New Kawasaki prices, 1979...

[JimO]

Through the 80s the inflation rate went up to 17.5% at some points.

http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/statistics/0135595.html This is what I used.

at one point we were paying 22% on a 2nd mortgage

[geoffm]

And for you Triumph lovers from my 1969 Velvin & Cresswell Triumph brochure (they were in Chch).
250cc Trophy TR25W $815
500cc Daytona T100T $1195
650cc Trophy TR6 $1195
650cc Bonneville T120 $1295
All from 1/3 deposit balance over 15 months.

Dont know why the Daytona and Trophy were the same price, must have been the extra carb

IN 2011 dollars, using the Reserve Bank calculator
250cc Trophy TR25W $12421
500cc Daytona T100T $18213
650cc Trophy TR6 $18213
650cc Bonneville T120 $19737

So what the top end bikes have remained failry constant in terms of purchasing power parity (if you take a Bonnie as GSXR equivalent for the time)

[geoffm]

1973 Yamaha TX650 $1735 brand new. Wish I still had it.

That cost you $19591 in today's dollars.
Inflation really wacked prices in the last 30 years.

[Motig]

Amazing to think I was on $25 a week back then. Hell I cant even save that amount a week at the moment.

[fatzx10r]

Let's see $1 NZD 1979 would cost $5.02 to buy with 2011 NZD's.

So that means:-

Z1300 $34130
Z1R TC $34632
Z1R $27102
Z1000 $24994
Z750 $18066
Z650C $21580
KX400 de lux $12042
KZ400 Special $10536
KH250 Triple $9533

Goodness me!

I'm quite glad of todays prices if that's the case.

got myself a bargin then

[Crasherfromwayback]

Z1R TC $6899

I still cry myself to sleep at night thinking of my dearly departed Z1RTC!

and I recall a GSXR1100K in 1989 @ $19995, even when the GSXR1000 came out it took a while for them to reach $20K

Aye! When I first started selling for WMCC, a GSXR 1100WT was $23000.00. Now, a Busa is only $21500.00!

[Virago]

Let's see $1 NZD 1979 would cost $5.02 to buy with 2011 NZD's...

I think your inflation rate it way too high. For the last 8 years it averaged about 3.3%

If you extend that over 34 years (1979 to 2011)
= 1.033 ^ 34 = todays NZD$ = 3.01 vs NZD $1 in 1979.

You're both wrong, but Superman was close.

Here's the official Reserve Bank inflation calculator:

http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/statistics/0135595.html

Going from Q1-1979 to Q1-2011, you'll find that $1.00 equals $5.51. Try plugging that factor into the prices above, and you'll see how expensive they were in real terms...

[superman]

You're both wrong, but Superman was close.

Here's the official Reserve Bank inflation calculator:

http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/statistics/0135595.html

Going from Q1-1979 to Q1-2011, you'll find that $1.00 equals $5.51. Try plugging that factor into the prices above, and you'll see how expensive they were in real terms...

Yeah that's what I used but I went from Q3-1979 to Q1-2010 instead of 2011, woopsies.

I'd start Q3 since magazine is from October... oh wait, are the quarters starting from January, or do they do tax year, IE Q1 starts April?

[Virago]

Yeah that's what I used but I went from Q3-1979 to Q1-2010 instead of 2011, woopsies.

I'd start Q3 since magazine is from October... oh wait, are the quaters starting from January, or do they do tax year, IE Q1 starts April?

Nah, they're calendar quarters (Q1 is Jan-Mar).

I always giggle about people who get all nostalgic about the price of consumer goods. The reality is, in real terms, the goods were hugely expensive "back in the day".

As an example, I paid $1,000 for our first microwave oven, back in 1984. In today's money, that's $2,994. These days a $200 microwave from the Warehouse has more power than that old 600 watt beastie...

The price comparisons on motor vehicles may not be quite so extreme, but the reality is today's pricing is way cheaper, with vastly greater consumer choice.

[Virago]

Anyways, here's those "great" prices in real terms...

Z1300 $37,462

Z1R TC $38,013

Z1R $29,748

Z1000 $27,434

Z750 $19,830

Z650C $23,687

KX400 de lux $13,218

KZ400 Special $11,565

KH250 Triple $10,463

I bought a little KH100 commuter bike for $1,000 in 1980 - $4,657 in today's money...

[Stylo]

Anyways, here's those "great" prices in real terms...

Z1300 $37,462

Z1R TC $38,013

Z1R $29,748

Z1000 $27,434

Z750 $19,830

Z650C $23,687

KX400 de lux $13,218

KZ400 Special $11,565

KH250 Triple $10,463

I bought a little KH100 commuter bike for $1,000 in 1980 - $4,657 in today's money...

Yesterdays money, I bought a new '79 XL500, first model from Forbes and Davies in Auck , $2750, I still have the payment book ...and about $300 less than an XT500Yamaha, March 1979 and Muldoon was the Prime Minister , remember him ?

[Crasherfromwayback]

and Muldoon was the Prime Minister , remember him ?

Rob Muldoon before he robs you!!!

[98tls]

Rob Muldoon before he robs you!!!

That Sir Rob to youJesus the money he made the old man was disgraceful."subsidise this subsidise that"We seem to have moved on to "subsidise the lazy bastards".

[Virago]

...March 1979 and Muldoon was the Prime Minister , remember him ?

Still trying to forget...

He controlled manufacturing and imports to the extent of creating some odd-ball shortages. A six-month waiting list on some new vehicles wasn't unusual, and when your vehicle arrived you got what you were given - no choice on colour etc.

The vehicle shortage and rampant inflation meant that it wasn't usual for a second-hand vehicle to sell for more than it originally cost as new.

"Good times", eh...?

[Voltaire]

Muldoon.....he was pissed most of the time wasn't he?

If you had an import licence you were made here, all the poly cronies did well under that system.
I wanted parts from overseas for my car in 1980....the old man had some US dollars he had got giving visitors an better than official rate.....
Me I had to get postal notes from the Post Office...but only so many a day/week.
We used to look at overseas mags in amazement at the prices.
My first 'good' stereo a Thorn 3 in one.....pos...$800.00 in 1976.
The list of overpriced shit that was made here is long......remember Lincoln Turner screw drivers.....and Fun Ho toys.....what a load of crap.
Good old days....yeah right.
Going to Australia in 85 was llike driving your Trabant thru the Berlin Wall....