SighBored
@thesighbored
Do you know what happens when an exclusive (or exotic) brand starts trying to get into the smaller capacity market? They come up with "more affordable" bikes with their brand on it, and the end result is.. When owners of these "more affordable" ones join the group, they are looked down upon, being the "outcast" of the brand family. This is what happens in Ducati over here in my country. They start producing the cheaper Monster model, get it assembled in Thailand, mind you, it still is a bit expensive when compared to similar class bikes like the Japs, but when someone buys this cheaper Monster and joins the Ducati Club or whatever, the "real" Ducati owners with their made in Italy bikes don't want to mix with these "outcasts".. It's sad and funny.The Street 500 and Street 750s are nice steps in the right direction. They are modernizing, but they are going to have to start embracing the fact that some people want a "crotch rocket" *shudder* (pet peeve term) and some people want something in between and they are missing out on an ENORMOUS segment of buyers in the small displacement market.
Unfortunately, the average household just doesn't have the disposable income all the time to spend 20-30,000$ on a vehicle period, let alone a motorcycle. It's not just Harley that is affected by this either, it's not like you see GoldWings, or Valkyries all over the place either, or big Indians, or even new Hayabusa's, people are gravitating toward the less expensive bikes more often now.
Oh well.