https://unionrayo.com/en/ktm-bankrupt-2024/
arctic car shutting down production at some plants.
Polaris changes and layoffs.
https://unionrayo.com/en/ktm-bankrupt-2024/
arctic car shutting down production at some plants.
Polaris changes and layoffs.
It was just a matter of time. Poor response to changes in business, too many companies thought the Covid party would go on forever.
Maybe I'll get a new trials bike after all.
Yeah I mean $30k for a snowmobile and $50k for a side by side. Yeah no thanks.
Interesting as the "chain" of BMW motorcycle dealerships near me decided recently to open a KTM franchise and plan on building a new building adjacent to one of their existing stores.
That's unfortunate timing.
My prediction: they get bought by the Chinese company that builds some of their engines.
In reply to Peabody :
It's really disturbing how many different companies in different industries bet big on a "forever pandemic" scenario.
The powersports business in North America seems weird to me.
I like large displacement motorcycles (no, not the Milwaukee land barges, I mean motorcycles). That said, I have an absolute blast riding my wife's Vespa 300.
A 300 is a small bike here but a medium sized motorcycle for the rest of the world. There's tons of really fun, small bikes out there.
There's such a push on to be green, have a smaller carbon footprint, live closer to work, etc that one would think more people would be moving towards commuting on a motorcycle. Something in the 250 - 500cc realm is great for commuting, good on fuel and cheap to insure. My 1200 is none of those and with the insurance costs here, I'm seriously considering something smaller and lighter.
There's also very little interest from the dealers here in carrying smaller, entry level motorcycles. Not everyone has $10,000+ to dump on their first new motorcycle. There needs to be more $5k - $7K starter and small displacement bikes available. Why not sell 5, $5k bikes instead of one, $25k BMW?
In Europe, you don't see large displacement bikes in cities, 600cc and under seems to be the norm. Moto Guzzi even says they really only build the large displacement bikes for the North American market.
I thought Husqvarna was really going to do well with the 401 and 701 but I never see them.
The Wee-Strom is a great bike but I never see them either.
I don't get it.
Tons of 701's/690's near me. You just have to move to where they're used, which is the mtns. They're not the greatest freeway bikes, I can understand why someone who isn't doing much trail riding wouldn't buy one.
In reply to ShawnG :
There are few things more fun to get around on than a scooter, but that 300 is a large bike for most of the bike riding world, and it's large by scooter standards.
I'm 100% on your side, and dealerships aren't helping, but look at what people drive, the biggest vehicle they can afford, it's no different. Even at the track, I can't believe how many marginal riders are buying 450 4 strokes, probably the worst possible bike for their skill level, but that's what they do.
ShawnG said:The powersports business in North America seems weird to me.
I like large displacement motorcycles (no, not the Milwaukee land barges, I mean motorcycles). That said, I have an absolute blast riding my wife's Vespa 300.
A 300 is a small bike here but a medium sized motorcycle for the rest of the world. There's tons of really fun, small bikes out there.
There's such a push on to be green, have a smaller carbon footprint, live closer to work, etc that one would think more people would be moving towards commuting on a motorcycle. Something in the 250 - 500cc realm is great for commuting, good on fuel and cheap to insure. My 1200 is none of those and with the insurance costs here, I'm seriously considering something smaller and lighter.
There's also very little interest from the dealers here in carrying smaller, entry level motorcycles. Not everyone has $10,000+ to dump on their first new motorcycle. There needs to be more $5k - $7K starter and small displacement bikes available. Why not sell 5, $5k bikes instead of one, $25k BMW?
In Europe, you don't see large displacement bikes in cities, 600cc and under seems to be the norm. Moto Guzzi even says they really only build the large displacement bikes for the North American market.
I thought Husqvarna was really going to do well with the 401 and 701 but I never see them.
The Wee-Strom is a great bike but I never see them either.
I don't get it.
Just like cars, the more expensive the vehicle, the bigger the profit (For the most part). As a businessman, would you rather make 5 widgets at $5 each with a 5 percent profit margin, or one widget that wasn't that much harder to make, but you could sell for $25 with a 10 percent margin? Nothing mysterious about it.
But yeah, I don't really get the massive touring bike thing. If you're going a long distance, why not do it in air conditioned comfort? If you're going off road, would you rather be riding a 500 lb "adventure" bike, or a thumper that weighs 300? I've been re-entering the motorcycle world, and am finding myself drawn more to the midsize market than the beasts. Then again, North America is more full of wide-open spaces than Europe and sometimes it's nice to have mass to absorb winds and such.
Never could figure out why KTM didn't make an adventure version of the 690.
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