Motorcycle Manufacturing Basics 101

[LowRiderGhost]

Just a whimsical thought: Given the Research & Development costs let's say to come out with ANY new bike, and what I'm calling the actual small material amount (mass) difference between say a small displacement bike and a much larger one, BUT given how considerably much more a large displacement bike can be sold for on the market then a small one.... wouldn't you think it would be in any motorcycle company's best interest (say in this case these newly emerging far eastern MC companies) to come out with significantly bigger bikes? I dunno.... what am I missing here?!

I know when H-D whined to then President Regan in 1982 about 'dumping on the market by foreign bike companies' significant tariffs were imposed on all imported bikes, based on displacement as well. Are those tariffs still in effect? Can say these new far-eastern companies expect a considerable cost of doing business increase on their bikes exported to the U.S. if they do come out with say a 1200cc or larger bike over let’s say 650cc? What about Product Liability, is there a significant difference in costs to manufacturers who sell a large displacement bike over a smaller one? I’m just curious why any manufacturer would start out with small bikes then work they’re way up?! From at least a manufacturing and sales point of view, surely wouldn’t this be contrary to the bottom line?! I don’t get it (obviously).

LRG :cool:

[pintslayer]

Think back to the good (?) old days of BSA (Bastard Stopped Again). They would build a 250cc bike, when that sold like gangbusters, they would take the same bottom end and transplant a 450 or 500 cc top end onto it. Success!! Let's try a 650cc top end, using basically the same bottom end. People buy it, break it and BOOM, BSA gets the rep of having weak bottom ends.

I think companies like BSA and the far eastern types start with small bikes because that's what the commuters in their respective countries can afford. One must remember, only in America are motorcycles seen as playthings. In most countries, you can afford one vehicle and one vehicle only. If it's a bike, it better be one that is easy to maintain and inexpensive to operate. The BSA's and Triumphs and Nortons that we swoon over today were sold to people in Britain as daily transportation, in spite of what the British so charmingly call "weather". Sadly, motorcycle as toy is a uniquely American concept.

That's my take, anyway. They build what they can sell at home, then start exporting.