Why are bikes so expensive?

[Padmei]

Looking on TRademe there are thousands of bikes for sale yet they are at unrealistic prices. How can a bike over 10 years old that sold for less than
$20k still be worth over $10k?
Look at the number of big tourers - exception Harleys. How many do you realistically see on the road? 1 in 10 - 20 bikes?
The number of bikes coming in to NZ from Asia is phenomenal yet this doesn't seem to affect the prices of 2nd hand bikes. How many bikes do you see relisted month after month... I guess they are superfluous toys that people want to hang on to till they get a decent enough offer. If that doesn't happen what then?? Is every house in NZ going to be sold with a spare bike in the garage?

[Subike]

so you are either broke or on a low wage
H T F U

[Bren]

The realistic value of a bike is what some dumbass is prepared to pay for it!...

[skidMark]

Looking on TRademe there are thousands of bikes for sale yet they are at unrealistic prices. How can a bike over 10 years old that sold for less than
$20k still be worth over $10k?
Look at the number of big tourers - exception Harleys. How many do you realistically see on the road? 1 in 10 - 20 bikes?
The number of bikes coming in to NZ from Asia is phenomenal yet this doesn't seem to affect the prices of 2nd hand bikes. How many bikes do you see relisted month after month... I guess they are superfluous toys that people want to hang on to till they get a decent enough offer. If that doesn't happen what then?? Is every house in NZ going to be sold with a spare bike in the garage?

Theres always somebody willing to pay stupid money for a bike. You just have to wait and they come eventually.

At the end of the day if you like a specific bike enough and have the passion then price is irrelevant. you pay what the market is selling them at.

Bikes are a treat, they are not something everybody can afford, like that of a fine italian supercar. That's what you are paying for, freedom has it's price.

[jcupit69]

Mate the 250 market is a perfect example, on trade me there's....

2002 aprilia rs 250 for $12000

2006 honda hornet 250 for $8999

1998 honda cbr 250rr for $8000

Over priced doesnt quite seem to cut it some times.

Some bikes out there are just plain over priced, but i got mine at a good price and there lotsa realisticly priced bikes out there and plenty of bargins to be had, you just gota keep an eye out.

Good luck :niceone:

[skidMark]

Mate the 250 market is a perfect example, on trade me there's....

2002 aprilia rs 250 for $12000

2006 honda hornet 250 for $8999

1998 honda cbr 250rr for $8000

Over priced doesnt quite seem to cut it some times.

Some bikes out there are just plain over priced, but i got mine at a good price and there lotsa realisticly priced bikes out there and plenty of bargins to be had, you just gota keep an eye out.

Good luck :niceone:

Yeah, except the Hornet ceased production i 1997 i believe. The CBR250RR ceased production in 1993 or 1994. I am quite certain it was 1993.

[Mort]

In the Uk - new prices are higher but used prices are lower....

I ain't figured that out yet..... used prices here are definitely closer to the new price ... almost stupidly close.

[EJK]

But sometimes you can find a real bargain on Trademe so don't lose hope :)

[skidMark]

In the Uk - new prices are higher but used prices are lower....

I ain't figured that out yet..... used prices here are definitely closer to the new price ... almost stupidly close.

Thats because bikes in New Zealand are well cared for, only ridden to church on sundays, that church just happens to be in the Coromandel. :laugh:

[Bren]

Thats because bikes in New Zealand are well cared for, only ridden to church on sundays, that church just happens to be in the Coromandel. :laugh:


A Long frikkin waqy to go to Church!

[Padmei]

No I'm not broke or on a low wage & don't regard bikes as a treat or anything like an italian sportscar. They are a mode of transport & as they are 1/4 the size of a car I still can't see why they don't depreciate as fast - Yes there are more cars but still a lot of bikes around for sale.

I'm not after a bargain as I think the bargain would be a fair price to begin with.

I can see why the 250 market is overinflated as that is a supply & demand issue but the rest of them?

[homer]

as ive said in threads before if you want a market like the car market ,

Then thats fine but i dont as youll then be whining about how much money youve lost on the purchase .

Id guess thats why in the UK the prices drop off in a hurry

I know what you mean though ,I sold a ninja 750 about 10 years ago for $3300 today id have still got that

I sold my xt 400 for $800
today id get $2000 in the conditon it was

[eliot-ness]

Was chatting to a couple of young Danish tourists a few weeks ago. The guy asked if he could sit on the SV as that's as close as he'll ever get to owning one. I told him it was only ten grand and he nearly wept. Seems that with the extra tax added in Denmark the price is around $30,000. Does anyone still think our bikes are expensive?

[Toaster]

AH!!!!!!!!!!!! market forces at work mmmmm smell the capitalism!!!

The market value of anything is determined purely by what a purchaser is prepared to pay to acquire that item. REGARDLESS of what the owner thinks it is worth.

[Maha]

AH!!!!!!!!!!!! market forces at work mmmmm smell the capitalism!!!

The market value of anything is determined purely by what a purchaser is prepared to pay to acquire that item. REGARDLESS of what the owner thinks it is worth.

Ta Roooooo Bro'.... i thought my YZF was worth $7.5k and on Trademe the highest bid was $6995 but i got $8k for it privately, im a winner!....;)

[Quasievil]

Cant sell my 2007 ZX10R for $13995 , its market value is $17500

overpriced NAH, been on the market one month and its showroom condition with 7000 kms on it
:crybaby:

[FROSTY]

Looking on TRademe there are thousands of bikes for sale yet they are at unrealistic prices. How can a bike over 10 years old that sold for less than $20k still be worth over $10k?
Look at the number of big tourers - exception Harleys. How many do you realistically see on the road? 1 in 10 - 20 bikes?

I'd like to suggest theres a phenomenon around NZ called Hen Pecking.
Specific to motorcycles in the back of car parking garages -(as oposed to gargres where the man will be burried WITH his bike)
A bloke buys his last attachment to his youth -a Harley or maybee a virago.
Wifey Insists that -that "thing" isn't being used -so sell it.
By listing the bike on tard me--well we are doing our best to sell it aren't we dear?
Good news is that this gives the bloke a bit of time to HTFU -at that point the garage becomes a real Gargre -um usually followed by filing of divorce papers after wifey says "its me or the damb bike"

[justsomeguy]

Cant sell my 2007 ZX10R for $13995 , its market value is $17500

overpriced NAH, been on the market one month and its showroom condition with 7000 kms on it
:crybaby:

I would have bought it had I not been stuck on the wrong island....

[justsomeguy]

Looking on TRademe there are thousands of bikes for sale yet they are at unrealistic prices. How can a bike over 10 years old that sold for less than
$20k still be worth over $10k?
Look at the number of big tourers - exception Harleys. How many do you realistically see on the road? 1 in 10 - 20 bikes?
The number of bikes coming in to NZ from Asia is phenomenal yet this doesn't seem to affect the prices of 2nd hand bikes. How many bikes do you see relisted month after month... I guess they are superfluous toys that people want to hang on to till they get a decent enough offer. If that doesn't happen what then?? Is every house in NZ going to be sold with a spare bike in the garage?

Anything is only worth what people are prepared to pay for it. Eventually the market will catch up. Until then it's a sellers world for little bikes and a buyers market for larger, newer bikes.

I believe the riding experience of a CBR250RR or ZXR is worth the money and should be treasured for what it is as a first bike. As long as you have insurance you only need to save up once, then your money (minus depreciation) stays in bikes as you trade up.

[AllanB]

New bikes are better valued than ever - for new this is indeed the golden age. I have brochures from the 03 Suzuki Summer -fest - SV1000 and the new bandits are cheaper now, ditto GSXR1000's.

Second-hand is meeting the market - I understand what you are saying re the imports. But if you notice they are bringing in a lot of 250-400-600 range. This is just not well supported by the new market.

I was in a bike shop the other day and a guy had phoned looking for a 250 - the shop man said we have nothing in as they sell as soon as they arrive. Thus a good price on the second-hand market.

Look how many of the Ho-sungs(SP?) are around in the lower cc market - well priced good looking machines filling a market gap. Not everyone is happy on a GN250.........

[FROSTY]

Actually on a serious note. Our dollar is so strong against the yen and the US dollar right now we are getting new bikes at bloody cheap prices
If the dollar takes a big hit (like exporters are praying) watch the new bike prices hike back up

[Bonez]

Haggling can bring down the price. Or just wait another decade and pick them up at rock bottem prices.

[EnzoYug]

Looking on TRademe there are thousands of bikes for sale yet they are at unrealistic prices. How can a bike over 10 years old that sold for less than
$20k still be worth over $10k?

This is the way of the world. Just because the world doesn't work the way you think it should is no reason to complain. (Teenagers are a good example of this.)

You are new. You will get over it.

[Padmei]

Yeah I guess that costs of most new things today are pretty good compared with years ago. I remember when the jap import car thing started & 2nd hand car prices plummeted with a lot of groaning. But the upside is that now you can buy a damn good car for 4-5 K & most people can drive around in decent cars that don't need rust repairs every year.

If the prices of bikes do drop then it will get more people out riding & that will benefit all riders re. representation, funding etc.

I wonder if the current cheaper price of new bikes will be reflected in a few years time on the 2nd hand market or if prices go up if the 2nd hand bikes will be worth more than what they were paid for?...

Enzojug you are in the newbies forum. Your response was not helpful, insightful or funny. You should fuck off out of this forum as no one likes to hear from a pathetic patronising boring knowitall. Go back to the "I'm so fucking bored with life" forum:tugger:

[Swoop]

2006 honda hornet 250 for $8999
I was in the Honda dealer's on Barry's Point Rd this morning and the 250 Hornet was $4995-

Brand new.


Selling fast, for some reason.:hug:

[Blossom]

For me the best part of buying a new bike is hunting for the bargin, haggling the price and laughing at the idiot who is delusional about how 'precious' and 'special' his bike is.

[shafty]

I'd like to suggest theres a phenomenon around NZ called Hen Pecking.
Specific to motorcycles in the back of car parking garages -(as oposed to gargres where the man will be burried WITH his bike)
A bloke buys his last attachment to his youth -a Harley or maybee a virago.
Wifey Insists that -that "thing" isn't being used -so sell it.
By listing the bike on tard me--well we are doing our best to sell it aren't we dear?
Good news is that this gives the bloke a bit of time to HTFU -at that point the garage becomes a real Gargre -um usually followed by filing of divorce papers after wifey says "its me or the damb bike"

You beat me to it - I agree:
" Sell that frikin bike"
"OK dear, its on TradeMe tonight!" snigger snigger

- or a love hate thing - wants to sell it, but "I'm not givin it away!"

[NOMIS]

Yeah, except the Hornet ceased production i 1997 i believe. The CBR250RR ceased production in 1993 or 1994. I am quite certain it was 1993.

Hornet ceased production in when wat??? lol shows what u no about what u seem to hate, mines a 2001. cbrr still being release and honda in the process of making a new one for this year ( Japan market only )

[cowboyz]

Cant sell my 2007 ZX10R for $13995 , its market value is $17500

overpriced NAH, been on the market one month and its showroom condition with 7000 kms on it
:crybaby:

really really surprised yours hasnt sold. surely someone is going to snap it up. I am not going to go off on a what if speech cause I love my bike and not in the market but there must be someone who is,

[Zuki Bandit]

Why are bikes so expensive?

Because they are fun, and fun costs!

[Mike748]

IMO Bike's are no longer the cheap transport they once were, they are now a lifestyle choice or a toy for the weekends and that's what sets the price.

The new bikes are cheaper as technology is moving so fast that it is easy to mass produce many of the top end products of yesterday.

If I wasn't such an engineering over electronics fan then I would be as happy as a pig in mud with the prices of bikes like the GSXR 600 at only 14K.

[Quasievil]

really really surprised yours hasnt sold. surely someone is going to snap it up. I am not going to go off on a what if speech cause I love my bike and not in the market but there must be someone who is,


I cant believe its not sold either 1395 views on TM and I have one interest only FFS
Might fo a dollar auction

No Skid you dont have a dollar !

[skidMark]

A Long frikkin waqy to go to Church!

Well, not many churches hail to the god of speed bro. :2thumbsup

[skidMark]

I cant believe its not sold either 1395 views on TM and I have one interest only FFS
Might fo a dollar auction

No Skid you dont have a dollar !

Even better i will give you $2!

BTW if u put the price up 2k on your ZX10R it would sell in an instant.

It's currently "too cheap"

Makes it look like there is something wrong

list it at 16k and it will sell.

[shingo]

I was in the Honda dealer's on Barry's Point Rd this morning and the 250 Hornet was $4995-

Brand new.


Selling fast, for some reason.:hug:

You sure thats not one of those cbf250's like this (http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/honda_cbf_250_2006.php) that many people seem to be mistaking for a cb250f hornet. Also i'm pretty sure you can't buy the 250 hornets new anymore either.

[Boob Johnson]

At the end of the day if you like a specific bike enough and have the passion then price is irrelevant. you pay what the market is selling them at.

Bikes are a treat, they are not something everybody can afford, like that of a fine italian supercar. That's what you are paying for, freedom has it's price.
wtf are you on man? What a crock of horse shit lol, you seriously don't think before you act do you?



AH!!!!!!!!!!!! market forces at work mmmmm smell the capitalism!!!

The market value of anything is determined purely by what a purchaser is prepared to pay to acquire that item. REGARDLESS of what the owner thinks it is worth.
That's half of it...........goes something like this........."Market Value" is determined by what the seller is prepared to sell it for & what the buyer is prepared to pay

[phallic]

Second-hand is meeting the market - I understand what you are saying re the imports. But if you notice they are bringing in a lot of 250-400-600 range. This is just not well supported by the new market.

I think this is spot on although it seems support is just starting to come through in the forms of the hyo and the ninja. With what ive seen and heard of the sales figures of these bikes it would be hard to belive that other manufactures wont follow this trend.
If they do surely this will start to force the price of the older 250s down as not many people will be willing to pay 4 - 5k for a nice 16 year old bike when you can pay 7k for a brand spanker with warrenty.

just my 2c worth.

[skidMark]

wtf are you on man? What a crock of horse shit lol, you seriously don't think before you act do you?



The funny thing is 3 people green repped me for that, and you red repped me for the exact same post.

Love your work boob.

[crazybigal]

there is some confusion with 250's imported from japan secondhand.
they dont have to have as much detail regarding year of first rego in japan on the paperwork or something like that so they sometimes guess the age.
most people would work it out from the frame number but some importer arnt so smart.



Hornet ceased production in when wat??? lol shows what u no about what u seem to hate, mines a 2001. cbrr still being release and honda in the process of making a new one for this year ( Japan market only )

[Boob Johnson]

The funny thing is 3 people green repped me for that, and you red repped me for the exact same post.

Love your work boob.
Yep there most certainly is more than one idiot alive n kicking



Bikes are a treat, they are not something everybody can afford, like that of a fine italian supercar. That's what you are paying for, freedom has it's price.
Sorry Skiddy but your talking crap, yet again.

[Mikkel]

Truth be told bikes are bloody cheap in NZ. Except the 250 ccm segment due to the graded license etc.


In the Uk - new prices are higher but used prices are lower....

I ain't figured that out yet..... used prices here are definitely closer to the new price ... almost stupidly close.

This my good man is because Kiwis are bloody tight with their money. They'd rather buy 2nd hand than new if they can just save $200 on the purchase (nevermind that it'll cost you 10 times that on maintainence, etc).

Trust me, this is indeed the cause! Want proof? Look at how the country is run. No reason to do a job properly if you can save a bit doing a shitty half-arsed job instead - which of cause costs more in the long run! (E.g. the Nevis Bluff highway :blip:)


Cant sell my 2007 ZX10R for $13995 , its market value is $17500

overpriced NAH, been on the market one month and its showroom condition with 7000 kms on it
:crybaby:

I could be tempted - but that would surely bite my head off, eat me and spit the bones out somewhere over the next hill...

And Mark could actually not be too far gone about raising the price - unless stuff is really old and scruffy a lot of buyers get suspicious if it's too cheap.

[twotyred]

Looking on TRademe there are thousands of bikes for sale yet they are at unrealistic prices. How can a bike over 10 years old that sold for less than
$20k still be worth over $10k?
Look at the number of big tourers - exception Harleys. How many do you realistically see on the road? 1 in 10 - 20 bikes?
The number of bikes coming in to NZ from Asia is phenomenal yet this doesn't seem to affect the prices of 2nd hand bikes. How many bikes do you see relisted month after month... I guess they are superfluous toys that people want to hang on to till they get a decent enough offer. If that doesn't happen what then?? Is every house in NZ going to be sold with a spare bike in the garage?


I hate Tardme.. it has ruined what used to be a reasonable secondhand market where you just saw something you liked in the local rag ... went and test rode it!:eek: "No WAY?" haggled a bit and bought it.

Now you must compete with every wealthy lawyer/accountant etc in the country to whom the inflated prices,from said market, are but small change.

Tardme is a monopoly that has pushed up the price of ANYTHING half decent(not just bikes) and as we all know ALL monopolies are evil.

but like the old Listerene ad: I hate it but I use it twice a day.... :2guns::devil2:

[Zoolander]

I hate Tardme.. it has ruined what used to be a reasonable secondhand market where you just saw something you liked in the local rag ... went and test rode it!:eek: "No WAY?" haggled a bit and bought it.

Now you must compete with every wealthy lawyer/accountant etc in the country to whom the inflated prices,from said market, are but small change.

Tardme is a monopoly that has pushed up the price of ANYTHING half decent(not just bikes) and as we all know ALL monopolies are evil.

but like the old Listerene ad: I hate it but I use it twice a day.... :2guns::devil2:

Totally agree, I normally only respond to classified listings on trademe not auctions, why waste time going to view a bike or car when you know the biddings only going to get out of hand anyway.