A lot has changed....

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by thestumper, Apr 22, 2021.

  1. thestumper

    thestumper New Member

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    I'm surprised at how much the motorcycling scene has changed around me in the last 7-8 years. I suppose some of it was expected, and some of it I just hadn't really thought about. Still, I find the evolution interesting:

    1) Dealers consolidated. This probably started happening while I was still riding, but now there are only a handful of dealers left. They cannibalized one another and now there's just a few larger dealerships left. Some of the traditional "Powersports" dealers even teamed up with Harley (blasphemy!!!) in an apparent bid to survive.

    2) The UTV market exploded. Maybe it exploded earlier, but I live in the suburbs so I don't really get to experience the great outdoors/rural scene very often. A lot of dealerships really focused in on the UTV market and I can only assume there's a reason. I now experience showrooms that are 80% ATV/UTV and 20% motorcycle. The majority of the bikes are off-road/dirt/MX. I can find virtually any ATV/UTV combination I could possibly ever desire within 10 minutes of my house regardless of brand, but I can't find many/most motorcycle models, even at the authorized dealers.

    3) Related to the above: are people shipping bikes more? It seems that might be the only way for many to find what they want. I have had two bikes shipped, and I did it before shipping bikes was "cool". It was easy then; I suspect it's easier now. I did it to save money on oddball used bikes I couldn't afford new. Now it seems like half the stuff I'd want to buy would require shipping or a 2+ hour drive, regardless of age or price.

    4) Have dealers just given up on accessories/tires? The authorized HJC dealers near me don't stock any of the newer, higher end lids - they can "order one in". So can I. Even Cycle Gear only stocks the bare minimums, focusing on their house brands more often than not. I guess mail order won? Big? Again, I was mail ordering some stuff before but I like to try on things like helmets and gloves to ensure fit. Now I find myself wrapping a tape measure around my head and lining up my hands against a ruler in the hopes of getting a good fit.

    Why do I ponder such things? As I inch closer to rejoining the ranks of the riders, I have some concern re: support. I do most of my own basic maintenance, but my limits are basically fluids, tires, brake pads, and such. Any real maintenance/repair would require a tech (preferably factory certified), and those seem to be thinning faster than my hair. I used to have a good relationship with my local Triumph dealer - I'm not even sure who would qualify as my "local" Honda dealer now that they guys down the road dumped Honda to focus solely on Harley. The closest one is 20 miles away, and I live in a decent size "NFL" city.

    It just seems strange to me. I didn't even cover the people I used to ride with - that's a whole different can of meat. Fascinating how things change.
     
  2. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    Those observations probably apply across much of the planet.

    Certainly in the mountains near me - for owners of some more remote cabins ATVs seem to have largely displaced skidoo access in winter. Whether this is down to climate change or modern ATVs becoming more capable I cannot say for sure but obviously there are savings to be had running one vehicle rather than two.

    Servicing of under warranty vehicles remains where dealers make most of their income. Margins on new bike sales have been squeezed and of course everyone now demands a discount or a heap of freebies. In Europe this has led to a lot of consolidation with many long established family/smaller operations folding and over time apparently "rival" dealers have been absorbed into larger conglomerates who can secure discounts on genuine parts purchase volumes, meanwhile the public encounter very similar pricing when they start ringing around enquiring about servicing or other costs.

    As for accessories Covid lockdowns led to a sharp drop in riding and appears to have turned what used to be a lucrative activity into a serious overhead. Only the super-players with their major online sales have flourished and by operating from automated warehouses they are not paying for masses of staff or high street presence.

    Inventory is not cheap, and competing against just in time delivery from the web, means that dealers rarely afford to carry a wide range of the more expensive items of riding kit. They also know that many people now use the dealers stock to check out the right size clothes/gloves/helmets and then go online for a few bucks saving - which is of course why local outlets are disappearing. Branded clothing gifts seems to be one area which is picking up with my local Honda dealer now offering a wide selection of HRC T shirts, hoodies and even romper suits for babies.
     
  3. Keager

    Keager Member

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    Weird that when asked to "social distance" that motorcycling didn't take off. What a great way to be apart, yet together.
     
  4. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    Lockdown stopped riding for pleasure
     
  5. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    I believe it did, my local dealerships sold out of product and they are in a bind now because they can't get restocked, all due to covid.
     
  6. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    I hope Musselman Honda is not out of parts, I was just about to order a bunch of NT650 stuff!
     
  7. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    No, parts are no problem. Parts and Service are keeping them profitable. What they are struggling with is getting current year motos, as an example, they ordered 25 2021 CRF450R's...they will end up getting 1. It's really that bad. Don't know if you call, but if you do, ask for my buddy Cass, awesome parts guy and super good dude. Tell him Ron sent ya...might get the good guy price.
     
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  8. thestumper

    thestumper New Member

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    Lockdowns didn't really stop riding for pleasure around here - I know I wished I had a bike when there was almost nothing else to do. Anecdotal evidence to me would suggest that anything off-road/outdoors really took off. In some places it was all you could do. Street bikes seem more hit or miss - I stopped into a royal Enfield dealer and he mentioned that those were still selling, as were the KTM dual-sports and off road bikes, but the street bikes were languishing. But bike sales in general seemed to slow down in this area before COVID. The Japanese brand dealers don't have much - I don't know if they can't get them or can't sell them, but as mentioned in my first post, a couple of the larger ones shifted focus to UTV's and have trouble keeping them in stock/can't get them fast enough.

    Strange, but life moves along :)
     
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  9. Thorinn Oakunsheyld

    Thorinn Oakunsheyld New Member

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    Just getting back into it after a 2 year hiatus. Don't know if parts are harder to get, or if my 85 is just that much more obsolete. Funnily enough, not sure about the sports touring crowd, but the Harley dogs seem to all be doctors or lawyers these days. Perhaps that's more an indicator of the cost of maintaining status (lol).
     
  10. thestumper

    thestumper New Member

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    You've got 5-6 years on me - its been a while :) It could be that Doctors and Lawyers are they only one's who can afford Harley's these days :) I generally try not to disparage any bike/group/rider/demographic - everyone has priorities. I shot a lot of clays over the last 10 years and there are guys driving beat up old cars worth maybe $1000 and shooting a $25,000 rig. So be it. Most guys do it the other way around, but you can spend too much money on any hobby if you try hard enough :) Fortunately, I don't have to worry about maintaining status - mostly because I never had any to begin with :)

    PS: I love older bikes - 70's and 80's vintage. I don't own any because I'm simply not competent enough mechanically to keep them running. I always thought it would be cool to have an older, second bike to tinker with, but at this point it was so hard getting back to ONE bike from zero that it probably won't happen...
     
  11. whomhead

    whomhead New Member

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    I'd say if you're genuinely interested in getting back in the saddle you'd be wise to go ahead and snag a bike. Used, new, whatever you can get your hands on.

    The combination of the staffing shortages plus the effects of the global covid lockdowns are about to rear their ugly heads. We can see the effects of it already, but the worst of it is yet to come.

    Get a bike, if you need gear get it, etc etc.
     
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