Bikes overpriced?

lingeringstin... · Trackday Trickster Joined: 01 May 2014 Karma :

It's because they're not bikes anymore. They're toys for techno nerds.

Nobody NEEDS a computer encrusted 200mph nerdbike on the pothole minefield of the great UK road sustem. Noboyd NEEDS over 50hp just to get two wheels to get you from A to B. Nobody NEEDS all that NASA style technology that is expensive, untrustworthy and ultimately just adds weight and expense to a motorized velocipede.

Now, racing bikes is another matter. Perhaps it's cool to continue making ludicrously more powerful bikes for a race environment, but out here on the public highways with Mr and Mrs Geezerface in a Ford Ka and happy families towing caravans and kids on 50cc scooters is no place for a 200mph knobsbike.

This is what's killing, or has already killed, motorcycling. Back when you could pay a fair price for something you could enjoy that wasn't more complicated than the space station loads more people had bikes. Britain used to rule the world in bikes. It was the golden age of biking and people had fun and people used them as legitimate transport. There's no such culture these days. It's all about expensive showing off like some kind of yuppie throwback shouting "LOADSA MONEY" and some kind of tough man mentality (dressed in apalling Power Ranger outfits) that says if it's not REALLY expensive and capable of 200mph it's not a bike. That's all total bullshit and it's destroyed the allure for the majority of people who would otherwise enjoy motorcycles.

Basically the FUN has been extinguished from biking and the companies that make bikes are idiotically catering for the moronic midlife crisis crowd who have become stupidly rich compared to their parents day and who want to spend their early retirement money on fancy toys, just like their parents spent all their megre retirement money on vintage Jags and Triumph Heralds 30 years ago to "do up" and take to car shows before they and all their vintage cars became extinct. Bikes are going the same way. Nobody really RIDES bikes anymore, most people just HAVE them for show.

Only countries like China and that are involved in the actual culture of biking nowadays. Cheap, uncomplicated fun and legitimate transport for the masses is alive and well in those places but the whole European mindset has gone moronic about bikes and why they even existed in the first place.

I can't think of a single modern bike that I find the least bit interesting, mostly due to the sheer expense and the impossibility of working on it myself. Give me an open road and a Bantam ala 1962 any day.

chickenstrip · Super Spammer Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :

NutsyUk · Nearly there... Joined: 22 Jun 2016 Karma :

You see, i love bikes. I think theyre great and fun to ride. And I cant wait to get myself a proper bike. But I also use the bike to commute that is the main reason for having one. Its a cheaper option...

Now in reality. If some one gave me 15k and said Here get a bike, or a Citron DS3... Ill get the DS3, and ill still buy a cheaper bike for fun riding and occasional commuting with.

Im sure ill be linched for saying that... but im more practical than spending 15k on what in the end is a toy...
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Yamaha FZ8/Fazer800 (split headlight one) 2014, ~~gingerly getting used to the massive increase in HP and not killing myself in the process!~~ That was easy to get used to.
Kawasaki ER6F 2007 650 Gonna sell as a project bike!
~~Lexmoto XTR S 125~~ Sold!

eifion · Nova Slayer Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

NutsyUk · Nearly there... Joined: 22 Jun 2016 Karma :

Oh another comment im going to be lynched for...

I like the transformers sharp edge look bikes are going for Sad

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Yamaha FZ8/Fazer800 (split headlight one) 2014, ~~gingerly getting used to the massive increase in HP and not killing myself in the process!~~ That was easy to get used to.
Kawasaki ER6F 2007 650 Gonna sell as a project bike!
~~Lexmoto XTR S 125~~ Sold!

chickenstrip · Super Spammer Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :

secretagentmo... · Scooby Slapper Joined: 25 Aug 2016 Karma :

Polarbear · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :

Kris · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

Back in the early noughties when I was whizzing about like a loon on a 125, the bike meets were always heaving. I remember Boxhill being full to capacity (i.e. hundreds) most summer Sundays. I’d say the carpark was at least 75% sportsbikes then too.

Went to Boxhill at the start of summer and saw perhaps 30 bikes, of which 30% were sportsbikes.

Where’s everyone gone?
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NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
www.prisonplanet.com

Dalemac · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Oct 2006 Karma :

To be honest, there isn't anything that I'd want to buy brand new at the moment. Nothing would be a direct replacement for the Falco.

That is, a new v-twin or v4 sports tourer, wth around 1000cc, for around 7-9k.

Most stuff is either full on Rossi mode, or full on Ewan Mcgregor mode. What's left is either too small, too boring, or too expensive.
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~~YBR125~~ -> GPZ500S -> SL1000

jjdugen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jun 2011 Karma :

100 % agree Dalemac. I built a Fireblade up from E-Bay bits, just the way I wanted it, (R1 forks, RSV swinger, cbr1000 rear wheel, -05 fairing, GSXR K3 seat unit.... Its still not quite there yet. You can do that with the 90's stuff, its bereft of anything 'electronic' other than needed for basic ignition. I picked up a Falco for exactly the same reason, daft cheap for what will be a Tuano/Mille when I'm done. I'll bet there is nothing interchangeable on the latest stuff.
Not doing the 'I'm Rossi in disguise' thing, but I rarely get left behind. I merely chuckle at Devils Bridge as I arrive on my £1000 motorcycle, most of their gear costs more than I pay for complete, good looking machinery. And, if the worst happens, so what? It can be repaired or even improved for buttons.
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

asta1 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 03 Dec 2015 Karma :

I guess I'm different as I've only just started biking, but I still reckon bikes are great value for money.

Take the MT07 for instance. My father asked me why I wanted a bike so I asked "If I offered you a brand new car that does 70mpg if you're careful and 0-60 in about 4seconds if you're not, that costs around £100 year to tax and you can buy today for £5,500, would you be interested?" Whatever way you look at that, it's a bargain. Lets not mention insurance either.

Plus, all bikes are very cheap in comparison to their car compatriots:

Honda NC750S is £6353. An equivalent commuter car (mid spec Honda Jazz SE Navi) is £16,065.

Ducati Panigale R is around £30K when specced, Ferrari 488 starts around £180,000.

and it's the same across the board:

BMW R1200GS Adventure is £13,400 base, BMX X5 (posermobile with pretensions of off-road ability) is £47,160 base.

Lexmoto ZSX is £1599.99, Dacia Sandero £5995.

Whatever point in the range you're looking, an equivalent car will always cost at least 3 times the price of it's biking equivalent.
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CBT Acquired: 09/07/2015
A2 Licence Passed: 12/02/16
Current Bike: Yamaha MT-07 bought 02/07/16

jjdugen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jun 2011 Karma :

Dare I say it, but.... the car will last three times longer than the bike and usually go through 150,000 miles in the process. There are performance cars out there for less than 5K, but the on-costs can get horrific. Pays your money, takes your choice. Come back in the depths of winter and tell me how good bikes are!
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

asta1 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 03 Dec 2015 Karma :

M.C · Super Spammer Joined: 29 Sep 2015 Karma :

Waaarrrggghhh · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 27 Oct 2016 Karma :

yeah bmw is very expensive... if you want one, get an older model private sale, then the price is much more reasonable.. still a bit more than jap bikes. And don't forget service cost.

Monkeywrenche... · Nearly there... Joined: 27 Mar 2015 Karma :

Waaarrrggghhh · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 27 Oct 2016 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

arry · Super Spammer Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Karma :

MCN classified bike of the day always makes me giggle. Last month they were plugging a 2001 ish Fazer 600 'immaculate and low mileage!' for something ridiculous like 3 grand.

Today's bike is a 2015 Ninja 300 with 2 previous owners and 6k miles up for closer to 4 grand than 3.

You'd have to be batshit to pay that for either.