Cyclespot Yamaha, no longer Honda

**nzspokes** · 8th July 2017, 17:04

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

That's where you're wrong mate. They'd all be thinking that they would be undercutting them and costing them sales.

Well Ive heard today that it could well be happening soon.

**AllanB** · 8th July 2017, 18:03

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Well Ive heard today that it could well be happening soon.

Bluewing opening a shop?

**nzspokes** · 8th July 2017, 18:25

Originally Posted by AllanB

Bluewing opening a shop?

Yerp, mega shop with bikes, boat motors etc.

**AllanB** · 8th July 2017, 21:40

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Yerp, mega shop with bikes, boat motors etc.

When Hampton in Christchurch went exclusively Honda the plan was that it would be a flagship shop with importer support - eventually introducing the Honda water-sports items.

Unfortunately they did this just as the world went to financial shit so presumably expansion went on hold .... and Honda had a boring range 2010 to ..... well 2017 really. They dumped the bikes a few years back, concentrated on gear and went bust some months back.

That's a problem with a exclusive dealership in NZ. You best have product people want.

**caspernz** · 9th July 2017, 00:18

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Yerp, mega shop with bikes, boat motors etc.

As much as it may hurt individual dealerships, there's merit in this approach as it cuts out the middleman. So if the end user can get the same product for less, it may end up improving sales? Torpedo 7 springs to mind as an example of how this approach seems to work.

Originally Posted by AllanB

That's a problem with a exclusive dealership in NZ. You best have product people want.

I suspect the exclusive dealership in NZ doesn't work too well with bikes as the economy of scale hurdle is never cleared. Not enough bikes sold overall, let alone individual brands, to support a dealership. It's gotta be either multiple brands of bike, or multiple products from the one manufacturer. Be interesting to see how Blue Wing go...

**pritch** · 10th July 2017, 10:39

Originally Posted by caspernz

it cuts out the middleman. So if the end user can get the same product for less,

I don't think that will be any part of a Blue Wing plan. Their idea will be for Blue Wing to get a bigger share of the money. Having said that though, it's sometimes dificult to see any logic in what they do.

**rambaldi** · 10th July 2017, 14:05

Originally Posted by AllanB

Exactly.

Hondas biggest issue is a lack of interesting bikes lately.

Look at Yamahas approach to getting out of the global economic crisis that hit the industry some years back - lay low for a few years designing new and interesting bikes then launch them.

Honda and Suzuki ......

Kawasaki bolted on a supercharger at least.

The Europeans - they just released better and better models while the Japanese slept.

I like the Africa twin... yeah its and old bike re-done and I can't afford one but still...

**nerrrd** · 10th July 2017, 15:57

Originally Posted by AllanB

Exactly.

Hondas biggest issue is a lack of interesting bikes lately...

I don't think it's fair to use the local market as a gauge. Overseas Honda has been taking way more risks than Yamaha by introducing genuinely new bikes and it's paid off for them in a couple of cases - NC bikes are best sellers in Europe I believe, and the Africa Twin - whether it qualifies as a new design I don't know, but putting a DCT in it is a completely new approach, and they're selling too. And believe it or not, there's even a lot of pre-sales interest in this:

Meanwhile Yamaha introduces...a triple. And that two front-wheeled scooter thingy that Wellington thinks is a car.

OK this stuff from Honda doesn't float many boats here locally, but I don't think you can criticise them for that.

**AllanB** · 11th July 2017, 18:37

Originally Posted by nerrrd

I don't think it's fair to use the local market as a gauge.

I respectfully disagree as the local NZ Honda market IS the NZ Honda market. And if their importer Bluewing is not prepared to introduce interesting rides made by the Mother Company then they (and their dealers) suffer.

That scooter looks pretty cool actually for urban fanging.

Here's what Bluewing would do: Watch the overseas market for a year or two - oh look it's selling really well - lets bring them in to NZ, and since they are selling well overseas lets load up the NZ price.

Then two years later they discount then by 25-30% to clear 'new old stock' that did not sell because it was too expensive ......

It's not all bad - I picked up a brand new 06 build Honda Hornet 900 in 2007 for $9.5k. When the 900 was released in 2004 in NZ it was $15k ........

**nerrrd** · 12th July 2017, 10:52

Originally Posted by AllanB

I respectfully disagree as the local NZ Honda market IS the NZ Honda market. And if their importer Bluewing is not prepared to introduce interesting rides made by the Mother Company then they (and their dealers) suffer...

Yeah I'm painfully aware of how Bluewing operates - my NC is way overpriced here new compared to where it slots into the range overseas. I'm hoping that's not Honda's fault for overcharging them due to the size of our market.

Originally Posted by AllanB

That scooter looks pretty cool actually for urban ranging...

Originally Posted by cassina

Its odd Honda dont have a 650 Africa Twin like Suzuki make the Vstrom in both 650 and 1000cc engine sizes.

Heh, that scooter is the closest thing Honda has to a mid range 'Adventure' bike...it's designed for off road use as well and uses the same 750 twin as my bike

http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/r.../overview.html