[...Third world sales are good for volume but not for profit. Most of those sales are small inexpensive scooters and motorcycles...]
Yes and No. There is more profit-per-unit in a Gold Wing or VRF1200 but if you only sell 100 of each per year plus you have to stock a boatload of parts, it doesn't amount to much money. Making only $100 on a each scooter but selling 700,000+ of them each year comes to a nice pile of change, plus they have only simple parts to keep in stock.
ps. In ref to parts, "in stock" means at the distributorship - not at your local dealer because they don't stock anything! :-(
I wonder how Honda is doing vs Triumph and BMW? Last time I looked Royal Enfield of India was doing well world wide.
Are we not privy to sales information from motorcycle manufactures around the world? You would think seeing what bikes sell and why and what bikes dont and why would float all
boats. If riders want F700 type bikes....give it to them....dont try and sell me an NC700 with the footpegs out to the front wheel.
Yamaha is now making the STAR VENTURE. Basically a Harley Davison look alike tourer. I think the manufactures are groping for what might ignite the motorcycle market again....
I wish them luck. $5.00 a gallon gas would help, but maybe not as much as we think.....I have no idea why we as young people bought bikes in droves and the young people today
have no interest.