Honda has just announced that they are shutting down production of all motorcycles in the USA and returning the manufacturing back to Japan. The people currently employed at the motorcycle plant are being offered jobs at their automotive plant in Marysville Ohio.
Now why do you suppose Honda (the worlds largest selling motorcycle manufacturer) would shut down their US plant and ship it back to Japan? Although they did not give a reason, it is obvious it's because even with gasoline costs nearing the $5 buck per gallon range, people are not buying enough motorcycles to make it cost effective to continue building the bikes here.
When I bought my '08 FJR a few weeks ago, I had been dealing with my local dealer for 3 months. When he first got in this '08 FJR, he wanted $15,600.00 OTD and would not even consider anything lower. I checked several other dealers throughout Arizona and couldn't get anything much less. I almost bought my bike from a Colorado & Ohio shop, until after three months, my local dealer suddenly said he would match my best deal (adding on what it would have cost me to go get the other bike, of course). So after all of this time, my local dealer suddenly said I could have the bike for $13,800 OTD. Why did he suddenlt reduce the cost of the bike by $1800 bucks? It has to do with sales.
I also own a 2007 Suzuki Burgman 650 scooter. It gets 52mpg and I can fit 4 bags of groceries under the seat. I bought it because it was costing me $140 every two weeks to fill up my diesel pick-up. Since buying my scooter a year ago, I have only put 1500 miles on my truck. I understand Honda and Yamaha are introducing a completely new line of scooters for 2009. By then, gas will probably be in the $6 per gallon range. Why is it that [us] Americans refuse to ride scooters for local travel. Hell, my 650 burgman will smoke almost any V-Twin out there. As the cost of gas continues to climb, I tend to think more people will convert to 2-wheel travel, whether they want to or not. People in Japan and Europe wised up years ago. I know the people that commute 60 or more miles each day to work will not do that ride on a scooter and I feel sorry for those folks. But reality says, either move closer to work or suffer the consequences. Gas is not coming down. I think we would see a whole lot more bikes and scooters on the road if it were not for the dealers ripping people off on the prices of their bikes. Just like cars & trucks, the dealers profits are all included in the MSRP. These BS fees like Doc fees, setup fees, wipe my ass fees are all pure profit and are one of the major reasons you are not seeing more bikes being sold in this country yet. Many shops in Arizona and Florida are adding as much as $1500 or more to the cost of a motorcycle in BS fees.
OK, I've added my 2 cents worth. I'm glad I'm now retired and don't have to drive to work any longer. I once drove 80 miles each way to work. I really feel for those of you that are doing that today. Now I will sit back and wait for all of the negative feedback I usually get after making comments like this. I guess I have too much time on my hands to read and write on my newly discovered FJR Forum.com.
