I sort of expected that price range.
I voted $6500-$7000 on the poll a few weeks ago.
However, the UCE does have some things to commend it, which separates it from the other "competition".
It cannot be compared to a Japco 250 really, because the 250s don't have much torque to speak of, and therefore don't have the wide powerband that the 500 single will have. The 500 will be eminently more "rideable", just like our present Bullets are much more "rideable" than the crop of 250s. And often 250s are considered "kid's bikes", and the 500 won't have to suffer that stigma. So that helps.
Also, the styling is very retro, and really has no competition at all in that area. Even the other "retro bikes" don't go as "retro" as the new UCE does. The UCE stands alone in that department, and we'll have to see how much consumer attraction that style has. It is very quaint and almost "formal" looking as a motorcycle, and has an upright riding position. And it should get very good fuel mileage, which would set it apart from the other bigger displacement bikes, and the fuel prices WILL go back up again at some point.
Interestingly, the very thing that RE has strived to accomplish, which is "push the button and ride anywhere" type of reliability, is likely to be a non-factor in the initial purchasing decision. The typical consumer just expects that to be "standard equipment" in ANY motorcycle they buy today. So, it will just be assumed to be reliable like every other bike out there is, and won't play much of a role in today's consumer choices of bikes. But it may very well make them a repeat customer down the road, or recommend it to friends, if they are not disappointed in the reliability. So that should pay dividends for the marque as we go forward, IF it really is as reliable as we're told it will be.
What will sell this bike is the appearance. Purchasing a bike is a very emotional decision.People will "envision themselves" riding a bike like this, and will buy it on that criteria primarily. That's what they did with the older Bullets too. However, the idea with the new UCE is to not drive the customers away from the bike and the marque with unreliable results when they didn't pay any attention to the instructions. They just want to hop on and ride, and look like what they "envision" themselves to look like, and not have any problems.
So, for a person like that, who likes the looks, and can "see himself owning and riding one", and doesn't get disappointed with bad reliability, the bike can be a success.
Certainly is it still low enough in price to be considered "affordable" in the current motorcycle market price ranges. If a person fancies owning one, it is likely to be within reach of most people who could buy any new motorcycle.
They will buy it, because they like it, and aren't interested in the Harley "look" or the Triumph "look" or the Yamaha "look".
And they very well may think, "Wow! I got this beautiful Royal Enfield for less than that Harley or Triumph that I didn't like as well as this RE anyway. I got a bargain!"
And don't be surprised if that's exactly what you'll hear from the new owners as they join our forum here with their new UCE bikes. Not everybody thinks that a Harley or a Triumph is worth the extra money to buy, when they like the Royal Enfield better.
These people who will be new UCE owners are going to be our "comrades on bikes" and will be the ones to carry the RE marque forward, if it is to be continued. And when we see them out there, and hear about how much people like them, we may very well eventually become UCE owners in the future.
If it only had that kick-starter on it!