Ali F0 $ho :]
New member
Wow, DrBob. That's pretty insane. I wouldn't even continue making cruisers, then. Jeez. I wonder if Suzuki is even making much of a profit on them.
Where are all the Suzukis???
- Thread starter Ali F0 $ho :]
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sushifishiez
New member
I hardly ever watch that channel. It's weird how Suzuki is such a big player in motorcycles and yet their cars are basically ignored in the States and Canada.
Honda car lines are #1 in Canada and the States (Civic and Accord, respectively)...why don't they hit the market hard?
jim
Honda car lines are #1 in Canada and the States (Civic and Accord, respectively)...why don't they hit the market hard?
jim
Mr. Maharg
New member
The profit margin on a cruiser is higher than any other type of bike, and there certainly is room for growth as far as market share goes, so they stay in the US cruiser market. Industry wide, cruisers accounted for 50% of the bikes sold in the US last year, will all other types put together making up the other 50%. As the riding public ages, sportbike sales (where Suzuki sells most of their bikes) are expected to continue to shrink while cruiser and tourer sales continue to grow, so Suzuki needs cruisers in the showroom.
But looking at that data makes it easy to understand why Suzuki only adds one new cruiser model every couple of years, keeps those models in the showroom for 10-20 years before replacing them, and why they sold the re-badged Kawasaki Mean Streak: when you only sell 15,000 cruisers a year, you really need to limit your development costs and sell a bike for a lot of years to recoup those costs.
Suzuki's car sales have grown considerably in North America, but the dealer network is still a bit thin, and Suzuki's production capacity for US-legal models is limited. But again, they sell a lot more cars in Asia than in North America, so expanding US and Canadian sales in not on the top of their priority list. China is currently the second-largest auto market, and also the fastest growing, so that is where Suzuki is pushing thier cars the most.
Personally, I think Suzuki would be a good match for a merger with Daimler-Chrysler, with Suzuki providing low end cars, Benz the high-end cars and commercial trucks, and Chrysler/ Dodge everything in between. But that's just me.
But looking at that data makes it easy to understand why Suzuki only adds one new cruiser model every couple of years, keeps those models in the showroom for 10-20 years before replacing them, and why they sold the re-badged Kawasaki Mean Streak: when you only sell 15,000 cruisers a year, you really need to limit your development costs and sell a bike for a lot of years to recoup those costs.
Suzuki's car sales have grown considerably in North America, but the dealer network is still a bit thin, and Suzuki's production capacity for US-legal models is limited. But again, they sell a lot more cars in Asia than in North America, so expanding US and Canadian sales in not on the top of their priority list. China is currently the second-largest auto market, and also the fastest growing, so that is where Suzuki is pushing thier cars the most.
Personally, I think Suzuki would be a good match for a merger with Daimler-Chrysler, with Suzuki providing low end cars, Benz the high-end cars and commercial trucks, and Chrysler/ Dodge everything in between. But that's just me.
piepounder
New member
I own a 98' Marauder 800cc and I love it! It's a damn shame those HD'ers don't save a little cash and get a bike that looks and rolls well for the $$$. I guess it's all image, right?
I rode my friends 1800cc Honda Shadow the other day and it felt like I was landing a 747 passenger jet and to be completely honest, I didn't find the power all that impressive. Maybe I'm just a sucker for Suzuki, but I can't see myself owning anything as cumbersome as a Shadow or cost-inefficient as a Harley-D..
Too bad there aren't more people climbing on the Mid-size suzuki cruiser band-wagon. Great bikes with better price tags!!!
cheers,
dru
I rode my friends 1800cc Honda Shadow the other day and it felt like I was landing a 747 passenger jet and to be completely honest, I didn't find the power all that impressive. Maybe I'm just a sucker for Suzuki, but I can't see myself owning anything as cumbersome as a Shadow or cost-inefficient as a Harley-D..
Too bad there aren't more people climbing on the Mid-size suzuki cruiser band-wagon. Great bikes with better price tags!!!
cheers,
dru
aaron11292
New member
True statement. And with the Boulevard line, you can add "more and better features for the buck." My 05 M50 for example includes EFI, shaft drive, and inverted front forks on the same mid-sized package. Try finding that combo in the competition. I can't see myself upgrading from the M50 because it is truly the cruiser I wanted. However, I find myself wanting to upgrade my sportbike and for some reason, I'm starting to see a Gixxer in my future (damn...). 
Out of all the cruisers, I think I love the M50 the most. Not sure why but the styling just seems RIGHT to me. Maybe that's what I need is TWO bikes and then just flip from one to the other?
Have you seen the Hyosung GV650?
I always think it looks neat, a bit like a V-Rod but it has its own thing going as well. It's claim to fame is more than 70 hp. for a middleweight cruiser so it hauls butt really well.
But quality is a real issue. I'm reading about lots of guys whose GV's are pretty much toast after just a few thousand k.
Seems strange because Hyosung has made Suzukis and Suzuki engines for years so I would have thought the quality would have been there.
In almost 9000 k on my 2006 Bandit650S, I've had an ignition wire work its way loose - that's it.
jim
Have you seen the Hyosung GV650?
I always think it looks neat, a bit like a V-Rod but it has its own thing going as well. It's claim to fame is more than 70 hp. for a middleweight cruiser so it hauls butt really well.
But quality is a real issue. I'm reading about lots of guys whose GV's are pretty much toast after just a few thousand k.
Seems strange because Hyosung has made Suzukis and Suzuki engines for years so I would have thought the quality would have been there.
In almost 9000 k on my 2006 Bandit650S, I've had an ignition wire work its way loose - that's it.
jim
SlippersInHandcuffss
New member
Or you can get a Magna.
crazyhorsegirl
New member
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cally l
Guest
I agree with Funkmon, If Honda hadn't stopped production of the Magna, I would have a nice new Magna in the garage! I'm still very happy with my 2006 C50c though.