Suzuki and Kawasaki have had an extremely difficult time competing with Honda and HD from the get go with their cruisers and midside bikes. Both have had pretty good success with their "rice rockets" but a big chunk of the market has been bitten off by the Busa's and BMW's.
Honda's early entry into the American Market (primarily in the 60's) established them as the small and midsize leader while HD remained the leader with big bikes.
Honda's entry of bigger bikes in the eighties really took a cut out of HD since their inline fours were virtually rockets!
Suzi's entry into the American market with the Cavalcade was an attempt to draw the market from the Gold wings and Ultra Classics but both had been firmly established and after three years Suzuki discontinued the Cavalcade (a big mistake in MHO).
Honda and HD had established a market of add-ons for their bikes and the after-marketeers produced a multitude of parts for Hondas and HD but stayed away from Suzuki's and Kawasaki's. Although the aftermarket has now started handling add-ons for the "rice rockets", they've largely stayed away from the cruisers and midsized bikes from Suzi's and Kaw's. This is the number one reason most people are staying away from the big bikes from companies other than Honda and HD (including Suzuki). That's a shame because Suzuki builds a very good bike.
Suzuki's decision not to import any 2010's to America, I suspect, will come back to bite them in the a$$ and they will lose a bigger portion of the American market than they realize. I think Suzuki's actions will unfortunately affect Kawasaki's American business because people will be hesitant to buy bikes from companies that appear less dedicated to the American market.
Due to Honda's long history in the American market, they are in the position to benefit substantually in the cruiser and touring bike sales market. Unfortunately Honda has closed their facilities that assembled bikes here in America and with that "pull out" will drive more people to HD in spite of the high prices they charge.
HD has virtually overcome the mechanical problems of the eighties and early ninties and the ever present oil leaks since the beginning of the company with the reinstitution of good design and high quality control but I suspect they are going to have to back off on their prices in order to keep moving their new bikes. With all the aftermarket stuff available for HD, rebuild older HD's is a big movement and is certainly cheaper than buying a new HD.
Honda's early entry into the American Market (primarily in the 60's) established them as the small and midsize leader while HD remained the leader with big bikes.
Honda's entry of bigger bikes in the eighties really took a cut out of HD since their inline fours were virtually rockets!
Suzi's entry into the American market with the Cavalcade was an attempt to draw the market from the Gold wings and Ultra Classics but both had been firmly established and after three years Suzuki discontinued the Cavalcade (a big mistake in MHO).
Honda and HD had established a market of add-ons for their bikes and the after-marketeers produced a multitude of parts for Hondas and HD but stayed away from Suzuki's and Kawasaki's. Although the aftermarket has now started handling add-ons for the "rice rockets", they've largely stayed away from the cruisers and midsized bikes from Suzi's and Kaw's. This is the number one reason most people are staying away from the big bikes from companies other than Honda and HD (including Suzuki). That's a shame because Suzuki builds a very good bike.
Suzuki's decision not to import any 2010's to America, I suspect, will come back to bite them in the a$$ and they will lose a bigger portion of the American market than they realize. I think Suzuki's actions will unfortunately affect Kawasaki's American business because people will be hesitant to buy bikes from companies that appear less dedicated to the American market.
Due to Honda's long history in the American market, they are in the position to benefit substantually in the cruiser and touring bike sales market. Unfortunately Honda has closed their facilities that assembled bikes here in America and with that "pull out" will drive more people to HD in spite of the high prices they charge.
HD has virtually overcome the mechanical problems of the eighties and early ninties and the ever present oil leaks since the beginning of the company with the reinstitution of good design and high quality control but I suspect they are going to have to back off on their prices in order to keep moving their new bikes. With all the aftermarket stuff available for HD, rebuild older HD's is a big movement and is certainly cheaper than buying a new HD.
