Market Share

[bramfrank]

I for one (and I am certain others out there) have wondered just how many of my fellow **** Sapiens have been purchasing the FJR and just how that compares with the rest of the S-T market space.

Keeping in mind that this segment is tiny when compared to sport bikes, V-Twins, scooters and other, much higher volume two wheeled motorised machines it is amazing just how much press and how much attention our gang seems to command.

Well, now we have an answer.

The MCNEWS survey states that 'in the last 12 months' 10,800 FJRs were sold in the U.S. and that this number was 1.1% higher than the previous 12 months and that this was good enough to make Yamaha number two in the segment (with a 26.2% share of the market) behind BMW. Always keep in mind that the BMW number is for ALL of their touring machines combined - so it is entirely possible that in the U.S. the FJR could well be the largest-selling MODEL of touring bike.

Anyone care to write to the M.I.C. for a more detailed breakdown?

That number is, however surprising to me - everyone's best guesses seemed to be in the 3,000 range and, at least according to one report, D&H (who reportedly sold 110 units last year) believed that they were the top seller of the FJR - and we KNOW that many dealers never sell any of the model. And D&H's complaints that the preorder system spells the end of their reign flies in the face of the sales numbers - though that 1.1% increase in unit sales seems to not have been enough to prevent some erosion of the overall market share, which we saw as being 28% in the previous year.

So just where ARE all these machines? Certainly the FJR is a pretty rare site on the streets. With something like 30,000-50,000 units (of all years in total if I extrapolate) on the streets of America, they should be more visible.

 

[mikerbiker]

So just where ARE all these machines?

Well, mine's on the NJ Turnpike, usually going pretty fast...

 

[Dan23]

So just where ARE all these machines? Certainly the FJR is a pretty rare site on the streets. With something like 30,000-50,000 units (of all years in total if I extrapolate) on the streets of America, they should be more visible.

You answer your question:

Keeping in mind that this segment is tiny when compared to sport bikes, V-Twins, scooters and other,.....

Besides, most bikes-- ST's or not-- sit in garages where no one will steal them, slowly dying from age, not miles. It is a common phenomenon in the US that toys get bought, then overtime hours worked so they don't get used anyway. Go figure.

 

[rublenoon]

+1 on what Dan23 said!

Ride safe!

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I talked to D&H last night. They told me that they were authorized to buy 110 bikes, but they only ordered 30 of the 2007. When they wanted to order more, Yamaha said no. Now at the end of they year Yamaha has surplus and offered them up, but it is too late.He said all years combined, he has sold 300 FJRs. He said he had access to Yamaha's system and in the last 12 months they have only sold 3000 FJRs and over the 2003-2007 years have sold 10,000.I don't know whose numbers are right, or wrong. I'm just telling you what I was told.

Of course, I have been know not to listen very well sometimes.

 

[Bob Hughes]

That would be 1,000 dealers selling over 10 bikes per year. All of the dealers around here do that. The day I picked up mine the dealer was selling another just like it at the same time.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

That would be 1,000 dealers selling over 10 bikes per year. All of the dealers around here do that. The day I picked up mine the dealer was selling another just like it at the same time.

Yep, and Roseville Yamaha already sold 15, but there are many, many Yamaha dealers that sell zero FJRs

 

[Big Sky]

I've been riding my FJR since '03 - this is the fifth season, 40,000 miles and just eclipsing 9,000 this year. I've been riding primarily Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Washington and British Columbia. My observation is that this year I have seen more FJRs than the previous four years combined. They are not an UNcommon site anymore. I rode from Kalispell to Butte, MT yesterday through the Swan Valley - about 240 miles and saw three! (I love it when folks on the silver, blue or cherry ones see mine - R1 red - and this confused look crosses their face). We did a little 1,500 mile loop in early July and I saw probably eight of them. After five (six?) years of U.S. availability and 10,000 sold last year, there are probably, conservatively, at least 30,000 roaming the roads. The word is out: great, versatile, reliable machine that is an excellent value for the dollar.

 

[Last Chance]

Judging form the events described on this forum, I would guess that at least some of the FJR's are being "recycled" as we speak.

:sleepy: :sarcasm:

LC :lol2:

 

[Captain B]

When Yami dropped the ridiculous deposit rule in January I suspect it opened up the market a bit. I am in that statistic. Also, wanted an AE so waited a year for the dust to settle.

Could be my imagination, but it also seems like there is just more general knowledge on the street and among riders about this bike in the last year or so - even though it's been around for a while.

 

[Keyser Soze]

A lot of people, even Yamaha fans have no idea about this bike. I have owned many bikes over the last 30 years and I never had one that had people asking me "what is it?" so often.

 

[UFO]

A lot of people, even Yamaha fans have no idea about this bike. I have owned many bikes over the last 30 years and I never had one that had people asking me "what is it?" so often.

I've found that nearly every bike I have owned no one knows what it it. Unless it's a Harley or one of them Ninja bikes...people have no idea what it is. And even then they think all sportbikes are "Ninjas." :glare:

I've also found that if you tell non-riders what you ride when they ask and you don't say "Harley" they lose interest in the conversation immediately.

As far as FJRs go, I saw many FJRs on the road this summer during an 8 day ride in the west. They are not uncommon on out on the roads.

 

[blackarrow]

I'm glad others are seeing FJR's out on the street. I'm always on the lookout for them but have seen only one (in Tulsa). There may have been another one on the B.A. Turnpike but it was going so fast I couldn't tell for sure. Seriously.

I spent several weeks in southern California this year and was totally surprised not to spot any FJR's. 'Just wasn't in the right place at the right time obviously.

 

[Silver Penguin]

I've found that nearly every bike I have owned no one knows what it it. Unless it's a Harley or one of them Ninja bikes...people have no idea what it is. And even then they think all sportbikes are "Ninjas." :glare:
I've also found that if you tell non-riders what you ride when they ask and you don't say "Harley" they lose interest in the conversation immediately.

Funny how public opinion goes. I went with my husband to see his doctor, for the removal of some hardware, placed after his accident. The doc looked at the x-rays and concluded that this was a motorcycle accident. Harley? he asks. No, it was a BMW. A friendly discussion then ensues, ending with 'at least it wasn't one of those Ninja things that the kids ride. At that time, I'd had my Ninja for about a week.

Jill

 

[burnergold2B]

I just saw 2 feejers on my way to work the other day, in our little po-dunk town. Of course I was on the 950 Adv at the time. The % of market share for feejers is small, but the market potential is huge and will overtake BMW, etc. Now H-D? That's another matter... h34r:

 

[SecuLaw]

When I purchased my bike this last spring the dealer had a new 2005 and 2006 on the showroom floor with very attractive prices for each. He had to un-crate and put together my bike. I asked how many he thought he would get in for the year and he said mine was enough as he couldn't sell them as there was little demand. He said that if someone else came looking for an 07 he contact another dealer and buy from that dealer's inventory.

 

[Bounce]

they think all sportbikes are "Ninjas." :glare:

our locals are a little different. they think any sport-like bike (including S-T models) are Ninjerz! :rofl:

 

[bikerskier]

Big Sky... How did you get the R1 red paint job? It must look fantastic! Can you post some pics?

 

[Big Sky]

Bikerskier,

It's a long story recorded here before, but the short version is: theft, recovery, totalled, purchased back from the insurance company, completely rebuilt and restored, except with a coat of screaming red metallic paint and three coats of clear ($2,000 worth of labor). It is an eye catcher. Posting pictures here is just too much hassle but I would e-mail you some. I just photographed it again on a very fine early fall day (Sept. 10) along the east shore of Flathead Lake, one of the most beautiful places in the lower 48.