast, easy and cheap. Oil change on my Yamaha FZ 150 sportbike was literally $5.
Same here. Asked for a quote to change out my air filter. $280. I don’t even make that much in one day. I took a couple of hours on the weekend and did it myself!
@@byronn.2885because they aren't mass produced. The most expensive glass on your car is the smallest piece, the quarter glass on your back door. Because it's produced in the smallest numbers. Everything is like that.
Hmm 🤔. I’m 42 and have been riding since I was 8. Getting older I’ve always had and still just ride sport bikes. Currently my riding my 2024 ZX-10R and ZX-6R. Love both for different reasons. As long as you’re on two wheels, then F yeah! 🤘
I just bought a descent pedal bike for $500 but there were plenty for $2000 or more. A bike with 29 inch tires so much better than my 90s mountain bike. Bikes and motorcycles keep getting better. Honestly buying anything new are the best memories i’ve had especially when you pay cash. I currently ride a 2009 bmw r1200rt In 1981 I bought a new Honda cm400t for $1750 My dad lectured me for overspending. After 50,000 miles in three years it was ready for the graveyard. Now that I am old my perspective is that a bike is meant to be if it fits into your lifestyle. Don’t force it.
UK prices for used bikes are getting silly. And new bikes are starting to hit a standard of £9k+ Like my Indian scout 101 2025 was a pure luxury purchase for sure but my work bike was an overpowered used bike because for some reason the middle size bikes are too expensive now. I own a 1000cc cbf 2009 for £2.5k but couldn’t afford a 500cc because most even used start around £5k
Its killing the used market. I bought a vstar 3yrs ago used. I put 10k on it for a total of 28k miles and I listed it on marketplace and three guys wanted it and kept up the offers until I got 1800 more than I paid for it 3yrs later and almost triple the mileage. Because folks cant afford 16k as "entry" levle prices.
Vídeo correto em toda a linha. Tudo muito caro e ordenados baixos. Tudo somado torna-se impossível ter uma boa mota comprada nova num stand. Exelente vídeo. Abraço.
H-D.. nowadays the gliders look like tanks on 2 wheels. People who can afford them and want to actually ride them, can barely keep them straight at stop lights. My boss has one, so I got to test it. I almost managed to tip it. And I ride mx and enduro... My daily driver is a Buell. And took delivery 2 days ago on my new snowmobile :)
What I've noticed in the UK - How it was 10 years ago: Middle weight sports bikes ~ £6k to £7k, Superbikes £10k to £11k. vs. now: Middleweight sports bikes (entry level) ~ £7k to £8k or £10k to £13k for focused bike like the 600RR. Not much difference considering inflation. However superbikes, now £18k to £22k. I'm thinking about the cost of a Fireblade here vs. 10 years ago. This might be due to all the tech on board the bikes that just wasn't there 10 years ago. There did seem to be a bit of an arms race in the superbike market started by Ducati with the Pannigale. This might also be down to WSB homologation rules etc. The result is the new superbikes are beyond a lot of buyers and those that can afford them have to worry a lot more about theft. Insurance costs are high at the moment too. There is also a bit of the same trend seen in the car market - dealers persuading customers to accept higher sticker prices with finance and part ownership deals.
@@johnojoseph whilst I agree wholeheartedly with all of your points the biggest issue is that we the customer have been buying at these silly prices. If high prices are met then more higher prices are to come
As a motorcycles salesman, some of what you’re saying is true, some is not. The big four brands have pretty decent rates right now for people with good credit scores. I regularly finance bikes for people at 5-6% interest. There’s still a lot of people buying bikes, enough for me to pay bills 💵
I wouldnt buy the majority of bikes right now, they all seem about 2 grand more than what i see the value at. Its all the tech in the entry level stuff now. throttle maps, iphone size displays, ten levels of traction control, I always thought the draw to motorcycles was that they where inherently simple, powerful and cheap.
I know a lot of blue collar folks with $40K bikes. It makes me sad, but it’s true. It’s also true that a large portion of TH-cam is marketing. It’s not even grassroots marketing, but brand driven hype from the top.
I think as people get priced out of the car market, we might start seeing a more utilitarian motorcycle culture. A decent beginner bike with some bags can handle the majority of your suburban and urban transport needs, at least until you start popping out kids. Hopefully manufacturers realise this and start selling appropriate bikes where they're needed.
I'm from Kebec; motorcycle have always been a luxury. We can't ride for half the year and the government make it so that it is insanely expensive and time consuming to get your licence and to own a bike.
The MINIMUM price to get the license in germany (near Düsseldorf) to ride 1000+cc is at 2600+€. I think this is also a big stop sign in regards of affordability to many here.
I think the price of the r9, weather you like the bike or not, is a good direction and a good sign from Yamaha. Obviously other manufacturers have their own issues, but if other Japanese manufacturers start releasing bikes with better and better value, I think we’re headed in the right direction. A lot of it probably has to do with cf moto swooping in and picking up a portion of the already limited beginner bike demographic. I’m not the brightest person though, so I could be way off the mark.
Affordability crisis in literally everything right now. Especially in hobby and most people’s recreational vehicles
Yup. If you bought your house in 1990 for 100k and it’s paid off, you have disposable income for bikes, atvs, jet skis, etc.
Maybe the crisis is $100 cell phone bills with $1100 phones and $6 lattes and $17 a month game pass and $16 Disney Plus, $7 Net Flix… damn did I just spent $200 a month? I could have a Ducati with insurance. The crisis is people want to afford everything… my dad had a Harley and none of that sh*t. I have two bikes instead of more new junk, and gas money instead of another trip flying somewhere. Just choose bikes!
@@streetsandpeaks3013I never understood the phone problem. People need to start realizing there is no difference between prepaid phone carriers like boost cricket google fi. And the top brands like Verizon’s At and t and t mobile. I spend 43 dollar a month for unlimited everything and I’m good. So would always recommend people going that route
@@streetsandpeaks3013interesting math you have there…
it’s almost like you ignored a global crisis and blamed people buying phones (something you cannot live without) and a bit of take away food, for being affected by a global cost of living crisis.
@ I am commenting on society accepting the cost of these things “you cannot live without”. Real estate increases are real. But we cannot live without a $1000 iPhone? A $6 Latte? Really? I have a 20 year old son who afforded his own bike. Like Yammy said, the cost of bikes is keeping pace with wages and at 3.9% lending rates, people can afford them if they want to finance them. What I also said is that a Yamaha is the same price as a Ducati now…there is no reason Japanese bikes increased in price at a higher rate than Ducati’s of all bikes. The point is, bikes are still far more affordable than cars or purchasing homes.
We have less of a "motorcycle luxury" issue and more of a "luxury motorcycle" issue. Even the beginner bikes are loaded with stuff that you don't need but you have to pay for it.
Why I think Hondas new GB350 and the Triumph speed 400 will a d are selling like hotcakes
That's true and the reason you can't be competitive in motorcycle racing without all the new technology.
Just get a gsx-r600, 750, 1000
@@MrKillervincent I bought one at the Triumph dealer over here and I saw 5 other people checking out the Speed 400 and ignored pretty much every other bike on the floor. The salesman told me they are already on their third order. They had 15 on their first order and that didn't even fulfill all their deposit orders. I am seeing more REs on the road as well.
@@benjaminwiner6220yahh i dont want a crotch rocket. i just wanna chill city ride to work and chill cruise on the weekends..
In the UK, if we want to start at 17, we have to do a CBT, then an A2, then a full A (unrestricted) license. It can cost around £1400 JUST to have a license? Then you get shafted by insurance prices, bike prices, then tax!
But don’t you love your socialism??
That licensing cost sucks, but its honestly a good thing. Here in the US when I got my motorcycle license in 2008 all I had to do was pass a written test and I was free to ride any bike in the world. It makes for a lot of really careless new riders buying R1's as their first bike and throwing themselves into street signs.
@@stewie84I don't think they chose to be socialist
What is insurance cost in the uk? In germany i pay about 350€/year for the 07 ZX 6R, taxes are about 2,50 € per 25cc here.
A buddy of me owns a S1000RR and he pays about 1k full coverage for it
Don't forget to mention cbt 16, a2 19, and full licence 21, unless you miss a year then it's DAC at 24
Manufacturers just need to offer base models without all the farkles and nanny gadgets! It's a motorcycle! Just send it!
100% agree. EFI but no further. No launch control or GPS. No bluetooth or riders aids...it watered down what it means to ride a motorcycle. With all the farkles and gizmos it's just a 2 wheeled car at that point.
Boycott all vehicle buying for 3 months and we will suddenly see reasonable prices
In the automotive industry, something as short as a 3 month buying halt would definitely make a major cost change.
I’ve boycotted it my whole life. Hasnt done much.
Nah they'll just jack up the prices even more
@@stewie84
Yeah? Boycotting them in the West will have no effect on their sales elsewhere. If they don't make a profit, they'll simply stop supply to that region.
@@Mark-l9k9q that's why Ford doesn't give the US the cool hatchbacks.
Companies like Royal Enfield could really get a foot hold in the states due to their affordability.
It’s all a matter of personal perspective. I have been an avid motorcyclist for 52 years, and have owned around 40 nice, dependable and perfectly capable bikes. I have crossed the country 3 times on them so far, and done pretty much everything else that can be done on motorcycles, both on road and off, alone and 2-up with Wifey. And the most I ever paid for one was $3,900.00. That was pre-COVID, but thousands of nice, low mileage used bikes are still out there, and great deals still abound for the savvy shopper that knows what bikes are the best value.
Well said
…Not everyone needs or wants a $30K Beemer.
40 bikes in 52 years? lol
@@user-bmw528it's possible. trading in, or selling bikes after a few months to a year, the bike doesn't lose much value or even make some profit if you are really savvy. I know a 27 year old kid who did this with around 15 bikes already.
@@user-bmw528 I always kept more than one. Got 5 in the garage right now.
I found this out when I bought my first bike this past summer. I'm in my 30's and had been wanting a bike since I was 18. I remember looking back then and seeing higher end bikes were sub $10k. Now oof some of them cost the same as a full car.
Wait 'till you see what a new car costs today!
Which bike did you buy?
These crazy prices of new bikes have me eyeballing CFMoto's lineup.
Exactly what the communist government in China wants u to do
My greatest luxury hobby now is paying bills and rent. I am such a posh.
The biggest issue isn’t that prices are high… but that people are prepared to pay them. When I was a lot younger you had to be an absolute baller just to drive a BMW. There were literally only a handful in my entire area and when they rolled by we would stop in awe. Now 30 years later I see McDonald’s staff turning up to work in newish BMWs. Everyone is living their best life despite not really being at that level financially. Our parents drove modest cars, didn’t travel that far on holiday (if they went on holiday at all) and would carry a flask instead of buying a coffee on the road. Now that retailers know they can bleed us for so much they have pushed prices up to eye watering levels. We stop buying and prices will come down
BINGO !!!!!!!
One of the many reasons I started on a 150cc scooter. Was able to buy a nicely used scooter in my area for $350. Used that for 2 summers, saving money until I was able to buy a used 2016 Honda CTX700 for $2700.
I recommend scooters for first time riders as they are cheap and easy to maintain, then when you have saved enough cash, upgrade to a bigger bike.
Been on lambrettas for years...totally agree
Not to mention how easy they are to ride. Great for getting used to riding. Plus, I love scooters.
New scooters are criminally expensive as well these days.
Besides, they are lame.
Yes, I started on a Vespa, I was filtering the other day on my Triumph, and thought, "good thing I learned that on the Scoot". I still have my BV 400 as my grocery/errands bike, no car.
@@grtbgf Lame? 😂 The most practical vehicle, period. We just don't have the landscape. I've done 600 mile trips on my BV 400, comfortable, easy to ride, storage, easy on gas. I know plenty of motorcyclists that own both. In the city, there's nothing better.
I agree. I bought a bike that is capable of going all around the world twice in a dependable manner, 7 years old but only 16k on it and hardly a mark, it has super handling, 120bhp, FOR £7,500. In 1983 my dad, RIP, bought an MZ East German 150 cc which would have fallen apart at 30k miles, and had terrible electrics and was always giving problems in the winter. Very basic tyres that offered low grip and very poor drum brakes. It was, in terms of his salary, and adjusting for inflation, as expensive as my purchase.
MZ are used in Cuba to this day, the exact same ones from East Germany.
It is why it’s best imho to buy one and take care r it and keep it. I have a 2015 KTM 1290 Super Duke R I purchased new in 2015. It is almost 10, will still do way more than I am capable of. Add the fact I am 66 and I sure don’t need anything better.
The economy taking a shit could also harken a renaissance of motorcycling, imagine if interest in motorcycling rekindled from people trying to save a buck, true mass adoption of bikes occurs in the USA, suddenly intensive investment in motorcycle manufacturing occurs and new threshold of speed, power, value, efficiency occurs
What do I need to dial into the time machine to get to that reality?
Hey yam, from India here.. So basically, all these really premium brands like Harley and Triumph and KTM have come to India and have done some colabs with Indian manufactures like Bajaj and Hero, and like over here, we get this Harley bike called the X440 for like 4000$ on road, and its good for upto 90mph.. and we all know the success story of triumph.. So me personally? I feel like manufactures are realising that the higher end of the market isnt that keen on a motorcycle, whereas u have some 25 year old who will put down the cash to buy a really fun and peppy bike and sell like 50000 of them every year
In the US, well maintained top end bikes from a decade ago can be had for a few thousand dollars. We aren't required to get a small bike for cheap.
@@logangodofcandy again, i did mention india right.. So basically here the 400+ CC bikes are the premium bikes... and like those are really good
not having a ton of money for a motorcycle when I got back into it a couple years ago i bought a 2003 BMW F650CS for less than $2500. This bike while not the coolest checked all the boxes for me, fuel injection, ABS, and no chain to maintain (belt drive). I bought this bike after not having a bike for 25 years. My bike back then was a 1983 Kawasaki GPZ750.
Corparate Greed destroyed the motorcycle community. Companies keep raising prices to keep up with inflation, but don't want to pay their stafff any more and refuse to raise the pay to keep up with the price increases.
In my country if you look at Harley owners they are mostly directors, ceo's, dentists... harley in my country is basically unfordable for majority of working class. Cheapest harley is 18k.
If you have money but also a family it's an expensive toy that will be used once a while during summer weekend. Majority of people are riding 10+ yo middle class bikes and 125cc (my 1st one was CB 125R used).
Weather is also often factor... right now it's winter and I switch from my XSR to tram... it's not like california where you can ride whole year.
This was one of your best video's ever.
For the record… North America is a credit driven society. Our houses are mortgaged, we lease our cars and boats can be amortized to 20 years! Hell, we even load our Starbucks App with our credit cards via Apple Pay. So why is it even remotely surprising that we finance bikes we can’t afford cash? The crazy thing in Canada 🇨🇦 anyways, is that a Yamaha, KTM or a Triumph are all as expensive as a Ducati. Why not buy a Ducati? … and not for the crazy credit numbers you mention, why not buy one for 3.99%?! For under $150 a paycheque you can ride around on a Ducati bro. Or better yet, how about a KTM off brand like Husqvarna or Gasgas 700?? Guess what, they are already on sale for thousands off thanks to their parent company woes. I picked up a new GasGas ES 700 for $12K CDN while the same KTM 690 was almost $17K…the same bike and I don’t even like orange!
The bigger question is moto is so cult … why do 20 and 30 somethings order $40 Skip the Dishes lunches daily and buy $1100 iPhones instead of buying new bikes??? I’ll age myself here … when I was young, I chose to spend less money on food and beer and rent just so I could ride. Same story at 55 (cue Gen X comments) … I have a nice modest house, I have money for my kids to go to college if they want to, and a midsize truck. Moderation young people … less really is more. More motorcycles!! 🤘🏼
I think a more accurate feel of how our economic system works is to play two games of Monopoly. In the first one, play from the beginning and see how well you do. In the second one, start in the middle of the game when everyone else has already bought up all the property.
I'm Gen X; everything we had was ridiculously cheap and easy. Rent, education, transportation, even dating was all mostly "just show up and you'll be fine." That's not what Mills and Gen Z is seeing.
Tried to buy a new bike for 3 years but the budget just got sucked off by something else (basic living needs) You comments are right on the money:
Spring of 2025 will be the time to score great deals on used discretionary items. Motorcycles, boats, stereo components and the like.
The insurance and maintenance costs are killing me and I do 80% of the work on my bike by myself.
What bike?
..what bike and how old are you? Like, are you under 25 with a Ducati?
Well, it's bloody simple and motorcycles are just one of the many examples of the trend: over time less people accumulate more wealth, so the average purchase power drops. You have less and less pople that can afford mid and high range goods, with a small group that can afford more and more.
Second Gilded Age, plain and simple.
You can see the same thing in the UK.
It's like the game of Monopoly but in real life!
It's not that motorcycle are unaffordable, it's that cars are way too cheap. If cars were actually charged with how much infrastructure they required instead of being heavily subsidized, then you'd see motorcycles being used much more than cars.
I bought 2 new bikes in the 80s, a 1981 KZ 750 and a 1987 CBR 600F. Both of those bikes were best in class in terms of performance. Adjusted for inflation, the prices of those bikes is comparable to what you can get today, although the Kawasaki at, I believe, $2750 was a particularly good bargain, probably in no small part because the engine was basically a punched out KZ 650. Despite having no money in the 80s, I was able to get my hands on those bikes. Today, a bleeding edge middleweight bike just feels a lot harder to reach. I guess it's a good thing I'm an old man now and not so hellbent on min/maxing.
Look at aviation if you want to see the effect of a shrinking market and reducing the supply of new models. The 30 year old Cessna training plane that sold for $20k 20 years ago is now a 50 year old plane going for $120k.
Here in the UK, younger riders face expensive training, huge Insurance and the inconvenience of poor weather...So hard for entry folk. Often taking up driving cars later in life.
Minimum wage isn’t meant for adults to live on. It’s meant for high school kids
Bikes as a flex are only maybe a flex for other riders. To the rest of the non riding world any bike is a flex. Younger people are struggling to make payments on 15 year old Civics. The last thing on their mind is a vehicle they won't use year round but have to pay on year round.
My form of flexing is lane filtering during rush hours! Don’t matter which bike I’m riding.
@@matthewtrinh4872 yep....! 🤣
Most people hate driving as it is.. so you have to convince them that having zero protection, a good chance to die and a small bucket of money needing to be set on fire as well as a bunch of extra licensing steps are a good idea.
I despise driving, so I try and ride as much as possible.
But when I am lane filtering and I see people smoking joints, on their cell phones, eating and grooming it makes me wonder if riding is the safest option.
I'm so cheap my motorcycle is my only vehicle 😎💚😎
@@christopherking9338 ditto. I pay $200 a month for my motorcycle including payment and insurance... compared to almost every car possible, the payments are usually $300+ and then you have insurance.
In the UK you could, up until 1983, go out and buy a 250cc motorcycle and ride it on learner plates. Two stroke 250s, such as the Yamaha RD could easily out accelerate nearly every car around. Pass your one part test and you could choose any bike. Not the same now. And those who bought the more powerful bikes did so because it was their only form of transport, not as a fun toy in addition to a car. The world has changed. Bikes are better than ever, but fast ones are unavailable to teen rebels without jumping thru hoops to pass various tests. The market is no longer there.
My first bike (not moped - Garelli step-through BTW) was a very secondhand MZ TS250. 250cc single 2 stroke in 1981. Even that could out accelerate most family cars on the road. It even had a welded on spanner and bolt for the gear lever! That was something I found out when I wanted to take the side case off 😂
@dowster64
Sounds like you had a deluxe model! I remember the MZ bikes. I worked with a guy who had one. He was always extolling the virtues of them. On first seeing one I thought "Fck me. Looks like it's been fabricated out of a dustbin and scaffolding pipes."
"up until 40 years ago"😂
Its the entire reason why ive exclusively ridden scooters since i got my license 8 years ago, add the insane tax that the government has on any mode of transport here, and something like my Downtown 350 starts at around 10k USD, and its one of the cheaper scooters at its displacment
Good thing is we have used Japanese bikes which run and will run for a long time. I ride an '02 VFR, 90k km and I'll use it for as long as I want to ride. I put 33k km on it in less than 4 years without any serious issues.
Eight years ago I bought a 2007 VFR800 with only 7500 miles. I loved that bike, I rode it across the country and all over my area, the engine especially was incredible. Sadly she died when a deer ran in front of us and I could not avoid hitting it. To me it's a benchmark motorcycle, it had everything: fantastic engine, superb handling, comfort (once you upgraded the stock seat), looks. I hope you enjoy yours for many years to come.
Great video! I really like the way you present the material - everything is clear, understandable and professional. Keep making us happy with your work!🍋🦮🪱
I am a teacher. My students (high school students) are simple not interested in motorcycles.
Another thing about paying the high motorcycle prices is that, unless you live somewhere like Florida, you can only ride about half of the year because of weather and temperatures.
I ride all year around in London. Plenty of people do.
@tomblewomble3369 Here in the states, especially the northern states, it gets too cold and then there's the ice and snow.
I do all year in Utah. Most people in Utah live 10-20 miles from a ski resort. Weather is a bs excuse.
@Godric_71 it's been 0c here all week, though I appreciate the weather can be more extreme in the US.
@@tomblewomble3369yes plenty of people do. But when bikes are view has a luxury and not alternative transportation in the state. Because of that less people will be willing to ride in the cold.
Give me my '13 GSXR-750, and I'm fine. Fast enough for thrills, safe enough even without all the nanny options that just increase the cost on not only initial purchase, but maintenance as well. I don't know who the hell can afford to purchase a Panigale or a M1000RR in their 20's/30's without sacrificing other aspects of their lives to the detriment of their financial wellbeing. Even if they can, is it even worth it? Is there much of a difference between 180mph and 200mph? For me, it's taking a nice sweeper leading into a hairpin, and I don't need a $40k or $50k bike that goes ~200mph to enjoy that ride.
I could not afford a new car. I really couldnt justify a used, questionably maintained, high mileage and overpriced used car. I bought a CRF300 rally. Its cheap to insure. It gets great mileage. It was a great and practical choice for me. I sunk a bit more cash into it to upgrade the suspension (and maybe a few other things). Still have ~9k in it all told. Plus its a swiss-army bike. It does everything and its great fun. Its loaded with features that you dont usually see at this price point. So, while motorcycling may look bleak in some aspects - it attracted me as a first time rider, because it was the most practical choice.
The proliferation of finance products in the EU and USA has added to the creep in new bike prices - few people really 'buy' a bike now and there's less emphasis on the screen price than there is on the monthly repayments. I got my first new bike in 2016 and it never really felt that it belonged to me - because it didn't.
Brilliant analysis. Thank you for your content. Love the background music too. keep up the great work.
This basically goes for everything nowadays. Have you seen what cars/trucks are going for?
Criminally excessive dealer mark-ups/fees, price gouging insurance companies, & a lack of interest by manufacturers in curbing that behavior accounts for the huge part of market loss. You go in for new Ninja 500 & the dealer wants to extort you with $1500-2000 “fees”. Then insurance companies wanna charge you rates within a hair of a 100+ horsepower super-sport.
Simply wonderful! Thank you for your passion for what you do! 🔥😛
1000c bikes should be around 11k max. The all zx10r pr r1 or take all others
I bought a dr650 new for 7800 yami now that u have a true dual sport u should cover some of the quick, cheap, insane reliability, and capable bikes that are the 650s. I'm 24 and took a month to research what I should get and the suzuki is best buck for value in my opinion. I thought about a tenure 700 but. For the dollar the suzuki reigns supreme in value and longevity 🎉
Outside the US, for example here in the UK, the other problem is storage. Not every house has a garage, hell, not every house has a driveway or a designated parking spot. That means insurance for those people is significantly higher. Here they have also increased the barrier to enter the bike market - you now need to pass three different tests to get an A2 licence.
Interesting would also be, how many bikes are in ownership? Do people keep their bikes longer? 1000cc sport bikes cost about the same as 20 years ago, considering inflation. But I wonder if the expensive middle class was a bet that didn't go as planned. I'd buy models like the new Honda Hornet 1000 for 10k, but I'd never buy middle class 660 RS for 11.5k, much less a 990 Duke for 12.5k, just because they try really hard to sell me a parallel twin with electronic features most people never need or just don't value the extra charge. And only because "noone needs 200+ hp" in a bike doesn't mean that noone wants 150+. For too long, the race for more hp was an exciting driver, so going back 25 years in power is not what I find attractive.
Definitely a good topic. IDK about the industry's future. It doesn't look good. Bikes were never practical but now they're no longer cheap.
Affording a gallon of milk is becoming a luxury item too. Because the billionaires want it that way. People need to politically address the deflation of real wages over the last 40 years.
It's the constant tax cuts for the wealthy flowing all the cash to the top few percent....We'll have a "let them eat cake" moment soon enough....
Motorcycles are all part of people rethinking car culture. As costs soar, if you are just moving yourself and a backpack, perhaps people might rethink their personal mode of transport. In particular as populations become more urban. A smallish machine that both zips through side streets and yet can still make an hour ride to the nearest town might appeal. But the luxury brands are indeed in trouble. KTM and Harley $ seem to bear this out. Motorcycle roots are in the affordable simple machines that work reliably.
I was wondering when you'd get past that whole "Die Trying" idea. 😊(as someone with a cover up, I like how u did it.👍)
I’d like to see companies offer trim packages on bikes. The bike you want, with basic level 1 equipment, or spec up to 2, get a color display with basic connectivity and a USB charger, spec up to 3 and get a quick shifter, dynamic stability control, cruise, heated grips, Apple CarPlay, etc.
Considering hondas cb500f only because of how much the price increase on thw nx is and how anything above 10k out the door is very unaffordable as a side vehicle. If I am broke enough I might just get the cb300r I originally planned on before finding a rebel 300 for cheap.
I have found that States often call the street moto a recreational vehicle, yet for me that would be a dirt bike, R.V., Snow mobile, 4 or 3 wheelers and such. But a street bike must have all this stuff like a vehicle. They even charge more for insurance to be on a moto and give little coverage. These dealerships that are upping the price for a commodity that is done by few is in part my opinion, why they jack up the prices. But also since COVID and the supply chain crisis they've continued to gouge the people because they keep paying the price. It isn't a lack of Moto's, but a trend that was pushed by Corporations. It'll change soon. 😎
Great vid yam! The issue is people have bought things they can't (or shouldn't be willing to) afford for far too long, leaving companies like Harley thinking they will be ok. But once the market is no longer buying, the companies will have to adjust to the market, like triumph is trying with the 400, or die. I say let it happen.
Im 40 yrs old been driving trucks for the last ten years but now buying a bike (250cc) for transport to and from truck driving job (9.7klm/6 miles) but im excited for my new bike getting delivered to my house this week. Coming in just $10,000 out of pocket (wife not happy lol)
I bought a new Suzuki GSX-8R this year. Out the door cost including 7% sales tax was a little over $10,000. It was definitely on the high end of what I wanted to pay. (I took Suzuki up on their 1.99% financing offer and kept the money I would have spent from savings in the bank where it was earning higher interest.) For me this bike has way more engine than I'll ever need; I could have bought something less powerful, but you've got to admit the GSX-8R looks pretty sweet. It's a very versatile bike that can be used for everything from grocery store runs to commuting to long distance touring. (It does need a better seat to be a competent tourer IMHO.) I'm hoping it, and other bikes at its price point and below are successful. And that the people who buy them learn to ride safely.
Couldn't agree with you more, although I just bought something I consider 'mid-market' - a new MT09 SP. I appreciate I'm in a fortunate position to be able to buy one without financing.
Fellow Brazilian here. It's very interesting how different motorcycle feels here in the US vs Brazil. I used to ride in Brazil to save money on fuel and taxes. Here in the US, it's just a hobby that i spend money on. In some ways, i miss some aspect of riding in Brazil.. that being that you almost didn't have to follow any rules... Lane splitting, running red lights, speeding, etc... no one cared. Of course, the accident rate there ... proportional to the lack of rules
BRAZILL MENTIONEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
HELL YEAH
muitos amores do brasil aqui @Yammie Noob
I recently picked up a used XT225 for 1700 bucks which is a great price these days for any working motorcycle, but I plan to add a 2025 MT-07 to the stable not just because they finally gave it proper suspension, but because I want to help stimulate the market in hopes that others will follow suit.
I'm enjoying the new more sophisticated Yammie Noob content. So many other videos could spin out of this one. Here's an example of the challenges facing the industry; today I priced insurance for a 2022 MV Agusta F3 RR, $3900 a year for respectable coverage limits (not bare bones coverage)... More than double what I was already paying for three other bikes. Insurance is sky rocketing.
excellent retrospective, Sir Yam!
thank you!
After commenting about the state of the current UK license system, there used to be a very easy pathway into biking. You could ride a 50cc moped at 16. I just did a (voluntary) off road morning training (very worth it) and away I went. Europe was very similar, even with smaller cc motorised bycicles I think for even younger riders.
I personally love the tech, the reality is that it doesnt add that much actual cost to toss in an IMU. Most of the rest of the tech is mandatory or dam near it. There's really not much other than traction controls/ABS and their cornering variants via IMU's (which can save your ass in those corners where it often goes wrong). Now if you start throwing in cameras and stuff then sure thats overkill but the rest is fine and really doesnt add much so quit pretending it does. If the manufacturer wants to charge ten times what it costs, then they are the problem, not the part. I'd gladly pay for the "SP" version of a bike to get the premium tech if it was available over a standard bike. I own a '24 390 duke that has more tech than a lot of liter bikes and I dont like the fact that if i "upgrade" im gonna lose a lot of awesome features.( And this bike is not expensive, esp considering how much better it is than its competition. Having said all that, if you want a bare bones bike with no traction control/abs/imu etc and if its legal where you are, let em sell it, but thats just askin for an accident from stupid things that this tech could prevent and I hope you pay thru the nose for insurance. I would definitely charge you more if you rode a bike like that.
Motorcycle companies use expensive parts. You don't need a $1500 rear suspension unit for an external reservoir with adjustments. Companies just choose to go with a basic spring or go all out for ohlins or something
Just wait till the tariffs kick in!
You mean when taxes shift from the poor and middle class to foreign nations, driving up wages and bringing more production back to the US?
How about we just tax you 90% on income and no tariffs? All while th countries you buy your crap from has massive tariffs in shit you produce, so you can't sell your product in foreign markets at all
Here in Aus, a Jacket, jeans & armour just cost me $500 on a Black Friday sale. Still need a helmet, gloves, boots; so there’s another $1k probably. Learners permit course costs $500, mandatory check ride $280, licence assessment course $320. So I’m in the hole over $2500 before I even consider buying a bike
Appreciate your videos Yammy! If you're ever around Tokyo and wanna go for a late night ride, let me know!
It's not just buying them, it's servicing costs too. I was quoted around $400 to change the coolant. (And that's with the gas tank and all the plastics already removed)
You nailed it. I spent 10 years traveling to rural Nicaragua, and I watched the locals go from horseback to bicycle to motorcycles under 200cc. Out of necessity, there are mechanics all over and almost as many females as guys riding. Getting your bike repaired or serviced is fast, easy and cheap. Oil change on my Yamaha FZ 150 sportbike was literally $5.
Even just parts are crazy. My daughter bought a 2006 CBR600RR and the brake pads were more expensive than my F250.
Same here. Asked for a quote to change out my air filter. $280. I don’t even make that much in one day. I took a couple of hours on the weekend and did it myself!
@@byronn.2885because they aren't mass produced. The most expensive glass on your car is the smallest piece, the quarter glass on your back door. Because it's produced in the smallest numbers. Everything is like that.
@@Mikaeel84 To some degree yes. However there are many parts that are used over a large span of years which does create a more mass produced item.
Please do one on Harley and KTM.
I got my VersysX two years ago and it has been my daily for most of that time. I went 4 months when it was my only transportation.
Hmm 🤔. I’m 42 and have been riding since I was 8. Getting older I’ve always had and still just ride sport bikes. Currently my riding my 2024 ZX-10R and ZX-6R. Love both for different reasons. As long as you’re on two wheels, then F yeah! 🤘
Living in the West is becoming a luxury hobby.
Learning to work on your own bike can help keep riding affordable. Its helped me save thousands over the years.
I think the new Honda 1000 Hornet will be a game changer.
I just bought a descent pedal bike for $500 but there were plenty for $2000 or more. A bike with 29 inch tires so much better than my 90s mountain bike.
Bikes and motorcycles keep getting better.
Honestly buying anything new are the best memories i’ve had especially when you pay cash.
I currently ride a 2009 bmw r1200rt
In 1981 I bought a new Honda cm400t for $1750 My dad lectured me for overspending.
After 50,000 miles in three years it was ready for the graveyard.
Now that I am old my perspective is that a bike is meant to be if it fits into your lifestyle. Don’t force it.
I only care about bikes that cost less than $7,000.
UK prices for used bikes are getting silly. And new bikes are starting to hit a standard of £9k+
Like my Indian scout 101 2025 was a pure luxury purchase for sure but my work bike was an overpowered used bike because for some reason the middle size bikes are too expensive now. I own a 1000cc cbf 2009 for £2.5k but couldn’t afford a 500cc because most even used start around £5k
@@Ealdor-Bana you seen the prices for gsxr750 in the uk? Bonkers!
Cfmoto understands the assignment
Its killing the used market. I bought a vstar 3yrs ago used. I put 10k on it for a total of 28k miles and I listed it on marketplace and three guys wanted it and kept up the offers until I got 1800 more than I paid for it 3yrs later and almost triple the mileage. Because folks cant afford 16k as "entry" levle prices.
Nice little little history lesson. Good job
Your videos are not just entertainment, they are a source of inspiration and learning. Thank you for your hard work and dedication!🪃🦏😁
Vídeo correto em toda a linha. Tudo muito caro e ordenados baixos. Tudo somado torna-se impossível ter uma boa mota comprada nova num stand.
Exelente vídeo. Abraço.
H-D.. nowadays the gliders look like tanks on 2 wheels. People who can afford them and want to actually ride them, can barely keep them straight at stop lights. My boss has one, so I got to test it. I almost managed to tip it. And I ride mx and enduro... My daily driver is a Buell. And took delivery 2 days ago on my new snowmobile :)
What I've noticed in the UK - How it was 10 years ago: Middle weight sports bikes ~ £6k to £7k, Superbikes £10k to £11k. vs. now: Middleweight sports bikes (entry level) ~ £7k to £8k or £10k to £13k for focused bike like the 600RR. Not much difference considering inflation. However superbikes, now £18k to £22k. I'm thinking about the cost of a Fireblade here vs. 10 years ago. This might be due to all the tech on board the bikes that just wasn't there 10 years ago. There did seem to be a bit of an arms race in the superbike market started by Ducati with the Pannigale. This might also be down to WSB homologation rules etc. The result is the new superbikes are beyond a lot of buyers and those that can afford them have to worry a lot more about theft. Insurance costs are high at the moment too. There is also a bit of the same trend seen in the car market - dealers persuading customers to accept higher sticker prices with finance and part ownership deals.
@@johnojoseph whilst I agree wholeheartedly with all of your points the biggest issue is that we the customer have been buying at these silly prices. If high prices are met then more higher prices are to come
As a motorcycles salesman, some of what you’re saying is true, some is not. The big four brands have pretty decent rates right now for people with good credit scores. I regularly finance bikes for people at 5-6% interest. There’s still a lot of people buying bikes, enough for me to pay bills 💵
Great point!! Very thorough research!
I wouldnt buy the majority of bikes right now, they all seem about 2 grand more than what i see the value at. Its all the tech in the entry level stuff now. throttle maps, iphone size displays, ten levels of traction control, I always thought the draw to motorcycles was that they where inherently simple, powerful and cheap.
I know a lot of blue collar folks with $40K bikes. It makes me sad, but it’s true. It’s also true that a large portion of TH-cam is marketing. It’s not even grassroots marketing, but brand driven hype from the top.
Thank you for your quality content! Your videos always delight me with interesting topics and high level of performance.🐪🧨🍃
I think as people get priced out of the car market, we might start seeing a more utilitarian motorcycle culture. A decent beginner bike with some bags can handle the majority of your suburban and urban transport needs, at least until you start popping out kids. Hopefully manufacturers realise this and start selling appropriate bikes where they're needed.
Here in Europe yes and no. All "big" bikes are way too expensive. But on the other side you can get good prices on "beginner" (A2) bikes.
Harley has been repeatedly propped up by the US gov't, so you cant fault CFMoto in that area.
I'm from Kebec; motorcycle have always been a luxury. We can't ride for half the year and the government make it so that it is insanely expensive and time consuming to get your licence and to own a bike.
21 seconds ago is craaazy
1 min ago is diabolical
The MINIMUM price to get the license in germany (near Düsseldorf) to ride 1000+cc is at 2600+€. I think this is also a big stop sign in regards of affordability to many here.
I think the price of the r9, weather you like the bike or not, is a good direction and a good sign from Yamaha. Obviously other manufacturers have their own issues, but if other Japanese manufacturers start releasing bikes with better and better value, I think we’re headed in the right direction. A lot of it probably has to do with cf moto swooping in and picking up a portion of the already limited beginner bike demographic. I’m not the brightest person though, so I could be way off the mark.
excellent video and data sources. A+ Yam.