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The limited edition concept has proven to have a market, and many feel there is better value in having the factory make the upgrades and not have a bunch of brand new parts left over by doing it yourself.
Should the factories take it further? Would you for instance buy a KTM/Husky with WP cone valves and trax shock for say $15k? Let's assume you will still save thousands over doing it yourself. Would there be a big enough market if Kit suspension was offered?
It seems odd to still have better upgrades left in the parts brochure.
On a related note, why don't we see a Factory/Works edition shootout?
Should the factories take it further? Would you for instance buy a KTM/Husky with WP cone valves and trax shock for say $15k? Let's assume you will still save thousands over doing it yourself. Would there be a big enough market if Kit suspension was offered?
It seems odd to still have better upgrades left in the parts brochure.
On a related note, why don't we see a Factory/Works edition shootout?
A niche into a niche.
Back in the days of 2500.00 125’s, everyone paid cash. Nowadays, people think nothing of getting a 72-month loan on an asset that depreciates 33-50% in the first year...
The Shop
Have you ever looked at Trek's project one website?
That being said, I look at what KTM did with the KR Edition and I cannot buy a standard 350XCF and add those parts for cheaper then what I can buy that bike for. An IMS tank alone, landed here in Canada is nearly $600, FMF slip-on another $600...
While it appears I want to spend more money in the bike price, I'd actually be spending less..
I'm not sure that putting advanced level suspension on any production bike is the way to go, because not everyone who buys the bike can use it without getting hammered.
Example - this past Friday, I saw TWO brand new 2021 450 FE's freshies at Pala, and the vet guys riding them looked like they were getting back into the sport after a long layoff, based on their speed and fitness - now if those bikes came with full on WP pro stuff, it would have made their day a lot worse because CV spring forks don't move a lot in second gear at 30 mph when you roll tables.
I talked to one of the guys and he didn't even know that you had to set and check pressure on the fork, let alone adjust the clickers. That guy didn't need advanced suspension. He said he bought the FE because it looked cooler than the regular KTM.
I made my own personalized 450 FE with the key performance parts I need to go faster with more comfort. Sure I don't have an orange frame or those obnoxious Red Bull graphics, but I ride for results, not how the bike looks on the stand.
Everybody likes different performance parts on their bike, and if I buy an FE or WE edition I have to take whatever exhaust or suspension is on the bike at a premium price, OR I can spend the same money and put on the stuff that works for me.
I think selling a REAL factory bike with factory level components would get a lot of riders in trouble.
Pit Row
Everyone needs to get over the old guys buying FEs and trading them with 3 hours on them. its good business for dealers, good for the used bike market and besides, they have the disposable income which make $15K a year irrelevant to them. Let em buy whatever the hell they want..that's what makes life awesome!
And guess what, when you're old you're going to be one of us so stop making fun of yourself!!
The fact that Cone valves aren't comfortable to many is for a different thread, this is not about those details. There are plenty of Kit forks out there that work fine for a variety of riders and conditions. The Cone valves are probably a bad example, but they are what KTM offers so..
If you can answer this, then you also know the answer to why amateur riders buy super-trick bikes.
See you Sunday!
The stock stuff is made in the THOUSANDS...
The CVs/Trax are made in the HUNDREDS...
(That's an educated guess...& that's qty of units annually. Again, that's an educated guess based on observing the industry and KTM/WP closely)
So, the credit your giving for the stock stuff is less and the price you'd add for the WP Pro stuff is more. This is based on the assumption of KTM doing a Red Bull SXS Edition...at say...400 units (Homologation minimum if I'm not mistaked...?).
I'd estimate the 450 would be $14,999 (Current Red Bull Edition is $11,299)
That's $3,700 more & I'm assuming it would have better triple clamps and linkage (Factory Billet parts) and select Ti bits or other lightweight/factory goodies and all the best electronics.
Like others were saying, this would be kind of like the earlier SXS bikes.
I think they should do it.
All the while...and it's kinda funny...the new shock I've seen in testing for the next gen SXF is huge and looks A LOT like the Trax.
Honda oughta do the same thing with the CRF-R WE...what would they call it..."Team Replica" or "HRC Edition"? People would lose thier minds (and there wallets) for actual Kit Showa on a CRF.
Post a reply to: Should Factory Editions offer WP's best suspension?