I e-mailed Honda Australia stating the rumours about the $25,000+ price tag, also clarifying that most folks think this is ridiculous. Here is their response:
Thank you for your question regarding pricing of the Honda VFR1200F.
We can advise that when Honda Australia order product from our overseas factories the price is "locked in" based on the exchange rate at that time of purchase many months earlier, and unfortunately, the current exchange rate may not be reflected in the retail price at the time of consumer purchase.
Australia also generally demands a very small global market share, which in many cases reflects in lower order quantities, and may incur higher manufacturing costs for motorcycles built to Australian specifications.
We are also aware that in certain areas of our business pricing parity between us and Honda overseas does not exist, this is an issue that we hope to address in the future.
Honda Worldwide is dedicated to supplying products of the highest efficiency yet at a reasonable price for worldwide customer satisfaction. This is our philosophy for all Honda Motorcycles, including the new Honda VFR1200F.
In other words, they appear to have no choice themselves but to stick it on the market at a stupid price, wait for it to have crap sales figures, and then try and argue their case with Honda Japan.
Typical corporate bullshit. My advice: do the general market a favour and refuse to buy it until the price drops by $5k. Hopefully it will be the market equivalent of banging their heads together.
I e-mailed Honda Australia stating the rumours about the $23,000+ price tag, also clarifying that most folks think this is ridiculous. Here is their response:
Thank you for your question regarding pricing of the Honda VFR1200F.
We can advise that when Honda Australia order product from our overseas factories the price is "locked in" based on the exchange rate at that time of purchase many months earlier, and unfortunately, the current exchange rate may not be reflected in the retail price at the time of consumer purchase.
Australia also generally demands a very small global market share, which in many cases reflects in lower order quantities, and may incur higher manufacturing costs for motorcycles built to Australian specifications.
We are also aware that in certain areas of our business pricing parity between us and Honda overseas does not exist, this is an issue that we hope to address in the future.
Honda Worldwide is dedicated to supplying products of the highest efficiency yet at a reasonable price for worldwide customer satisfaction. This is our philosophy for all Honda Motorcycles, including the new Honda VFR1200F.
In other words, they appear to have no choice themselves but to stick it on the market at a stupid price, wait for it to have crap sales figures, and then try and argue their case with Honda Japan.
Typical corporate bullshit. My advice: do the general market a favour and refuse to buy it until the price drops by $5k. Hopefully it will be the market equivalent of banging their heads together.
That's corporate gobbledygook for "We'll set the price as high as we can". I think the showrooms are going to see quite a few collecting dust for quite a long while.
That's corporate gobbledygook for "We'll set the price as high as we can". I think the showrooms are going to see quite a few collecting dust for quite a long while.
I don't argue with the concept of charging the best price you can get for a product, but part of making your product successful is being careful of what that price is. Too low, and you won't make any money. Too high, and nobody will buy it (and you won't make any money).
If the price had been set at about $20,000 there would have been a lot more "yeah it's a bit high, but I can stretch", therefore protecting their margin. But if you couple a $25k price tag with the small fuel tank, it has a doubling of the negative effect. All it then takes is a bit of negative press from the likes of AMCN and Two Wheels to say "it's just not whizz-bang-wow enough to justify the price" and you're screwed.
And I think that's exactly what will happen. Show a bloke who cares not about sexy looks this bike and a $10,000 cheaper Sprint ST ABS (with free panniers!), and he'll laugh in your face.
Running the overseas prices through an exchange rate calculator shows that $25k is price parity with Europe. $16,000 euros is right on $25,000 Australian.
However price parity with USA is crazy. $19,000 USD is on $20,0000 Australian - which to my mind is a more realistic figure of value.
I am unsure whether $16,000 euros feels high to the average European. Anyone there care to comment if this is high, or how it compares to the price of a CBR1000RR?
Yep, I have to agree with you. If you're going to be asked to pay a premium price, then you have to expect a premium product. One has to ask whether the new bike will be $8000 better than the Sprint.
Oh, and if you're hoping that membership of HRCA is going to assist you in terms of road tests, etc, forget it. HRCA has ceased operation, effective immediately. Good thing I didn't need my membership on my trip last week, isn't it? :angry:
Maybe I'm showing my age here, but motorcycle prices in general have gone wacko. A few months ago Cycle Canada had a BMW on the cover and was going on and on about it being "cheap". Yeah, cheap as in $20K, which is in line with the Japanese bikes. OK, I get that the point was that BMW used to always be way more than the Japanese, but anything that's $20K isn't "cheap" in my books.
VFR1200 on the USA website shows $15,999.00, converted to CDN is $17,015.84 ( CDN retail price is $18,299.00.) There are a few MC dealers in Alberta that have their 2008 VFR800 on sale for $12,000.00. They also have a few 2009 still in crates buried in the snow.
Australia ......... may incur higher manufacturing costs for motorcycles built to Australian specifications.
Like moving the steering wheel across to the opposite side of the dash board? Oh, hang on, that is cars. :rolleyes:
All I can think of is maybe a different rear guard, different bulb wattages and maybe different OEM tyres? Certainly $5k worth of value there.
Maybe I'm showing my age here, but motorcycle prices in general have gone wacko. A few months ago Cycle Canada had a BMW on the cover and was going on and on about it being "cheap". Yeah, cheap as in $20K, which is in line with the Japanese bikes. OK, I get that the point was that BMW used to always be way more than the Japanese, but anything that's $20K isn't "cheap" in my books.
Signed Grumpy Old Man
:biggrin:
And "you have earned the right to payless for your wheels", right?? :biggrin: Don't get mad, I'm just joking. This being said, if this was my only vehicle for commute and all, I may (emphasis on the MAY) be able to justify paying 20K. However, since this is an additional vehicle only used as a hobby, there is no way in hell I'm paying that much. And I can't figure out how people can!! On the other hand, putting your money in there in the stock market........... :ph34r:
I seem to recall a conversation with my dealer (in Victoria) about the DN01 and when it came out it was 18k and basically nobody was buying it becuase what the hell is it and now not many months down the track you can get them for 11k. I doubt the VFR1200 will be the same but every dealer Ive spoken too says people wont buy it for much more than 20. I mean 25 is BMW territory if you go for that kind of thing, LOL.
Cheers
MGVFR
Yep, as an old codger I've EARNED the right to pay less, or grumble about it.
Like you said, as a hobby it's steep. I lived for a year in Perth, Australia, and there laying out $10K for a low miles pristine 2001 to serve as every-day transportation was an absolute no-brainer. And I'd consider buying a new bike there too, because it would get as much use (for me, anyway) as a car.
PolarBear, on 26 January 2010 - 05:56 PM, said:
cbar, on 26 January 2010 - 09:25 AM, said:
Maybe I'm showing my age here, but motorcycle prices in general have gone wacko. A few months ago Cycle Canada had a BMW on the cover and was going on and on about it being "cheap". Yeah, cheap as in $20K, which is in line with the Japanese bikes. OK, I get that the point was that BMW used to always be way more than the Japanese, but anything that's $20K isn't "cheap" in my books.
Signed Grumpy Old Man
:biggrin:
And "you have earned the right to payless for your wheels", right?? :biggrin: Don't get mad, I'm just joking. This being said, if this was my only vehicle for commute and all, I may (emphasis on the MAY) be able to justify paying 20K. However, since this is an additional vehicle only used as a hobby, there is no way in hell I'm paying that much. And I can't figure out how people can!! On the other hand, putting your money in there in the stock market........... :ph34r:
Oh, and if you're hoping that membership of HRCA is going to assist you in terms of road tests, etc, forget it. HRCA has ceased operation, effective immediately. Good thing I didn't need my membership on my trip last week, isn't it? :angry:
Get f*cked! Seriously? Man I'm glad I didn't renew!!
Australia ... may incur higher manufacturing costs for motorcycles built to Australian specifications.
Lol, they tried that line on me, too. And it's complete bullshit. Canada has higher spec's for their bikes than we do, so CDM bikes should, in theory, cost more than ours.
Another good one is when they try to say that "transport costs" are what drives the price up. - I work in the maritime industry and I have a pretty good idea of what Honda would be paying to import their products. Suffice it to say that any dealer who blames "transport costs" for price-gouging deserves to be laughed at with all of the scorn you can muster.
Oh, and transport costs have dropped dramatically over the last couple of years, as MSC/Maersk/NYK/OOCL/etc. are no longer able to charge the premium rates that they could during the last boom cycle.
VFR 1200f price in Portugal 15000� BMW K1300s 16450�
in Spain VFR 16000� BMW K1300s 17800�
in France VFR 15000 BMW 16500 �
in Germany VFR 15000 BMW 16500�
that's less 10% enought to buy heated grips and luggage
all with just ABS
In USA and UK they are more or less the same price.
It looks like they will sell good on most EU countries.
End of thread · 17 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 9 Feb 2011