[GlennF]

The main problem, though, is the unpredictibility of all things happening in the global finance system. This has become so unimaginable complex, that even specialists with 3000.- € suits look like clowns when they try to explain anything.

oh .. its quite simple really

Stock market and money market speculators are overpaid overqualified but relatively simplistic punters who basically gamble with other peoples money. When things are fine or they get good "tips" they push prices through the roof, when things turn bad they go gutless and react with hysteria and sell madly everything they can and buy up "safe haven" investments like Swiss franc, Japanese yen and gold.

Once you realize the price of stocks/gold/real estate have been detached from any real value as a company to own, metal to make jewelry from or house to live in and its simply gambling (like horses or football)  its easy to understand.

[iowarider]

I love my Royal Enfield Bullet!  There really is no new motorcycle like it available in the US at any price.  Of all the motorcycles that I test rode before I bought my G5 Deluxe, none put as big a grin on my face.  What's that worth?  To me, a lot!  

A long time ago, I bought a very expensive mountain bike.  A friend at the time who I use to ride with seemed to take great joy in pointing out how much I overpaid for the bike every time we got together.  After that experience I decided that I would never again check the price of something I bought AFTER I bought it.  More importantly, I never tell anyone what I paid for anything.  What's the point?  The money is gone.  Why go looking for reasons to be unhappy with your purchase.  

For me at least, buying a Royal Enfield was not a rational decision.  I bought my Bullet because I wanted it, not because I needed it.  I love the way Royal Enfields look, the way they sound, the way they handle, and most of all, the way they make me feel while riding them.  

I could not agree more with all you have said. I have played the game of why did I pay that much to many times and can not count the times I buy and then the next day it goes on sale. In my opinion, especially in the United States, very very few if any are bought because of need.

As for your statement;
 "After that experience I decided that I would never again check the price of something I bought AFTER I bought it.  More importantly, I never tell anyone what I paid for anything.  What's the point?  The money is gone.  Why go looking for reasons to be unhappy with your purchase".

Your logic, in my mind is so flawless I am stealing it for my own use. Thank you

[CoffeeAchiever]

iowarider, feel free to claim this philosophy as your own.  After one's health, the only thing more valuable in this life is one's happiness.  Peace of mind does wonders for my state of happiness.  Ride on!

[Sub]

I didnt look too closely at pricing when I bought mine because I knew I wanted it, but I agree with the other posters that after owning this bike a while, this is an overpriced bike for what you get and the quality level. The other good point that was made is that if it ends up being the same price as a Bonneville (The other bike I was seriously considering) its obvious what way to go.

If they're going to increase prices, they should be giving consumers something for it:better quality, more power, more reliability, or heck, even accessory vouchers.

[Ducati Scotty]

As a true long stroke engine (the Bonnie isn't) and at a lower price the choice between a Bonneville and an RE has many facets.  If they make a similarly priced twin the distinctions become finer and I think the quality will be a much larger consideration.  It won't matter in India where the price would be much lower but I don't think they'd sell many on the international market.

Scott

[GlennF]

My main reason to avoid Triumph is that in Australia, just like the Harley also is here, they are deemed the realm of sad mid life crisis males Triumph need to get their old school mystique back somehow.

[Ice]

I could not agree more with all you have said. I have played the game of why did I pay that much to many times and can not count the times I buy and then the next day it goes on sale. In my opinion, especially in the United States, very very few if any are bought because of need.

As for your statement;
 "After that experience I decided that I would never again check the price of something I bought AFTER I bought it.  More importantly, I never tell anyone what I paid for anything.  What's the point?  The money is gone.  Why go looking for reasons to be unhappy with your purchase".

Your logic, in my mind is so flawless I am stealing it for my own use. Thank you

I agree completely !


Another take on it; the price divided by the number of days you expect to live makes the cost pretty effective.
 
Also riding instead of driving whenever practical saved me over $3,000 in gasoline costs last year alone.

[Kevin Mahoney]

Where to start....... I will ramble here but hope to shed some light on this subject

1. Price increases. There has not been a recent price increase in the US. Maybe not true elsewhere. I don't see any for 2012 models when they are released but only time will tell. Actually if you think about the the B5 at $5495 49 state or $5695 CA model that could be considered quite a price decrease. Some of this is amazing with the trashed US dollar. Why RE sells them to us without an increase while the dollar goes nowhere but down sometimes surprises me. The Indian Rupee is a better and more stable currency that the dollar at present. The other issue is the rapid increases in the price of commodities such as steel.   Anyway there have been no recent price increases. Shipping and dealer prep are very real costs. Different dealers have different prices and costs for this work. We do publish an MSRP to give the consumer a base from which to compare. Be careful that you are comparing apples to apples. A discounted bike is not usually a good deal. The difference in dealer service between a good dealer and a not so good dealer can be painful. Find the best dealer you can and pay whatever they ask it is worth it. This is true for any motorcycle.

2. Another thing to consider is the cost of technology. First of all there is no such thing as free trade unless you are trading with the US. There are no import duties on motorcycles or motorcycle parts into the US. However if you import most anything into India or a lot of other countries for a motorcycle (and other goods) they are heavily taxed. My point is that anything imported into India raises the cost quite a bit. This is the reason that a "cheap" Harley here such as the little Sportster is extremely expensive there. What is good for the goose is not good for the gander.

3. The export bikes have starters and all of the EFI components from Japan. The catalytic converters are from Germany, gaskets and lifters from the US.  I think the pistons and rings are imported but I could be mistaken about the most recent bikes. Tyres in the UK and so on. Some of these  items can be purchased from domestic manufacturers in India but there is a cost in terms of quality. The bikes made for the Indian market do not have as many imported parts (I don't care what the Indian rumor mill says). I have stood in the factory many times and looked the parts bins in the face.  A good example is the facts that the Indian EFI isn't nearly as sophisticated as the export system and is an "open" system". It has no catalytic converter which is the single most expensive component in the bike. As for parts prices in India I would go to your local NAPA store or look in a wholesale motorcycle parts company and price out some motorcycle valve lifters. I think you will find that the prices are quite a bit higher than advertised. Try to buy a throttle body for the quoted price. Not possible We can sometimes buy this stuff at OEM prices and they are no where near the prices quoted for India. If you can find the high tech parts that cheap in India I would be very suspicious of its origins. If you think about it all of those parts would also have a huge duty on them which would make them more than half as expensive to buy than the quoted prices. . I don't want to dispute anyone here but I have seen this myself.  You might find domestically made parts at those prices. This is why RE goes to great pains to not use imported parts in the domestic bikes. We have to be very careful when we buy from non factory sources. It is common to see  RE parts passed off as genuine parts, even in an RE box. Another one we hear is "these are made by the same company that makes the part for RE. Normally not true, It is interesting though when you compare these parts with the real thing.

4. You can buy more motorcycle for the dollar in the US than the RE if you compare engine sizes, speed, horsepower etc. but you can't buy a Royal Enfield. If your criteria is strictly rational the RE is probably a bad choice.. But most of us buy things for entirely different reasons. How can there be so many different car brands sold when they all do basically the same thing and do it well.

[olhogrider]

So Royal Enfield is going to produce a car?

I love starting rumors.

Thanks for the thorough explanation.

[Ducati Scotty]

Thanks for the info Kevin.  And no, you can't summarize why you buy and RE on a balance sheet

Scott

[REpozer]

Thanks Kev. I feel better knowing my bazooka is really fine Germen machinery.

 Not to worry about price , soon a loaf of bread and an RE will cost the same.

[Maturin]

As a true long stroke engine (the Bonnie isn't) and at a lower price the choice between a Bonneville and an RE has many facets.  If they make a similarly priced twin the distinctions become finer and I think the quality will be a much larger consideration.  It won't matter in India where the price would be much lower but I don't think they'd sell many on the international market.

Scott

I am more optimistic about the sucess of a twin on the international market. It would be, just like the Bullet, an unique bike and would address the customer's passion for a "real motorcycle", wich is quite widespread today.
It would be necessary, though, for RE to do their homework on many export markets. An active and caring importer does only exist in the Uk and the US, as far as I can tell. In central Europe RE is virtually non existent, neglecting huge markets. They're realy in need of infrastructure, without they wont sell neither singles nor twins here.
As Kevin stated, rationally all of us made a bad deal buying a Bullet. Luckily rationality is Not at all necessary for having great fun.

[bman734]

I thought the price was very reasonable compared to a new Harley Sportster. If I got a dollar for every nice comment I get while out on the road I'd have been paid back already for the cost of the bike. OK I exaggerate a bit on that last comment but not by much!

[bman734]

Also, the scooter shop that I bought my bike form  sells scooters for five grand. Where's the logic in that! I still feel I got quite a deal on my C5 military. No regrets, no way and I'd do it again in a heart beat. Can't wait to take a shower and go for a ride on a REAL bike.

[barenekd]

Can't put a value on "Character"

One of my other considerations when I bought the Bullet was the Honda CBR250R. Much less dinero (~40%), Probably more reliable, somewhat faster, doesn't get as good gas mileage, marginally lighter, not too bad looking. All in all, a much "better" buy.
However...I have a Bullet! Wouldn't have it any other way.
Bare