Yamaha Sales Down

[NinjaBob]

Me and my friends grew up riding home made mini bikes. It was nothing for us to move up to a motorcycle when we got licenses. Our kids grew up riding 3 and 4 wheelers. Many of these these kids lack two wheel skills and  are scared of bikes.

[stevegrab]

Why should they drive when mommy and daddy tote them around everywhere until they are 30 years old. 😂😂

My 21 year old nephew is a senior at OSU, doesn't drive my sister and her husband go get him and take him back any time he wants. He took a bus once and said never again. (My dad would ask, who's in charge the kid or the parent    )


He wants to move to San Diego, and won't drive, not sure how well that works out, a few people with experience there say it can be done. But I still consider SoCal the land of cars, few don't drive and traveling an hour away for work is nothing.

[naustin]

Well, I think its fine, actually that kids don't want to drive.   


Let them all live in their tiny apartments in huge congested cities, and they can commute on their sardine cans on rails - or in their self-driving elevator cars, or just work from home in their closets, or do whatever it is they think is trendy or prestigious.   I hope they live their entire lives without leaving the shelter of their glass skyscrapers, or their online gaming universe.   If they like the Matrix so much, they are more than welcome to live in it!!


That means the real world and the back roads are ours to enjoy in peace. 

[STLTHMSTA]

Now THAT's making lemonade.  I think there is something to that.    TM

[stevegrab]

Good point Nick, but out in the country on good back roads where I ride, its a different culture and different young people, they grew up in the country, on farms driving the pickup at 5. They're driving on the roads, and think they are future NASCAR stars based on their driving habits.

[BMWKeith]

But if they really think they are budding NASCAR stars they shouldn't be in my way...

[Rayk86ss]

Maybe the style is more like Bobby Unser than Nascar.  Use most of the apron, a bit of the grass, go within a half inch of a cliff, etc.  Whatever it takes.  The difference is that Bobby was actually fast. 

[stevegrab]

The thing that bugs me is the traffic in front of you that goes slow in the corners (or on hills) but then gas it and go 10-15MPH over the limit on every straight. And after watching them drift across the center line regularly I have no faith they won't run me off the road when I try to pass.

I usually just hang back and wait for a better/safer chance. But I have followed some locals on mountain roads that were running a fun spirited pace, I don't feel the need to pass every vehicle that is in front of me

[Brick]

Back to Yamaha sales down... I stoped in a local Yamaha dealer yesterday and they had the new Tracer 900 no not the GT just the 900 an well it really looked great. I should have taken a picture. The gray color is sharp. I own a 2015 so love the FJ/Tracer.
Anyway that particular dealer said they have been selling quit a few Yamaha’s. No notic of sales decline.
FWIW. Western North Carolina
Brick


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DirtFlier]

Local sales can be all over the map so it's difficult to get a objective view after visiting a dealer or two. 

[stevegrab]

One of our large area dealers (State 8 in Cuyahoga Falls) who carries all 4 Japanese brands recently expanded and built a large facility next door to handle their ATV sales, which are a large part of business for most power sports businesses in this area, even moreso when you get into the more rural areas. They also do a ton of internet sales, I've been told to ask a salesman about used vehicles, because many sell before hitting the floor.

Some can thrive, but others are not so lucky. Have seen more than a few area dealers close (some newer, others long established).

[DirtFlier]

I heard through a friend that longtime local icon, Joe's Yamaha in Dayton will be dropping Yamaha  soon and they recently lost Triumph.  As far as I know, they don't have a 3rd major brand but they do carry Benelli's small bikes/scooters which are made in Asia and not Italy. 

Production in China or Thailand is pretty common these days and even used by BMW and KTM for their smaller models.  SE Asia is a HUGE market for small bikes/scooters so having production there makes sense.

[bcd]

That's too bad about Joe's. They also carry SSR and Zero; SSR products seem to be Chinese, and SSR is the distributor for Benelli. While I really like where Zero seems to be going, I can't imagine they sell a ton of them.

Their used inventory on the web page consists of a Wee-Strom and a Ninja 500R.

[stevegrab]

That's a pretty small dealership. Our local Duc/Truimph shop in Akron is similar, using a small portion of a strip mall. State 8 that I mentioned is easily twice their size just with the original building (now double that).

[normkern]

Joe's Cycle started in an old gas station in North Dayton in the early 1960s and has always been a locksmith shop combined with motorcycle shop. In the early days they had Bultaco and used Brit bikes imported from UK. They moved to their current location in the early 70s and got a Yamaha dealership. They never had a large showroom but they stocked a lot of parts and had a real service department.

Joe's has always been a family business- I know the owners and they are good, honest people. Unfortunately, they never grew the business other than taking on different brands over the years, especially Triumph. The small showroom was cramped and did not meet Yamaha and Triumph standards. Another problem that I saw was failure to modernize and keep inventory up to date. When I was last there in 2014, there were items in showcases that had been there for 40+ years.

Given all the requirements that OEMs place on their franchises these days, it's impossible for a small mom and pop operation to meet them and survive. Very sad.

Norm Kern