why don't suzuki's sell well?

Faceaz
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Glendale, AZ, USA
4/27/2012 6:49am
The same reason Honda's do sell so well... Reputation!

Suzuki used to run the cheapest components in the business, handlebars that would bend with a light fall, sprockets that would wear out quickly, etc.

Conversely, Honda is riding the opposite reputation. Their bikes of the 80's, early 90's were superior build quality & they're still riding on it.

Both have changed, Suzuki now makes excellent bikes & Honda is no better than the rest. Suzuki did really fumble their program during the RC days. Their advertising / sales departments should have really capitalized on RC's success, but didn't.
jndmx
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4/27/2012 7:15am Edited Date/Time 4/27/2012 7:15am
Good contingency plan = good sales.

6 or 7 years back when they had amped up the payout schedule every local pro was racing yellow.
3 years ago when Kawi turned up the payout on their program you had a sea of green.

Watch how many Husky's show up on results now that they are paying out everywhere.

Racers that can "win on anything" follow the money.
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MX558
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4/27/2012 7:51am
jndmx wrote:
Good contingency plan = good sales. 6 or 7 years back when they had amped up the payout schedule every local pro was racing yellow. 3...
Good contingency plan = good sales.

6 or 7 years back when they had amped up the payout schedule every local pro was racing yellow.
3 years ago when Kawi turned up the payout on their program you had a sea of green.

Watch how many Husky's show up on results now that they are paying out everywhere.

Racers that can "win on anything" follow the money.
Bingo ! In the mid 2000's every local fast guy was on yellow.
4/18/2022 3:18pm Edited Date/Time 4/18/2022 3:21pm
I see thru the years that people talk smack about the suzuki dirt bikes..
I just have to say, I have 1984 Suzuki RM250E that's almost 40 years old, starts on the third kick every time... in summer that is.. But, the frame are now 38 years old, no cracks, case and plates are 38 years old.. The bottom end was rebuildt 18 years ago top end 3 months ago.. I just had to sign up just to post this, because this is my first Suzuki dirt bike, I've had a 125 Honda many years ago.. But I have to say, this Suzuki are a beast thru and thru..
There aren't many operational 40 year old dirt bikes out there anymore, unless they stand in a corner as a trophy or ornament...
Was out in the forest today, ripped thru all 5 gears, and that sucker wanted to lift the front end up to 3 gear... I mix it 2.5-3% oil 3% when I have to go a good distance on road before I hit the forest or trails..

So, to say Suzuki are a terrible bike, ain't correct for all models they made 🤷

Ofcourse it vibrates, and Ofcourse it's a bit harsh to ride, BUT its a mx, not a cruiser bike... I like to feel the ground thru the grips, I like to feel the engine work, that's the thing about mx, you need to feel every part of the bike and not be floating on a cloud.. What's the fun of that?


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The Shop

aeffertz
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4/18/2022 4:20pm
A 10-year thread bump to say his nearly 40 year-old bike is still kickin’. Gotta love it. Grinning
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Bruce372
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4/18/2022 8:17pm
Is this profensuals open class cousin? Smile
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Last Braaap
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4/18/2022 8:24pm
Suzuki sells bikes, cars and other mechanical equipment but plumbing is not their forte. Therefore they can't sell well.
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RaceFace58
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4/18/2022 9:06pm
It’s because they haven’t changed the design. It doesn’t matter if it’s any better people want change. They talk about “2022 technology” as if 2016’s were air-cooled with drum brakes. Electric start is a big improvement but people think if it’s a year old it’s nowhere near as good pereformance-wise. Not ALL people but enough.
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bvm111
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4/18/2022 9:09pm
i was actually reading the thread thinking it was about the new suzukis, i lazily glance to the date on the thread … 2012! 2012????

what in the wild wild world of sports is going on here… seriously a ten year old thread? 🤦‍♂️
Dirt.Squirt
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4/18/2022 9:32pm
Suzuki sells bikes, cars and other mechanical equipment but plumbing is not their forte. Therefore they can't sell well.
That would be drilling technically if they were to sell “well” ask me how I know Grinning
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308
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4/18/2022 9:40pm
I too enjoy the vibrations of a proper RM



1
4/18/2022 10:26pm
Whether justified or not they do have a certain stigma for being unreliable, mostly due to poor quality materials. For instance this is how I view...
Whether justified or not they do have a certain stigma for being unreliable, mostly due to poor quality materials. For instance this is how I view the big 5 in regards to reliability. Most of it is just from hearsay, people I've met in the pits, stuff Iv'e read on boards like this, or in magazines. Very little through direct experience because I've only owned Honda's, KTM's and Yamaha's. I'm not saying it's right, it's just my perception (so don't flame me)....

From 1 to 5 with 1 being the "most" reliable -

5. Suzuki
4. Kawasaki
3. Honda
2. KTM
1. Yamaha
Hahahaha this is hilarious! KTM 2nd most reliable???🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣
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resetjet
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4/19/2022 5:37am
Well the answer is clear now. I dont think we need to discuss.
Wolverine
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Allendale, MI, USA
4/19/2022 7:03am
Follow the money. Where'd you invest?

FYE 2018

Suzuki Sales: ~$27.5B US
By Segment: Automotive: 91.2% Revenue: Motorcycles/ATV's: 6.6%; Marine 2.2%

Suzuki Net Profit: $1.4BUS
Operating Margin by Segment: Automotive 8.6%; Marine 11.4%; Motorcycles/ATV's: 1.4%

Motorcycle/ATV Sales by Region:

India: 636,900 units led by the 125cc Swish and Access Scooter. Sales up 29% in 3 years
ASEAN: 357,000 units. Up 22% in 3 years (Philippines, Vietnam, et.al.)
Europe: 44,000 units. Up 2%. Lead by sales of VStrom and Burgman models
All other regions (excludes North America) 171,000 units
North America: 36,000 units (30,000US) led by sales of Large On-Road models. Up 3%.


R&D: Auto: $1.9bUS; Motorcycle: $151millionUS; Marine: ~$4millionUS


dcg141
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4/19/2022 7:33am
Wolverine wrote:
Follow the money. Where'd you invest? FYE 2018 Suzuki Sales: ~$27.5B US By Segment: Automotive: 91.2% Revenue: Motorcycles/ATV's: 6.6%; Marine 2.2% Suzuki Net Profit: $1.4BUS Operating...
Follow the money. Where'd you invest?

FYE 2018

Suzuki Sales: ~$27.5B US
By Segment: Automotive: 91.2% Revenue: Motorcycles/ATV's: 6.6%; Marine 2.2%

Suzuki Net Profit: $1.4BUS
Operating Margin by Segment: Automotive 8.6%; Marine 11.4%; Motorcycles/ATV's: 1.4%

Motorcycle/ATV Sales by Region:

India: 636,900 units led by the 125cc Swish and Access Scooter. Sales up 29% in 3 years
ASEAN: 357,000 units. Up 22% in 3 years (Philippines, Vietnam, et.al.)
Europe: 44,000 units. Up 2%. Lead by sales of VStrom and Burgman models
All other regions (excludes North America) 171,000 units
North America: 36,000 units (30,000US) led by sales of Large On-Road models. Up 3%.


R&D: Auto: $1.9bUS; Motorcycle: $151millionUS; Marine: ~$4millionUS


Their US motorcycle sales are down significantly from those 2018 figures. They fell 40% from 20 to 21.
Leave Us To
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Rocky River, OH, USA
4/19/2022 7:50am
lostboy819 wrote:
Yeah but in the 70s and early 80s Yellow RMs dominated the starting gates all over the country the same with Yellow YZs and Yellow still...
Yeah but in the 70s and early 80s Yellow RMs dominated the starting gates all over the country the same with Yellow YZs and Yellow still looks 100 X better than KTM baboons ass orange YUCCCCCCCCCCCK !!!!!!
Full floater rear suspension ruled
2
4/19/2022 8:11am
I think its the lack of other sponsors helping make a team with them. I think its well known in the industry that Suzuki copies bike designs more than anyone. So it could just be bad business dealings that no one wants to be part of.
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