Grom?

In reply to bravenrace:

The magazines talk a lot about the decline since 2008. Of course, they are measuring all this against new motorcycle sales, so who knows. Maybe hand-wringing about the future of motorcycling sells magazines. Very unscientifically, it seems like kids are less interested in bikes than my generation was.

OK, did some research: According to this article: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2/15436/Motorcycle-Article/2012-US-Motorcycle-Sales-Tally-452-386.aspx 320,000 street bikes were sold last year, compared to 610,000 in 2008, but the 2012 numbers are an improvement from 2011.

Market "glut" on the low new bike sales plus the manufacturers just aren't listening to the public on what "we" want, IMO. I also don't see any main stream advertising. Dealers that are too loose and free with the rules. If you think a used car dealer is slimy, new bike dealers are worse by 10. Don't forget, bikes are #2 transportation behind a car. So, the disposable income to buy one isn't there normally for the person who would buy. Then you get to the price. I remember when bikes were sub 5k. Those bikes now are almost 10k. I can get a new econobox "cage" for that kind of loot. And the list goes on and on....

In reply to Ranger50:

Man, you're right about the inflation. I hadn't really looked at the stickers on new bikes in years, I was shocked a year or two ago when I saw what a new 600 sportbike costs! An R6 is an $11,000 bike!

I think that it is a neat little bike but it is a hard sell against the ninja 300 and cbr250 for me. These SHOULD depreciate faster than the other two and therefore make a killer 'round town bike.

ShadowSix wrote: In reply to Ranger50: Man, you're right about the inflation. I hadn't really looked at the stickers on new bikes in years, I was shocked a year or two ago when I saw what a new 600 sportbike costs! An R6 is an $11,000 bike!

I recall 250 2 stroke MX bikes were less then 4k, circa 90-ish. Now what is a 450? $8500? Same basic bike with a different powerplant.

ShadowSix wrote: In reply to bravenrace: The magazines talk a lot about the decline since 2008. Of course, they are measuring all this against new motorcycle sales, so who knows. Maybe hand-wringing about the future of motorcycling sells magazines. Very unscientifically, it seems like kids are less interested in bikes than my generation was. OK, did some research: According to this article: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2/15436/Motorcycle-Article/2012-US-Motorcycle-Sales-Tally-452-386.aspx 320,000 street bikes were sold last year, compared to 610,000 in 2008, but the 2012 numbers are an improvement from 2011.

We also went through a huge recession during that time. Consider that auto sales were down in the same period, as well as spending in general.
But it wouldn't surprise me if kids are less interested. They grew up in an era where safety IMO has been taken to an unreasonable level, to where it's intended to save us from ourselves instead of teaching these kids common sense and personal responsibility. I was riding a mini bike when I was 6 years old. No helmet, no safety equipment. I rode a bicycle everywhere for years, on the road, with no safety equipment. To me it makes sense that the idea of riding a motorcycle would seem more reasonable to me than to a kid that grew up with all the safety paraphernalia we have now. I think they'd view motorcycling as a bigger safety risk than us older people do, but who knows.

bravenrace wrote: But it wouldn't surprise me if kids are less interested. They grew up in an era where safety IMO has been taken to an unreasonable level, to where it's intended to save us from ourselves instead of teaching these kids common sense and personal responsibility. I was riding a mini bike when I was 6 years old. No helmet, no safety equipment. I rode a bicycle everywhere for years, on the road, with no safety equipment. To me it makes sense that the idea of riding a motorcycle would seem more reasonable to me than to a kid that grew up with all the safety paraphernalia we have now. I think they'd view motorcycling as a bigger safety risk than us older people do, but who knows.

Ooops then I am "the" bad parent... I let my daughter out last night to ride her bike without any safety gear on....

Then when I have the loot in a couple of years, PeeWee or XR50/70 will be purchased.

In reply to bravenrace:

I grew up in one of those families where my mom was terrified that I would hurt myself on a motorcycle. Now that I am adult, I have FINALLY convinced my wife to allow me to get a dirt bike. It may, fingers crossed, turn into a street bike in the near future.

bravenrace wrote:

ShadowSix wrote: People need to figure out how to operate a clutch and shifter.

FTFY. Seriously, it's not that hard.

If you can't focus enough to operate a clutch and shifter, you have no business being on a motorcycle.

Ranger50 wrote:

ShadowSix wrote: In reply to Ranger50: Man, you're right about the inflation. I hadn't really looked at the stickers on new bikes in years, I was shocked a year or two ago when I saw what a new 600 sportbike costs! An R6 is an $11,000 bike!

I recall 250 2 stroke MX bikes were less then 4k, circa 90-ish. Now what is a 450? $8500? Same basic bike with a different powerplant.

$4k in 1990 is $7.116K in 2013 according the a CPI calculator online, so $8.5K isn't a million miles off.

Cotton wrote:

ShadowSix wrote: In reply to bravenrace: True, I just worry that motorcycling will become a very niche activity sometime soon.

It already is. I'm the only guy I know that rides all year around here and one of the few that actually commutes at all. Most riders here are weekend warriors and/or bar hoppers.

Is that a bad thing?

I can't get this stupid little monkey bike out of my brain.

So, why the heck "Grom"?

Is it from the term "grommet" from surfer-ese for a kid? I believe they also use that shortened form, "grom"...

But the name for a motorcycle? Is there some other origin?

I think a KX100 set up similar to this would be way more fun. Put lights on it and you could plate it (in some states). Where I live, plates are not even needed to ride around town, just a headlight. These little bikes have surprising power and the 6-speed gearbox would be perfect for hooning.

nocones wrote: I can't get this stupid little monkey bike out of my brain.

I can't get the CB1100 out of mine. Honda dealer on the south side of town has 2.... I'm going to go look Saturday.

This is pure sex:

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

Ranger50 wrote:

ShadowSix wrote: In reply to Ranger50: Man, you're right about the inflation. I hadn't really looked at the stickers on new bikes in years, I was shocked a year or two ago when I saw what a new 600 sportbike costs! An R6 is an $11,000 bike!

I recall 250 2 stroke MX bikes were less then 4k, circa 90-ish. Now what is a 450? $8500? Same basic bike with a different powerplant.

$4k in 1990 is $7.116K in 2013 according the a CPI calculator online, so $8.5K isn't a million miles off.

Then I would like this question answered: Then how are the car companies still able to produce a sub 15k econobox?

Lost leader? Economy of scale? Profitable model options?

That's easy.. Because in 1990 a Base civic was only $6500.

Automakers have also been able to decontent cars enough to stay ahead of inflation. In 2002 a base WRX was 24999, In 2013 it's 26300. Inflation says it should be based on the 2002 price ~32000 meaning Subaru has managed to somehow reduce the price of the WRX by ~$5K over inflation. Motorcycle companies have simply been unable to do this as well.

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

Cotton wrote:

ShadowSix wrote: In reply to bravenrace: True, I just worry that motorcycling will become a very niche activity sometime soon.

It already is. I'm the only guy I know that rides all year around here and one of the few that actually commutes at all. Most riders here are weekend warriors and/or bar hoppers.

Is that a bad thing?

not at all....less people that want me to wave at or talk to them is fine by me.

"Grom" is UK slang for an unruly youth.

And Honda has a new DCT automatic they're putting in the CTX and NC series bikes.

nocones wrote: That's easy.. Because in 1990 a Base civic was only $6500. Automakers have also been able to decontent cars enough to stay ahead of inflation. In 2002 a base WRX was 24999, In 2013 it's 26300. Inflation says it should be based on the 2002 price ~32000 meaning Subaru has managed to somehow reduce the price of the WRX by ~$5K over inflation. Motorcycle companies have simply been unable to do this as well.

Rather than selling value, motorcycle manufacturers have been selling performance. Today's 600 showroom supersport was your mother's Moto GP bike.

nocones wrote: Motorcycle companies have simply been unable to do this as well.

I doubt that, they have been keeping the tech development of the 600 class stuff down to a minimum. I think they can charge it because people will pay it and they would rather sell 10 at a high price then 25 at a lower one and make the same cash.

In reply to wearymicrobe:

Yup, in the end it all comes down to supply and demand.

Canoes ride small bikes?

Appleseed wrote: Canoes ride small bikes?

I've deleted his account two times already. On it.