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...

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 ...

[marine0089]

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

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...

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:Me]

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?