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To the op, ktm isnt lightyears ahead. As a matter of fact id like to hear 1 thing that ktm does thats lightyears ahead of the 19 kx450.
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Japan originally defeated the world in the 70s/80s by default... Meaning during that era, sure Japan made good bikes, but also Italy/Spain/USA/UK/Czech/etc all made really shitty dirtbikes
Still, Honda makes great bikes. Yamaha won all of the shootouts this year in both classes and won 2 250 championships last year. Suzuki has the most championships out of anyone in the last 15 years. Kawasaki won 2 450mx championships the last 2 years and holds both red plates. Theyre just fine...
I went into a dealership that had everything except Husky, I ended up with a blue one. I was definitely interested in the 350 though.
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A 1973 Honda CR250 Elsinore was $1,145. https://motocrossactionmag.com/classic-motocross-iron-1973-honda-cr250m…
$1,145 in 1973 is worth about $6,700 now. https://inflationdata.com/Inflation/Inflation_Calculators/Cumulative_In…
But, the equivalent Honda CRF450R goes for $9,300, which is about 39% more. https://powersports.honda.com/2019/crf450r.aspx
Also - in 73 honda was still trying to secure their place in this market and a production rule didn't exist.
Let's look at the mid 80's when the production rule hit - and we compare more closely - however this is what I came up with on my inflation adjustment.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index, prices in 2019 are 465.84% higher than prices in 1973. The dollar experienced an average inflation rate of 3.84% per year during this period.
In other words, $1,750 in 1973 is equivalent in purchasing power to $9,902.20 in 2019, a difference of $8,152.20 over 46 years.
Considering that inflation statistics are hugely supressed by all forms of government - and many analysts in house metrics place the last 10 years more closely to 6-7 real percent inflation rather than the reported 0-2 - I'd say the bike pricing is quite good.
People are currently buying ridiculously priced bicycles in record numbers. The purchase price is NOT our currentl hurdle.
Pit Row
1) Comparing a YZ250 (2 stroke) to the 1973 CR250 Elsinore is comparing something that is mostly running on old technology (YZ 250) to one of the newest technology bikes at the time (250 Elsinore). If you want to compare entry level bikes at the time, then maybe compare a Hodaka 100 (about $500 new in the early 70's) to a YZ 125 (about $6,500).
2) You changed my Elsinore cost from $1,145 to $1,750. That $600 difference is worth $3,500 now.
I will agree with you that the price of motorcycles is not the main factor in the reduction in sales over the decades. But it is a factor. That 1973 Hodaka for $500 would adjust to about $3,000 now. Even a Honda CRF230 is going to cost over $4,000. That doesn't help newbies to get into the sport.
But bigger factors are: less riding area, cost of gas to get to riding areas and video games.
However - trying to say that comparing a 73 to a modern bike is apples to apples and "flagship to flagship" is total bullshit.
Inflation adjustment would only apply to the SAME item - of which it would be like buying an crf230 now (not exactly same - as it has a 4 stroke and is more expensive/more parts)
Modern dirtbikes with long travel, hugely sophisticated suspension, electronics, fuel pump, HUGE engineering and investment in manufacturing level etc etc are not even close.
A modern yz250 more closely relates to a cr250 of the time (despite the suspension) because the concept of a full blown RACE 4 stroke at the time compared to what exists now is a far departure
If we look at apples to apples in capability - a 73 cr250 of the time is likely less capable than a crf230F ha
I digress - you can blame the bike price. I disagree, simple as that.
Mtn bikes are selling like crazy - for 5-10k.
Road bike are selling like crazy - 5-10k
Dirtbikes are not.
I have the theory that partly we need to blame the bikes being too good. A modern bike is scary - all the way down to 50cc for it's rider. To be fast/competitive now a new bike is REALLY FAST
Back in the 70's - a 500cc bike was 30hp. Same as a modern 125 (worse) and was considered "fast"
A 125 was 15-20 hp and considered fast! People could PUSH their bikes to the limit - and not die doing so....and an average guy could hop on a 125 or 250 that was far lower to the ground, easier to ride, and less scary.
Could you imagine loaning your neighbor, who has never ridden a motorcycle a 450 and trying to teach them to ride>?????
No way. You'd kill them.
Pitbikes have such a fun experience to people because they are so slow and easy to manage. I think dirtbikes were exactly that back in the day - fun and easy to manage.
But blaming cost - IMHO is far from the solution. A bad ASS brand new kx450 2018 model can be had for under 6k right now
Suzukis for YEARS now are cheap as all get out.
If it was all about that - they would sell like hotcakes.
"is it possible that the bikes we have grown up on are fading?"...
Secondly, the Japanese bikes do not weight THAT much more than the KTM's..I am not sure why everyone gets so damn hung up over scale weight...ride the frigging bikes then see which one suits you, if it happens to be the one with the smaller scale weight then great.
Thirdly, most of you (I bet) are not the the level that can determine the weight difference on the track.
Finally, if you cant lift a RMZ450 (the heaviest scale weighted 450) on a stand then not sure how you can hang onto any 450 in a race, let along the most powerful ones (CRF, KTM, etc).
Post a reply to: Japan defeats the world...until now? I don't understand