Posts
2823
Joined
7/19/2013
Location
Philadelphia, PA
US
Edited Date/Time
7/30/2025 4:15pm
I had preordered some gear, and the retailer had quoted me the original prices of the Alpinestars helmet and gear. For example, the helmet was 729. This was sent to retailers pre tariffs. The new price that came in, because of the import tariffs, was 839. This is the first time I’ve seen such a direct tax on consumers. Our sport mostly imports, and is expensive enough. I fear for companies who are already struggling post COVID.
It’s not good, I have a few friends that are being hit hard.
Not only from China, but 30% EU as well.
Did you cancel the order? That’s a crazy price for a helmet!
“Won’t affect the consumer prices” he said. Bummer. Maybe we can all stop trusting and idolizing politicians and have each others backs now.
Simple solution. Buy American made, no tariffs. I have zero issue with paying tariffs, personal spending or in our business. If I don't want to pay it, I don't buy it. If it's reasonable, I buy it.
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Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Try and find an American-made helmet and get back to us.
There aren’t any. The idea is to make American manufacturing price competitive, squeeze the imports with heavy tariffs: short term buying slows down and companies are forced to manufacture in America or die off. I’m sure I’m not telling anyone anything they don’t already know.
As a guy that sells the two American brand helmets, I’d LOVE to be able to say they’re made in USA. I hope long term we’re able to achieve the goal.
I could be wrong.. but regardless of method I think we can all agree we would love to be able to buy American.
I own (a portion of) and run a business. People need to quit complaining/whining about it, figure it out and stop being victims. America was built on hard work, ingenuity, and creativity. Figure it the EF out. That's what we do. Playing the victim card (not saying that is you) doesn't solve shit. I'm tired of the excuses from people (again, not directing that at you). Improvise, adapt and overcome.
I’d happily buy a helmet made in America, but it’ll cost double what this guy was willing to pay ($1500+) considering labor wages, property value and material costs (which would also likely be charged a tariff)
Made in America helmets and gear SOUND amazing, but consumers won’t be able to afford it unless CEOs magically decide they only need a small portion of profit to back it.
No, it’s the best helmet on the market for me, and I value brain safety. I usually buy some casual wear, but I skipped that. So same dollar spend to Alpinestars, but 15 percent of that goes to thier tariff fees they have to pay, not bottom line.
I don’t want this to be political, it’s just the clearest case I’ve seen personally of tariffs hurting moto companies.
Yeah it sucks for you. And that is just the start. Add tariffs on raw materials to the equation which means also a part of the USA made products will have a significant price hike.
I just don't get it how people can be ok with politics like this. And like you mention in your first post, we in the industry really didn't need this after the Covid bubble burst.
What are the two American helmets you’re talking about?
What is the tariff situation with Taiwan? The vast majority of helmet brands that are worn by motocross racers in the US are produced by Topkey in Taiwan.
Still made in China, even for Topkey.
Before all this…the Eli Bell 10 was $899 🤣
Price increases happen all the time. Not a cheap sport. Welcome!
The American made products are either not there or more expensive.
Someone who gets it. Let's take Bell helmets as a example and say they mfg in the States. Paying someone $ 40 a hour compared to $ 40 a week. What will that do to the $ 700 helmet moving forward.
Not all of the raw materials are sourced in the United States. So those materials still have to be imported. Even if they did source the materials domestically, the labor to produce the products will be substantially higher because Americans won't (and shouldn't) work for $1 an hour. All of these costs get passed to the consumer.
Companies aren't going to sell product with at zero profit. It absolutely blows my mind that people don't understand this.....
We've had news today that everything we ship to the USA will be stopped by US Customs, and the 25% tariff will be added at that point. Previously, it was up to $800 without charge. I think it starts from August 1. Have your wallets ready, Trump wants your $$$$.
Pit Row
JFC....you guys need to stop spamming "tariff" on everything price related.
I own a small business - www.asagiwear.com
My sunglasses are made in China, last order I did I had to pay extra once it was shipped, it was minimal cost, I have a order in now that should be shipping soon and will be curious to see how much I have to pay extra this time, hoping its not much, but there isnt much I can do about it, its my only choice for getting sunglasses made.
So far my gear and gloves which are made in Pakistan have not been affected. ( Id really like to do it here in the usa or myself, but thats a huge investment I'm not even close to being ready for, plus the learning curve and figuring that out, on top of that I would have to retail my gear sets for considerbaly more ).
So if you are looking for some light weight good fitting gear, for a great price with name and number sublimated into it, check me out, I will be having a limited edition run of gear coming soon as well.
America currently has openings for around 500,000 good manufacturing jobs (and this will only get worse for multiple reasons). There was a time where you would put your name in with the Union and expect to wait in line for up to 6 years to get called up for a job (John Deere is one example). Bottom line, right or wrong people no longer want to work in manufacturing. If we want to more manufacturing in America...great! However, it is important we do not get the cart before the horse. We need to figure out how to start importing people who want to work in manufacturing. I hate to write this...but this is our reality.
Chinese and Taiwanese factory workers won't work for $1 an hour either, minimum factors wages are closer to $3.50 per hour.
Alrighty then.
You are correct. There are people who are happy to pay more in taxes - no argument. However, I can promise you most people feel we already pay too much in taxes. The sad part is there are people in America that actually think the exporting country is paying this extra tax (tariff). They have no idea that American citizens pay the tax (tariff).
It’s weird because I don’t find that many things made in America are all that much more expensive, and the quality is usually much higher. Except for Chevy.
Deere is currently laying workers off.
I'm calling bullshit on either the OP and / or Alpinestars here. Per the math, the OP saw a 15% price increase, and it was blamed on tariffs. The EU agreement reached a few days ago was 15%, so the number seems to fit. However, the previous tariff before the agreement was 30%. So he should have seen a 15% REDUCTION in price, if, in fact, this is really driven by tariffs. We're seeing a ton of random price increases all blamed on tariffs, and companies are hoping people are just too stupid to do the math and figure out they are being scammed.
Easy on the Chevy,s Bro. My 95 G20 with a couple hp bolt ons. Got 19.5 -20.5 maybe 21 fully loaded up bike, tools, 6 gal water, fuel, etc. my gauge went wayy past where it was when I left. I,m not going to get into it what the tariffs are doing to the county . The fear of it alone slowed everything down to nearly a stop. Sitting up to 5 days with no load , this has never happened.
I’ll get political make Americans great again
So when DT made these announcements of putting tariffs on all products coming in from china and Canada ………
Who do did you think was paying those tariffs??
BC aluminum export hasn’t missed a beat, no lay offs, no slow downs.
After all the US needs aluminum for the Bud light beer cans.
You need an option to sign up for a newsletter/discounts. I'm a purchaser, but I'm not going to buy right now and by the time I have a second to complete an order I will totally forget what the site/brand is called.
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