Did Kawasaki gain market share in 2009?

casper
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casper
Edited Date/Time 1/26/2012 8:11am
When I first started racing, I remember being the only green bike on the line in a sea of red and blue. Now when I ride, it seems at least 25% to almost 50% of the bikes on the track are Kawi's. It might just be the places I ride but has anyone else noticed this?
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roguemx
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roguemx 10/18/2009 5:52pm
10/18/2009 5:52pm
they've got the best contingency plan...
Matt Wozney
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Matt Wozney 10/18/2009 6:16pm
10/18/2009 6:16pm Edited Date/Time 10/18/2009 6:16pm
I haven't noticed it but if you got the best contingency plan and trackside support at the big regional/national amateur races while there is either some or no support entirely from any MFG at those races, then, I'd see the reasoning behind that.
sharkey
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sharkey 10/18/2009 6:22pm
10/18/2009 6:22pm
roguemx wrote:
they've got the best contingency plan...
that is true. they pay well. yamaha even pays the c class guys in the age classes(25,30 40+) but i think that stinks because it keeps guys sandbaggin that really need to move up
GoldenState54 10/18/2009 6:23pm
10/18/2009 6:23pm
I noticed a lot of Kawasaki's at the track today.

The Shop

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v1rus99
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v1rus99 10/18/2009 6:44pm
10/18/2009 6:44pm
Same... I been riding Green since the good old days of the KX60's....

In previous years I was the only Green Bike around... This weekend there where 8 Green bikes out of 12...

Funny thing is, Gear companies make less green kit these days... All the guys that ride green don't have the luxury of the Red and Yellow riders that get the same matching kit.
KnowItAll
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KnowItAll 10/18/2009 6:50pm
10/18/2009 6:50pm Edited Date/Time 10/18/2009 6:51pm
yes Kawi's definitely seem to be becoming more popular to me.
Adam43
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Adam43 10/18/2009 7:03pm
10/18/2009 7:03pm
These things are cyclical, I have seen all of them more dominant in numbers than the other brands. But right now, there are Kawis everywhere!
86honda
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86honda 10/18/2009 7:07pm
10/18/2009 7:07pm
What they are paying riders dont look for any deep discounts anytime soon.
Sawblade
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Sawblade 10/18/2009 7:39pm
10/18/2009 7:39pm
In my area you see more Yamaha's and Honda's. What Kawasaki you do see are 250f's. I'm generally the lone Kawasaki 450.
ktmdan
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ktmdan 10/18/2009 7:59pm
10/18/2009 7:59pm
Sawblade wrote:
In my area you see more Yamaha's and Honda's. What Kawasaki you do see are 250f's. I'm generally the lone Kawasaki 450.
Not in Texas. 09 450s everywhere down here.
Charkie
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Charkie 10/18/2009 8:07pm
10/18/2009 8:07pm
I read the new dealernews and they definetly did gain market share, I think 12%?
Everyone I know that has switched brands, did so because of contingency.......maybe the other OEMs should take notice.
Motodude
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Motodude 10/18/2009 8:24pm
10/18/2009 8:24pm
The only Kwaka we ever owned...

jackson222
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jackson222 10/18/2009 9:32pm
10/18/2009 9:32pm
Motodude wrote:
The only Kwaka we ever owned... [img]http://www.motorbase.com/uploads/candc/2009/04/06/fs_637804.jpg[/img]
The only Kwaka we ever owned...

You are missing out. In my opinion Kawasaki is at the top of the motocross game at the moment.
Motodude
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Motodude 10/18/2009 9:41pm
10/18/2009 9:41pm
Wouldnt mind their current KX250 thumper...I've ridden many kawi's over the years though.
Crush
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Crush 10/19/2009 3:55am
10/19/2009 3:55am
Never owned one... I wanted one when I was a kid, Green was badass... but when it was time to buy they were rubbish compared to the Zook and Yamaha in the 80/125 class in the 90s... then I got a CRF450 and now a Pumpkin 300...
R-acer
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R-acer 10/19/2009 5:12am
10/19/2009 5:12am
Kawasaki has most definelty gained market share...and lots of it. I see this at the tracks everywhere. Tons of KX250F, and most of the new 450's are Kawi's. The trend Started when James Stewart was cleaning up on his KX450F. I got 3 2009 Kawasakis at the moment.
davis224
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davis224 10/19/2009 5:15am
10/19/2009 5:15am
kawis are veeerrry thick around here. Several times this year, B class has been 100% kawi. I'd say more than 50% of bikes at the track at my local track are kawis.
TeamGrnRacer99 10/19/2009 6:28am
10/19/2009 6:28am
the 2008 250 Ninja put Kawi in the black big time. that bike was sold out everywhere we ordered 100 and they were all pre sold before they got here.

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Uncleof2
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Uncleof2 10/19/2009 8:22am
10/19/2009 8:22am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 2:49am
I work @ a Honda/Yamaha shop and I am often up against kawi's with the price shoppers and Kawi had so many leftovers 07 & 08's that they had huge rebates
and started rebates on their 09's early in the season so they could be bought for
a $1000 less than the Honda's & Yamaha"s.
TeamGrnRacer99 10/19/2009 8:26am
10/19/2009 8:26am
Uncleof2 wrote:
I work @ a Honda/Yamaha shop and I am often up against kawi's with the price shoppers and Kawi had so many leftovers 07 & 08's...
I work @ a Honda/Yamaha shop and I am often up against kawi's with the price shoppers and Kawi had so many leftovers 07 & 08's that they had huge rebates
and started rebates on their 09's early in the season so they could be bought for
a $1000 less than the Honda's & Yamaha"s.
imagine that getting a far superior bike for $1000.00 less!!!! who says you get what you pay for??? Grinning Grinning Grinning
zookrider62!
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zookrider62! 10/19/2009 8:54am
10/19/2009 8:54am
Majority of new 450s in this area are Kawis and Hondas. Definetly more kawis then there used to be.
R-acer, I know your dedication to James makes you say he started the trend, but that is unreasonable, has mainly to do with FI id guess.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 10/19/2009 1:52pm
10/19/2009 1:52pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 2:50am
I think, in all fairness, u might want to take a look @ all the Honda to Kawi converts over the last 2 years. Honda hasn't delivered on their legacy of "Dependability" on the CRF-R line.

And, the '09 Kawi was VERY familiar to the Honda converts...way more familiar than the '09 CRF450R when compared to Hondas '08(btw, I think the new Honda 450 is the best SX 450 of '09!).

I think the simple fact that the Kawi is FAST outta the box might be one of the reasons, too.

When I had to build some SX bikes in '08 the contingency was a consideration; but, the actual expense of building & maintaining race bikes was the ultimate "Factor".

Building, Racing & Maintaining 6 Pro-Level race bikes is waaaaaaay more "tellling" than any Magazine article or "shoot-out", web forum or ad campaign.
Tiki
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Tiki 10/19/2009 2:35pm
10/19/2009 2:35pm
2010 at the local races will be a sea of blue and white. MXers love to have the latest and greatest.
wakeriderof87 10/19/2009 3:49pm
10/19/2009 3:49pm
All of the top guys race Kawi's now in my Harescramble series. Their contingency program is far and away the best of any of the manufacturers.

Nice choice in music KTMDAN
KAWboy14
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KAWboy14 10/19/2009 4:48pm
10/19/2009 4:48pm
seems like a lot of hondas are messin up crank bearings around here...... but yeah envy is GREEN! Smile
yamaharider4life01 10/19/2009 5:08pm
10/19/2009 5:08pm
v1rus99 wrote:
Same... I been riding Green since the good old days of the KX60's.... In previous years I was the only Green Bike around... This weekend there...
Same... I been riding Green since the good old days of the KX60's....

In previous years I was the only Green Bike around... This weekend there where 8 Green bikes out of 12...

Funny thing is, Gear companies make less green kit these days... All the guys that ride green don't have the luxury of the Red and Yellow riders that get the same matching kit.
Gear that matches the bike is gay...(not that there is anything wrong with that).

I laugh my ass off at honda dudes that have all red gear....or yamaha dudes with all blue gear...nothing screams poser more than that. (well, maybe the Fox sticker in the window of their jacked up F150...)
Madmax31
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Madmax31 10/19/2009 5:12pm
10/19/2009 5:12pm
I rode an 09 and an 08 KXF450. Awesome motors and compared to a RMZ horrible in the corners. I didn't care much for it but would take it over the YZF.
AMA714
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AMA714 10/19/2009 5:19pm
10/19/2009 5:19pm
it all depends on where you are. Its all Honda´s and Yamaha's where I grew up in Canada. Seems like Honda and Yamaha here in Texas too.
ktm300hater
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ktm300hater 10/19/2009 5:20pm
10/19/2009 5:20pm
I have 6 KXs... 2- 09 450s a 10 250F an 09 250F an 08 450 that is our Off-road racer and a pristine 05 KX 250 2 stroke that my kid loves to ride, but I hate with a passion
nc_mx_kid
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nc_mx_kid 10/20/2009 8:52am
10/20/2009 8:52am
roguemx wrote:
they've got the best contingency plan...
they've ALWAYS had a solid support program for amateur racing.

just 1 reason to ride GREEN.


7 of the 10 riders at the last round of the nationals were on GREEN.

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