Beware ! It seems to me that a new 1200GS (for instance) costs about £1,100 more in France than in the UK AT THE MOMENT. This of course is due to the fall of the £ against the Euro; If you are thinking of buying a new bike I would say that now is the time because it cannot be too long before there will have to be a real increase in UK prices.
Exchange rates
- Thread starter Brian ROSEN
- Start date
MasterDabber
Registered user
I'm suprised that bike manufacturers aren't offering big discounts given the current economic climate. I'd have thought that what for many is a discretionary purchase might be somewhat threatened by the general turndown.
alimey4u2
Registered user
I agree but the market is a great leveller. Lack of demand will force dealers & manufacturers to cut margins. Energy prices are dropping which will also reflect in the cost of production & raw materials...
See the internet connection to France is a bit slow at the moment: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165184&highlight=exchange 
Do they need to Dabber?
We have bought three new machines this year, and many of my friends also have made new purchases, including Buells, 1200GSA and KTMs.
It seems motorcyclists will always buy motorcycles.
The first post is comparing prices in different countries, and I thought that there was a general concencus that the pricing of bikes is not relative to exchange rates? Local duties, ie, vat and otr costs usually bring the price difference to almost £0.00.
Timpo.
MasterDabber
Registered user
Hi Timpo. I guess I can only speak for my self and buying a new bike isn't on my list of priorities at the moment ... not that I've identified anything out there that I'd want to replace my 1150 with - but that's getting off topic.
As to whether many people will continue to be able to afford "fun" bikes will depend. I'm not talking about those who use a bike as their main form of transport.
I think the economic turndown hasn't really hit yet... unfortunately I can see things getting far worse.
It does not work like that
"...The first post is comparing prices in different countries, and I thought that there was a general concencus that the pricing of bikes is not relative to exchange rates? Local duties, ie, vat and otr costs usually bring the price difference to almost £0.00....." What you say may be true long term but when a currency falls sharply (as the £ has done against the €) a manufacturer cannot align all his prices instantly - otherwise the showroom price would vary day by day. There was a time about 5 or 6 years ago when it worked the other way and everything here in France was cheaper than in the UK. (At that time I bought 5 RHD drive cars here in Vienne for various family & friends and when all taxes were paid, they were 25% cheaper than the UK price - all quite legal of course.)
"...The first post is comparing prices in different countries, and I thought that there was a general concencus that the pricing of bikes is not relative to exchange rates? Local duties, ie, vat and otr costs usually bring the price difference to almost £0.00....." What you say may be true long term but when a currency falls sharply (as the £ has done against the €) a manufacturer cannot align all his prices instantly - otherwise the showroom price would vary day by day. There was a time about 5 or 6 years ago when it worked the other way and everything here in France was cheaper than in the UK. (At that time I bought 5 RHD drive cars here in Vienne for various family & friends and when all taxes were paid, they were 25% cheaper than the UK price - all quite legal of course.)
the wrong thread
Not the internet connection - my servo connection! Perhaps the man in charge will move this thread to the 'correct' channel! Sorry about that!See the internet connection to France is a bit slow at the moment: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165184&highlight=exchange
DutchBryn
Registered user
I'm with MasterDabber on this. Problem will take a while longer to unwind fully.
Check this out:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/ambros...sp_warns_of_a_debt_financing_crisis_in_europe
One of only a couple of journos that saw this coming (and dared to say so).
Cash is king..
Check this out:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/ambros...sp_warns_of_a_debt_financing_crisis_in_europe
One of only a couple of journos that saw this coming (and dared to say so).
Cash is king..
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