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Not all steel is the same, there is a difference in quality between US and Japanese steel.
Yeah you're right. We checked this list in detail earlier this year (because we're paying those tariffs on some items we import) and it was pretty short. Looks like they have expanded it.
Still doesn't make sense to me to call a motorcycle a derivative of steel, but looks like you're right.
What a mess
Yes.
But those manufacturers have robust supply chains that often took decades to establish.
They are not going to flip it upside down to game some unpredictable taxation in an increasingly niche market.
I work with a business that produces aluminum motorcycle parts from US sourced aluminum and their raw materials prices went up 20% because of this. If the imported products cost more then it drives up US products frankly because they can.
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I am in manufacturing. Nothing magical. Don’t care about race, apparently you do. A mom staying home to raise kids sounds nice. I don’t care much for bowling. I like moto.
You're right it's a mess, there have been a couple of revisions this year...
I don’t remember these “non political” threads when the dealers were ripping you off, i mean, marking the price up directly due to “market adjustments” of 25-3000ish a bike but holy hell the sky is falling and “I can’t believe this isn’t being discussed” because the price of a rotor could potentially increase. I’ll tell you what will happen the price of the motorcycle will increase a few hundred dollars a year as per usual, and then the stealerships will tack on another 1000-1500 and say it’s due to tariffs and everyone will freak out as per this thread and blame the tartiffs and make this political when it isn’t.
Good point. Nobody was crying during covid pricing. The power of the media is apparently strong.
There are US companies that make steel components, I’m not sure where their steel is smeltered, if it’s in the USA then they would not be impacted.. By all means, we should support them when you buy an aftermarket rotor, sure. I don’t imagine the OEM’s are all going to start speccing their bikes with US made steel, though, it would raise their costs on the bikes (and replacement parts) that they sell globally.
I didn’t start the thread to complain about the tariffs, I do understand what the intent of them are. Bring manufacturing and jobs back to America.
I just wanted to point out that the cost on bikes has taken another sudden big increase and I hope everyone is prepared for the chain reaction of price increases that is sure to follow.
The tariff due to steel content will be small, current steel price is $800 per metric tonne, if the full weight of the bike (110kg) was steel, the tariff would be $44.
We've seen the similar pricing increases since the beginning of 2025:
20% increase in cost for USA made aluminum
22% increase in our bearing/seal costs (imported)
Significant increases in services like anodize as their costs have all gone up.
And it doesn't help that all other overhead has gone up as well; insurance, lease of space, electrical, etc. If, in the course of a year, all COGS and overhead go up 20%, then it gets REALLY hard to maintain the previous retail pricing...
Directly tariff related, my other company just bought some stainless steel screws from China last month (not moto related). The total tariff charged was 105%. I have no idea how they came to that number as you don't get to see a breakdown; they just send you a bill that must be paid prior to delivery. I can only imagine what other companies are going through that import most of their goods.
It would be nice if the tariff were calculated on the value of the raw material but it’s on the value of the finished product. When this news first broke I think everyone had their hopes up that it was what you’re suggesting, but if’s not.
I buy different kinds of steel/aluminum/stainless every day for manufacturing and I think most people would be surprised how easy steel is to source in the US. I think there is a misconception to the general masses that the US does not produce much steel but its simply untrue. That being said even US material has gone up, luckily we are a job shop so we are always working off of current pricing.
We do work for a bunch of large companies in various industries and 99% of them require domestic steel or from USA's allies.
Dirt Tricks! USA rotors and sprockets from USA steel.
Talk to a customs broker, it's the declared value of the steel content...
I don’t disagree with your sentiment.
Due to a combination of tariffs and foreign currency exchange. The cost to import a motorcycle has increased 15-30% since earlier this year. I think we’re going to see a lot more than a few hundred dollar increase in MSRP’s as a result and that’s why I started this thread, to bring it to light.
As for the dealers who were price gouging during covid, fuck each and every last one of them.
Agreed. The only bikes that would be remotely close to 40% is KTM Group...and those bikes are still at probably 20% maximum.. There's way more aluminum on these bikes.
I know electricity prices in the US have gone up significantly the last few years due to green energy and increased demand for data centers to support ai. That will hit all US industries but especially steel and aluminum production. Aluminum production uses a lot of electricity.
We are still seeing inflation from the inflation reduction act Biden signed. We will see inflation from the one Trump signed this year over the next couple of years.
We are still seeing health care costs rise 7% annually. That is a big reason US labor is not cost competitive with other countries.
The Fed gov is deficit spending at something like 7% of gdp. That all goes to inflation. They have been lying about the inflation numbers for decades and the real rate is probably double the reported rate. They have us all arguing politics while they rob us blind.
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DirtTricks I believe.
Also Race-Tech Titanium makes them out of Titanium.
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