MX2 Factory Pullout

[A Tool]

So I noticed this topic elsewhere and found it kind of concerning. That is both Kawasaki and possibly Suzuki having no factory effort in the MX2 series? I'm not an avid watcher of the series, but it's all good racing.

It just sounds like a bad state of things overall I suppose. Seems pretty bad that the lights class in any series is seen as a total loss. Thought I would see what information could be dredged up about it here. 

http://gatedrop.com/official-factory-kawasaki-pull-mx2/

[MotorBoatin]

How many 250's do they sell? I bet they are last and 2nd to last in sales 

Why field a team when the market doesn't support it? 

Edited September 22, 2017 by meyermetal

[A Tool]

4 minutes ago, meyermetal said:

How many 250's do the sell? I bet they are last and 2nd to last in sales 

Why field a team when the market doesn't support it? 

Possibly. It seems, or at least I thought Kawasaki always had a good 250f race effort going, lots of fast riders using them across different series?

Also, there has always been a last and second to last in sales for any given year, but they have still represented themselves on the highest levels. It just sounds like a big shift of things...don't know really.

[MotorBoatin]

I don't know anything about their GP program. Do they have something similar to the Team Green program over there? 

[A Tool]

Looking at Kawasaki's Eu website shows no mention of a team green or amateur program like the US site.

It may just be an isolated Europe based decision for Kawasaki, maybe Suzuki?

It kind if paints the picture that only the US market is profitable for them. Again, not sure, I'm just trying to avoid the rumor mill.

[SlowDinoDog]

You can imagine the EU policies make it difficult for the Japanese to compete with European sales...same is probably true in Japan...they probably make it difficult to sell Euro bikes there...?
As messed up as the US is getting, we're still a 'relatively' open market.

[mog]

Euro bikes and Japan bikes are not much different in price here , no idea on markup on each

[SlowDinoDog]

I doubt the US import taxes either of them excessively...not like Socialist economies that protect domestic suppliers...I recall the US doing it in the early '80s to help Harley...remember a tax on bikes 750cc and over? The Japanese responded with a plethora of 650s in the early '80s.

[A Tool]

In the article it mentions that Kawasaki decided based on an "economic situation" I'd be interested to hear what situation that is referring to. That could mean so many things, especially on an international level.

Edited September 22, 2017 by Metal and Dirt

[mog]

Tomac took all the money from bike sales

[SlowDinoDog]

Seriously...what would you do if it were up to you? I think KTM had to put out manufacturer supported teams in all major competitive off-road competitions to develop credibility and learn to improve their bikes...it seems to be helping fuel their growth and quality of products...seems like the Japanese will have to continue, as well...but, if Euro sales are paltry, then why spend the money there...spend it in the US on Tomac...I don't know...just guessing Kawi MX sales are pretty good because their bikes win...and their bikes win because they are pretty good race developed bikes?

[mog]

No idea on Kawasaki sales ,I did one year work out that RC took most of the money from rmz sales , they don't sell many bikes Suzuki

[Budlite]

ALL dirt bike sales are down in the US.....Kawasaki isn't that bad but Suzuki has been in the toilet for years..

Edited September 22, 2017 by Budlite

[mog]

 

UK offroad sales up 9% 2015 to 2016

 

 

[mog]

Ktm sales are up hugely in the USA

[Piney Woods]

No real alternative for the offroad market. The YZ250FX has been well recd in some areas but the other asian brands are a joke.

[Budlite]

4 hours ago, mog said:

Ktm sales are up hugely in the USA

they had no place to except up in recent years....overall sales in the US are way down...Suzuki the worst

[mog]

Do you have numbers for bike sales year on year ?

[MotorBoatin]

13 minutes ago, mog said:

Do you have numbers for bike sales year on year ?

 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-05/can-millennials-save-the-motorcycle-industry

 

 

[mog]

In my eyes they are on average rising slightly since 2010 ? They won't go back to previous levels as they have sxs and others to compete with , I don't see the doom and gloom