MOTUS: New Sport Tourer built in Alabama

I hear you. Lots of Harleys on the road, most of which look and sound the same except for the V-Rod.

The annual reports for the BIG 4 list total North American units sold, but not USA specific. For 2011:

Honda: 185K units
Yamaha: 64K units
Kawasaki: 118K units
Suzuki: 50K units
(Not a MOTUS competitor, but) Harley: 150.9K units

Unfortunately, it does not break down the type of bike, i.e. - sport, tour, dirt, atv, etc. Still interesting data though.

Links:
Honda (page 14): http://world.honda.com/investors/library/annual_report/2011/honda2011ar-all-e.pdf
Yamaha (page 6): http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/global/ir/annual/pdf/2011/2011annual-e.pdf
Kawasaki (page22): http://www.khi.co.jp/ir/news/ar2011.pdf
Suzuki (page 10): http://www.globalsuzuki.com/ir/library/annualreport/pdf/2011/2011all.pdf
Harley (page 20): http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Media/downloads/Annual_Reports/2011/HD_Annual2011.pdf

Hrm, looks more like 50k units in North America for Suzuki (motorcycles, page 10)


502,000 units appears to be all motorcycle sales in North America (?)


Whoa, 11,971,000 bikes sold in India per year? Another 13 million in ASEAN countries? Holy shit. I wouldn't give a fuck about the North American market, either if I were them.

Oops! You are correct. Post updated accordingly.

Yep, the numbers from these reports are quite interesting. Amazing how many bikes are sold in other markets. IMHO, I think it is because they are used more for transportation and utility there as opposed to mostly recreation here.

What does this have to do with your original contention that "Polaris is feeling a pinch from Indian?"

As I asked, "says who?"

The mental masturbation in this thread is entertaining

That is all, carry on

Good for them, and not the point of my post.

I was simply pointing out that HD has Tomahawk, a factory they bought in 1963 for the express purpose of building bags and fairings.

And their site still mentions fiberglass, but perhaps they are replacement parts only?

"Employees manufacture plastic and fiberglass parts, including saddlebags, and windshields."

http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Content/Pages/Factory_Tours/tomahawk.html

The vast majority of bike sold in those markets are small displacement bikes that would not sell in our market or even in most of Europe. Those countries are quite poor and motorcycles are the main mode of transportation. Haven't you seen those pics of an entire family of 5 all piled onto a 200cc bike? If my google skills were a bit better I would find one and post it.

Rick G

Thats what I am talking about. Though I did mean a family of 6.

Rick G

Whether or not those bikes would sell here doesn't change the fact the North American market is but a small part of their industry worldwide.

They probably have as much trouble selling the 1800cc monsters they sell here in those markets as they would the small bikes over here.

That the bikes they sell elsewhere are smaller displacement doesn't really change the fact that the North American market is a small segment.

Polaris is not making any money from the Indian acquisition says me and my two eyes. Okay?

They only picked up the brand in April '11 and are offering the previous "Powerplus" engined bike until they figure out what they're going to do with the brand's future.
I don't think they're pushing things yet...

Surprised all the naysayers haven't been slinging the Norton name out there

I really really hope they had a good idea what the hell they were doing with the brand before they bought it.

1. ya think?

2. if arguing with yourself counts as "everybody" you've got a good point there as well.

Interesting.
Just ran across this in the new Sport Rider.

....THAT makes it real hardware.

Am I the only one around here who gets a woody looking at those two cylinders sticking out with those dual pipes shooting out of them?

I am going to go take a cold shower.

Rick G

You're not alone. Though I really dig the two tone black one.

I love seeing the cylinders, but the scrawny looking exhaust (finishing in a Two Brothers muffler) has always bothered me. Just looks rinky-dink in my opinion.