Bike depreciation?

Hi all,

Do bikes suffer from the same massive drop in value being rolled out of the showroom as cars?

Went bike shopping around Moss St this morning, and I'm actually a little tempted to pick up a new ER-5 for around $7300 on road, pre-bargaining.

My only worry is depreciation. Am I going to be down a grand just by wheeling it out of the car park?

Thanks

Danny

Yep, it's gonna happen.

BUT -
* You do get to know the bike from new.
* You know exactly how its been treated.
* Yours is the only arse that's sat on it!


Otherwise a good second hand one will do just as well, but finding that 'good one' is the hard bit.........

Not so much. The new ER-5's are about a grand cheaper than when I went looking 18months ago - imagine how peeved I'd be if I had to suck another $1k because kawa dropped the RRP on new!

They seem to hold their value quite well, as they aren't the kind of bike that fashion victims buy - so you're market is a bit different. A 2 year old sports bike has probably had at least 2 models in that time...

At that price, it'd be a decent buy. 2 year old ones are still asking over $6k. So for an extra $1k you get warranty and a brand new bike.

Went bike shopping around Moss St this morning, and I'm actually a little tempted to pick up a new ER-5 for around $7300 on road, pre-bargaining.

My only worry is depreciation. Am I going to be down a grand just by wheeling it out of the car park?

Yes, but that only becomes a factor if you decide to chop it in after only a short period of time. Hang on to the bike for a few years (as you may well do with something like an ER-5; keep it as a commuter if and when you move on to something bigger and faster), and you won't notice the difference.

Also, at $7300 out the door, you can hardly lose, can you?

(hint that the ER-6n is coming to Australia, maybe? They're running out the ER-5)

Hmm... Actually, there's a thought - wonder if used ER-5 sales might take a dive when the ER-6 turns up?

Ah probably not, the ER-6 should be many more $$$.

The other option I'm looking at (trying not to be tempted by an SV650 or FZ6!) is a 2004 GS500 up at Springwood Suzuki - 6000 klicks and $6500. I'd have to get them to knock something off that compared to the ER though...

Danny

A secondhand GS vs New ER - ER just for the warranty and the fact it is new. If they hose another $1k off it'd be a good buy though...

ER-6 probably won't affect resale of ER-5 as they are different bikes aimed at different markets. The 6 is probably going to compete more with SV's and FZ6's - something the ER5 can't do - it has a big power deficit. I'd be surprised if the 6 didn't have a wider, flatter torque curve...

I'd expect the 6 to be priced around $10 - $11k.

I'd expect the 6 to be priced around $10 - $11k.

Nah, dude; that's Z750 money, and, really, it's the Z750 which is already Kwak's counter, and an effective one at that, to the SV650, the FZ6 and the Hornet 600.

If I had to rub the crystal ball, I'd peg the ER-6 at around the eight grand mark.

Kawasaki's marketing strategy at the moment seems to be "offer them more motor than the rest". If they brought the ER-6 in and fitted it with a removable secondary throttle blocker to lop off enough of the top end to keep it within the LAMS regulations (like Ducati and Hyosung do), they'd bring sales of the GS500 down to zero virtually overnight.

If they do the ER6 for $8k then Hyosung would become irrelevant.

LAMS would be good, as the ER5 already fits into that scheme. EFI makes such things very possible, very easily. I believe BMW does something on some of their bikes where they just upgrade the EFI software once you are on you're opens, and the bike is fully powered - no spanners needed! Doesn't take long either...

If it comes in at $8k then I'd buy one, but I reckon there won't be much change from $10k...especially with that screen and some luggage options

My only worry is depreciation. Am I going to be down a grand just by wheeling it out of the car park?

maybe 2 grand if ur lucky

mate its a part of life u cant do anything about

I'd expect the 6 to be priced around $10 - $11k.

Nah, dude; that's Z750 money, and, really, it's the Z750 which is already Kwak's counter, and an effective one at that, to the SV650, the FZ6 and the Hornet 600.

If I had to rub the crystal ball, I'd peg the ER-6 at around the eight grand mark.

Yep I agree, it won't be as high as the Z750 so expect it to be low 9's.