1300RT Reveal 4/29

The look of the bike is growing on me, but the price of admission is just too high to justify it. My current 2020 GSA is just fine for now, but the high center of gravity is starting to become a factor for my 65-year-old body, even though the GSA ergonomics does fit my 6'4" frame. I have been contemplating returning to a sport tourer, but that is a lot of money to spend so I have been looking at used K1600 GTL's and 1250 RT's, although I haven't yet found one that speaks to me.

The motorcycle industry as a whole is going to hit a wall as soon as the Baby Boomers time out. The younger folks simply can't afford a $20-$30k motorcycle while they try to raise a family and I see no attempts to attract them into lesser machines. Outside of motorcycle magazines, do you ever see an advertisement for bikes? I don't. When I was a kid, I always saw ads such as "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" which fueled my desire. My first scoot was a Lil' Indian mini-bike which hooked me forever... The pipeline doesn't seem to be very healthy now.
 
23-30k machines will be extinct, but cheaper such 400cc may still roll for a little while.
I still see many new GS's and KTM's in NJ.
 
MidLife said:
Has hit the wall already!

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zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Trying to apply financial logic to something that's a hobby for most and just for pure enjoyment.. ha!

Buy what you want and can afford and ride... you don't know how many days you have left.. who cares about the market... YOU are your own market.
 
And if you happen to be like me, I'm perfectly happy with what I have ... and have been since 1997 when I got the first ST1100. :biggrin:
I am just not interested in the latest and greatest nor the price or level of complication at which all that comes. ;)
But you have to do what works for you not me.
At the end of the day if your motorcycle moves your spirit as well as your butt, you'll be fine if you let it.
 
I'm continually amazed at how easily manipulated some customers are. It doesn't matter if it is cars, trucks or motorcycles. To use @Uncle Phil 's example, in 1997 he purchased a ST1100. Now didn't the reviewers all say this was the greatest sport-touring bike ever??? I don't remember his name, but one of the legendary motorcycle editor/reviewers had an ST1100. But somehow a few years later, it wasn't all that great.

Or on the BMW side, the R1200 RT was the cream of the crop. It did everything exceptionally well. Oops...we just came out with a 1250cc version. The old 1200cc version is no longer worth being seen on. And now we have a 1300cc version...which makes the 1200 and 1250 cc versions so passée.

By the way, in 1972 I purchased my dream car. It had a fastback. Four-on-the-floor. Rear engine. Bucket seats. Oh!...and it had a 1300cc engine. What will be the trend for the future to justify new sales? 2.5 liter turbo-charged engines like I have in my Subaru...but with only two wheels and no air-conditioning? :rolleyes:

It was a 1966 VW Beetle and that little 1300 cc engine took my wife and I up to the top of Pike's Peak and rolled over 100,000 miles on that drive.

Chris
 
I have to think that the large motorcycle manufacturers have focus grouped to death why motorcycle sales in the USA peaked decades ago and why there is little to no interest among potential younger buyers. After all they have existing manufacturing capacity, existing dealers and logistical networks in place they stand to lose as the trend continues. If it was a matter of R & D of small feeder models the Asian brands have tons of small displacement models selling now in overseas markets they could get through DOT/EPA certification without a huge investment. If it was just a matter of getting TikTok influencers onboard or print/digital marketing to run catchy ads it would have been done. I have grown children that rode on bikes with me as kids and as thirty something adults they have no interest whatsoever.
 
Mellow said:
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Trying to apply financial logic to something that's a hobby for most and just for pure enjoyment.. ha!

Buy what you want and can afford and ride... you don't know how many days you have left.. who cares about the market... YOU are your own market.
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Same with the cars and trucks. Dealers's got miles and miles of new cars and truck on the lot, and they can't move them. I'm looking for a stout 1 ton to tow my 30ft Jayco, and I'm an expert haggler.
 
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Tor said:
Same with the cars and trucks. Dealers's got miles and miles of new cars and truck on the lot, and they can't move them. I'm looking for a stout 1 ton to to tow my 30ft Jayco, and I'm an expert haggler.
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All vehicles on a dealer lot have loans on them, so you would think the dealer would be incentivized to satisfy those loans and get stock out of the lot, but they just keep holding out for more $$$, including markups. Good luck to them, as no one seems to be buying (I’m sure a few are, but not enough to keep the dealership in business, at least not for very long). Eventually, those vehicles (from what I’ve read) go off to a wholesaler to be auctioned in many cases (instead of just lowering the prices and making the sales).
 
Tor said:
Same with the cars and trucks. Dealers's got miles and miles of new cars and truck on the lot, and they can't move them. I'm looking for a stout 1 ton to to tow my 30ft Jayco, and I'm an expert haggler.
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On average across all brands cars and light trucks inventory and days to sale are lower than April 2024. That does not include a spike in sales in late April attributed to tariff concerns. These are reported macro industry stats and may not reflect specific dealer numbers.
 
I have never seen it this bad in the motorcycle industry in the 45 years I been riding. When the day my ST1100 croak I have been cosidering an FJR1300 as its replacement. But plans have been torpedoed by a stop build order. Now the only game in town for a sport touring rider is BMW. I may have to look at the heavier Goldwing bagger. As for the BMW I don't like the looks of the thing. And I just feel the better long ride and cheaper ownership will be better for me. As I agree with uncle Phil there is no replacement for the ST1100 so whatever I buy will be a compromise:mad:
 
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