2011 GSX1250FA coming to America

[rajflyboy]

the 2011 XZ14 is MSRP $13,599.

When doing new-model-year price comparisons, MSRP has to be compared first. Discounted prices are just icing on the cake. Left over pricing is a crap shoot.

Raj's complaint was that the Bandit 1250 sport-tour dressed version of "overpriced" at $11 and some change compared to the ZX14.

It's not... again, comparing new stock on current-year models.

What part of "Just a few years ago" can you not understand?

[Sport-Touring]

[Rogue]

Nevermind the price argument.

How many in here REALLY believe the GSX1250F is going to sell well at all?

They couldn't give away enough Bandit 1250's when it was less than $10k!  This ST "Bandit" will be competing head to head against the likes of the C14, VFR1200, Hayabusa, Triumph Sprint GT, ZX14, etc.  Most people in this price range will go for the sleeker, faster, machines.  Those leaning towards sleek will get the Hayabusa/ZX14.  Those leaning towards comfort will get the C14/FJR/VFR1200.  That leaves the GSX1250F and the Z1000S languishing in the showrooms of America.  

Motorcycles in this class don't sell if they don't look right.  That Suzuki already looks dated.  Sorry but look at sales history of similar bikes in the US.  They all failed.

[chornbe]

What part of "Just a few years ago" can you not understand?

Oh, gosh. Sounded to me like you were comparing a few-years-old bike to a current model.

Sorry if I got that wrong.

[Orson]

Maybe some people will think it looks dated...I like it but, then I like cafe racers so, I may not be one to go by  



I think it looks better than the ST1300 or the FJR or the Concours 14

Yamaha didn't think the FJR would sell in the US so, time will tell whether Suzuki keeps it in their line up.

[ANTBROWN]

I don't know how things in the Sates are exactly but up here in Canada the GSX1250 SEA comes with the full set of luggage and it's quite popular. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the FJR, C14 or K1300 but in today's economy how many people can afford to pay top dollar for a motorcycle which is essentially a toy. Now isn't the right time for Suzuki to release an expensive sport/touring machine although I do wish they'd change the chain to a belt drive, add heated grips and a 22 - 23L tank. A taller/wider manually adjustable windscreen employing a system similar to Madstad's Robo brackets would be great as well but other than that I think the bike looks great and from everything I've read about it on several websites and forums, including this one, not many people have anything bad to say about it and the vast majority like it a lot. I rode one at a Suzuki demo day and it felt really good. That motor is a gem. Smooth and lots of bottom end/midrange. Just where you need it for real world riding. The ergos where good as well. I know I'm coveting one that's for sure. Love that blacked out motor!!
C14's are butt ugly.
Just my two cents.

Michael

[Jetpilot5]

How many in here REALLY believe the GSX1250F is going to sell well at all?

I think it's going to be a much tougher sell now that the new Kawasaki Ninja 1000 has been introduced.  It'll be interesting to read the tests on these bikes in the coming months, but the Ninja has higher specs for a little less money and while I think the GSX looks good, it doesn't mimic the looks of the superbikes like the Kawasaki does.  ABS may sway a few but not many.  A test ride program might help because that Bandit engine is really nice but I doubt that's happening either.

Anyone know what color the US is getting?

[Siah]

I think the people that know and love the Bandit will choose the GSX1250, and the people that love shiny and new will buy the Ninja 1000.
Which basically means the Ninja 1000 will trounce the Bandit, which is unfortunate, because I'd love for Suzuki to keep sending bikes like this to the states.  I know as soon as I get an air traffic control job after I graduate, I'm going to get one.  And I'll probably turn my B12S into a streetfighter.  

[Sarchi]

You are wrong.  

MSRP was below 11599 on a ZX14 just a few years ago on a current in year model.  And yes the ZX14 is a hell of a lot more bike than a GSX1250

The exchange rate really has raised the prices on Jap bikes to a level >> in which I would just go ahead and buy a European Machine such as a Triumph or Ducati over the Jap bikes

Actually guys, the Yen has declined about 30% vs. the Dollar in the last 5 years.  I know Japan imports their steel, but still.  With outsourcing rampant and 0% interest rates, the prices on Japanese goods should be going down over here, not up.  I have no explanation for this, maybe someone else can take a shot at it.  

[Orson]

The Japanese Yen and the Japanese Dollar are two different things.

[bassjones]

One more to add to the potential next bike list.  The new Kawi Z1000S (available with full luggage) is what the new VFR SHOULD have been, this new Bandit is a great value at that price, the Sprint GT - YES!!! Choices!  That or go more touring oriented with the Conk, FJR or the (hopefully updated by then) ST1300...

[marc11]

Actually guys, the Yen has declined about 30% vs. the Dollar in the last 5 years.  I know Japan imports their steel, but still.  With outsourcing rampant and 0% interest rates, the prices on Japanese goods should be going down over here, not up.  I have no explanation for this, maybe someone else can take a shot at it.  

Land and labor are very expensive in Japan.  Japan tries to source as much in country as they can, they attempt to support themselves as much as possible, including steel.  A lot of steel is still made in Japan, and while very high quality, it isn't cheap.

Actually the Yen is very strong against the dollar, historically strong.  In fact Japan has been accusing China of buying Yen to drive the value up making Japanese imports less attractive overseas.  So a weak dollar/strong Yen make Japanese produces less attractive to the US, ie more expensive since it takes more dollars to buy the same amount of Yen.  Therefore at 100 Yen to the dollar you needed 10,000 dollars to make 100,000 yen, at 90 Yen to the dollar you need to sell that same product for 11,111 Dollars to make that same 100,000 Yen.

[ChrisInTexas]

Actually guys, the Yen has declined about 30% vs. the Dollar in the last 5 years.  I know Japan imports their steel, but still.  With outsourcing rampant and 0% interest rates, the prices on Japanese goods should be going down over here, not up.  I have no explanation for this, maybe someone else can take a shot at it.  

As of this writing $1 US = 83 YEN, in June of 2007 $1 US = 123.8 YEN. That means that in 2007 you could get 123.8 YEN for every US dollar, today you can ONLY get 83 YEN for a US Dollar. The US Dollar has lost approximately 33% of its value compared to the Japanese YEN since 2007, hence the price increase for Japanese products.

Also, I love this Bandit and plan on buying one, I think it is a perfect ST bike.

[motormike]

I'm partial to Suzuki only because I had some friends in high school own GSXR bikes (long time ago).  I'm hoping to buy a SV650 as my first bike.  I like this new Bandit model with full fairing and ABS and want to see it in person.

Lots of choices with all of these new and existing models.

[sammyseaman]

Chain drive = fail.

  Don't let a tiny bit of maintenance scare you.

[satz]

Couple of things the bandit 1250 avg 50 miles to a gallon so comparing it to the VFR is not correct.
Also you can buy the bandit with ABS which the Ninja 1000 does not come with.

Insurance on the bandit is going to alot less compared to the other bikes. The only thing is why cannot you buy a bandit for 9k with abs and just added luggage and bottom fairing
for 1k.

[Sarchi]

As of this writing $1 US = 83 YEN, in June of 2007 $1 US = 123.8 YEN. That means that in 2007 you could get 123.8 YEN for every US dollar, today you can ONLY get 83 YEN for a US Dollar. The US Dollar has lost approximately 33% of its value compared to the Japanese YEN since 2007, hence the price increase for Japanese products.

Also, I love this Bandit and plan on buying one, I think it is a perfect ST bike.

D'oh!  You're right.  I was reading the tables backwards, no wonder it made no sense.  

Well, that's the answer to raj's rant then.

[JReazor]

I'm curious about the prevalence of the belief that motorcycles are toys.  

I feel, with no real statistical basis, that riders I know use their bikes for transportation more than as 'toys.'

Of course, most of my riding friends and I have multiple bikes, and usually only 1 is the practical touring/commuting bike (for some, they have 2, but those guys don't count anyway - too many in the garage).


My buddy with one bike, he never rides it.

Odd.

- Dan

That's definitely not consistant with my experience. Most of the people I know who own bikes take them out for short rides when the weather is nice on Sunday morning. I work with a couple guys that have bikes in the garage that haven't been started in several years. Several others go on a couple long trips a year but never ride to work. Bikes are simple recreation to those people. I would wager that they make up a bigger percentage of the American motorcycle buying public then we do.

[Jetpilot5]

Now up on the Suzuki US website.

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%20Lines/Cycles/Products/GSX1250FA/2011/GSX1250FA.aspx?category=sportbike

[motormike]

Now up on the Suzuki US website.

In BLACK.

[Siah]

Suzuki has made all my dreams come true.  Damnit I want to graduate NOW!