Brand new GS1000 for $3,699

[scumdog]

Ok, reading through old Yank Hot Rod mags and saw some of the prices, makes you wonder why the Yanks bothered with bikes, ie:

1977 Dodge Aspen with 360 V8 - base price $3752
1979 Kwaka KZ1000St - $3,599

!980 Turbo Cobra Mustang $6,954 (top-of-the-line)
1980 Suzuki GS 1000GT $3,699

Cars ain't that foar away from the bikes price-wise eh?

[breakaway]

Because cars can't get you off like bikes do.

[pete376403]

Ok, reading through old Yank Hot Rod mags and saw some of the prices, makes you wonder why the Yanks bothered with bikes, ie:

1977 Dodge Aspen with 360 V8 - base price $3752

What did the price rise to once you put enough options into it to make a half-way decent car?
Base = drum brakes, three on the tree, two barrel carb, no air, no audio, vinyl bench seats, no seat belts, no...

[Motu]

Base = drum brakes, three on the tree, two barrel carb, no air, no audio, vinyl bench seats, no seat belts, no...

That was the Deluxe model for the NZ market.

[jeffs]

Cars ain't that far away from the bikes price-wise eh?

Unlike American cars, they pay more for things that can go around corners.

[dipshit]

They must of had very high import levy rates on imported vehicles.

[nallac]

They must of had very high import levy rates on imported vehicles.

imported bikes, thanks to a certain Milwaukee brand...amongst others

[scumdog]

imported bikes, thanks to a certain Milwaukee brand...amongst others

Yeah, jumped from 4% to 49.4 % for over 750cc (I think) tax until about 1981.

[scumdog]

What did the price rise to once you put enough options into it to make a half-way decent car?
Base = drum brakes, three on the tree, two barrel carb, no air, no audio, vinyl bench seats, no seat belts, no...

Not like bikes at all eh...:msn-wink:

I wonder who DOES buy all the bling and bolt-on go-fast stuff for bikes then??

At the end of the day it is still a close call price-wise between bike and car.

[scumdog]

Because cars can't get you off like bikes do.

But they CAN carry your mate, a pair of hot sheilas, a few boxes of piss and keep you out of the rain....

[FJRider]

But they CAN carry your mate, a pair of hot sheilas, a few boxes of piss and keep you out of the rain....

And the Gun-rack is easier to fit to the car/pick-up ... :headbang:

[marine0089]

And the Gun-rack is easier to fit to the car/pick-up ... :headbang:

Dunno, this looks pretty easy http://www.cabelas.com/p-0005954520281a.shtml

[Grahameeboy]

But they CAN carry your mate, a pair of hot sheilas, a few boxes of piss and keep you out of the rain....

Harking back to the old days are ya SD

[HenryDorsetCase]

Not like bikes at all eh...:msn-wink:

I wonder who DOES buy all the bling and bolt-on go-fast stuff for bikes then??

At the end of the day it is still a close call price-wise between bike and car.

It still is. To replace our car with the current equivalent model is around $36k. that gets you a brand new Impreza wagon, 2 l auto, with their full time AWD system, five seats, airbags for Africa, air conditioning and a three year 100000km warranty.

$36 gets you a mid-model brand new HD big block, or a tricked out FX, or a base mode Ducati 1098, or 1.4 CBR1000RR's. (I think they're around $22k), or a Triumph T Bird and some bling (a fair bit of bling) or a rocket III or other stuff I cant do maths for because I am too full of Xmas leftovers.

Buying a bike, any bike, is because you want a bike, and you're prepared to live with the high cost, and the other disadvantages.

I too have been reading old bike mags and the one that caught my eye was a VFR1000R for $6k in 1992. Theres one on tard me that the guy cant get $5k for so that says something (probably something about VFR1000Rs)

[R6_kid]

Because cars can't get you off like bikes do.

No, but having a 1980 Turbo Cobra Mustang would pull way more chicks than a GS1000GT, and then the chicks can get you off way better than bikes do. But you wouldn't know about that would you?

[Grubber]

They must of had very high import levy rates on imported vehicles.

They did...and still do. Think they subsidize local made too. Probably not a good option seeing what the big car builders are up to over there at the moment.

[scumdog]

They did...and still do. Think they subsidize local made too. Probably not a good option seeing what the big car builders are up to over there at the moment.

The pro-Harley levy dropped off in the mid 80's or thereabouts, somebody else out there may be able to be more precise.

Ford is doing OK - their boss had put plans into place for these fiscal eventualities, GM and and Chrysler did not, hence they needed to be bailed out by the Gov't.

[Grubber]

The pro-Harley levy dropped off in the mid 80's or thereabouts, somebody else out there may be bale to be more precise.

Ford is doing OK - their boss had put plans into place for these fiscal eventualities, GM and and Chrysler did not, hence they needed to be bailed out by the Gov't.

Early 80's huh. Ok so that's been gone for a while then! Bet they would like it back right about now though. Heard that Ford were doing the job ok. Maybe if they changed to a more environmentally sound vehicle that was a bit more equipped for the times they would have still been ok ya think?

[Pixie]

I paid $4800 for a GS 1000E in '81-'82 from Coleman's

[danchop]

things do go up and down strangely,i remember paying $150 an hour for my first hooker back in the late eighties and now i can get the same hour for $60 with so much more variety

[HenryDorsetCase]

things do go up and down strangely,i remember paying $150 an hour for my first hooker back in the late eighties and now i can get the same hour for $60 with so much more variety

Yeah, but its the same chick, right?

[AllanB]

Yeah, but its the same chick, right?

He'll be easy to spot going into the knocking shop - he'll be the guy with the plank tied across his arse........

[AllanB]

The pro-Harley levy dropped off in the mid 80's or thereabouts, somebody else out there may be able to be more precise.
.

The Japanese got around it very quickly by setting up factories in the US - thus they were 'US made'.

I purchased a new Kawasaki in 1983 that was a ex USA (1982) model. There was a bit of that with Kawasaki back then with overstocked US build bike - ship them to NZ and 'special' them.

Not unlike Suzuki does now with some models.