Sportbike Motorcycle Accessories: Where the Money is at!
Due to the past recession, the sportbike industry, as well as the rest of the motorcycle industry as a whole, saw a big decline in sales. What is still raking in the dough is the sportbike motorcycle accessories and parts market.
In General
According to the numbers (and numbers don’t lie) touring and sportbike owners are the ones that spend the most on aftermarket motorcycle parts and accessories. “Compared to other motorcyclists last year, owners spent significantly more on aftermarket purchases, including tires, repairs and maintenance, and replacement parts and accessories – an average of $620 per year. Demonstrating a strong interest in gear, sport bike riders spent more on apparel than any other segment – an average of $578 per year.” (hell for leather magazine . com)
When talking about replacement parts and accesories we are talking about: windshields, motorcycle mirrors, brakes, levers, exhausts, fenders, forward controls, footpegs, handlebars, caps, helmets, license plates, lights, setas, backrests, saddlebags, etc.
Harley-Davidson
Even though Harley-Davidson motorcycles do not fall into the sportbike category, this same trend is affecting even the most successful and stable of companies.
In spite of the fact that new motorcycle sales are down, in an opposite trend motorcycle parts and accessories saw an increase, which is thought to be caused by the fact that most Americans that ride bikes would rather replace a part than buy a new motorcycle – and, this includes the always popular Harley-Davidson cruisers. “Rieman (managing partner of the Rapid City-based Harley-Davidson dealership) said sales of chrome and other accessories are off a bit, but parts have been selling well as more riders opt to fix their current bikes rather than buying new ones. That’s a trend being seen nationally, too, according to Tim Buche, president of the Motorcycle Industry Council, an industry trade group representing dealers and after-market companies. For example, dealers report that sales of replacement tires are up 9 percent so far this year, Buche said in a phone interview.” (rapid city journal .com)
Yamaha
Steve Perry, owner of the Perry’s Yamaha Center puts it simply, “The money making is behind the counter with parts and accessories. We’re one of the leading dealers with the motorcycle accessories. [We sell a lot of] lightbars, along with backrests for drivers and passenger.” (all business .com)
The .38 special bar ends for the Yamaha R1 04-06 are pretty tough looking. (Photo courtesy of ST Machine.)
Victory
Another winner in this arena, Victory motorcycle parts and accessories sales increased 12%, over the same time frame in 2009. “Parts, Garments, and Accessories (“PG&A”) sales increased 12 percent during the third quarter 2010, compared to the same period last year, primarily due to increased RANGER™ side-by-side vehicle and Victory motorcycle related PG&A sales.” (motorcycle usa .com)
The pig spotters motorcycle mirrors, manufactured by ST Machine, are one of the many new accessories on the market today. (Photo courtesy of ST Machine.)
Ducati
Despite the fact that motorcycle sales fell 13% overall, in August 2010, Ducati bike sales soared to a whopping 24% during the same period in North America. Due to their tremendous profits this year the company came out with a new line of sportbike motorcycle accessories and apparel. “From leathers to sunglasses Ducati USA has everything a Ducatisti could ask for, shipped directly from their local dealership in the US or Canada…. This collection not only offers technical jackets and leathers but also a full line of t-shirts, caps, belts and sunglasses for men and women.” (super streetbike .com)
Ducati’s website also allows you to “build your own bike”, online, where one of the features is the ability to place any accessories on your imaginary model. (super streetbike .com)
KTM
This company’s R&D department has created two new sportbikes. “The 140kg race bikes are reported to output around 80hp (59kW), which would provide them a healthy power-to-weight ratio… The Austrian design also lends weight to rumors of a small-capacity sports bike under development at KTM, which has instigated talk of an all-new RC4.” (bike point .com .au).
Naturally, when these two models make it to the market expect sportbike motorcycle accessories to follow, shortly thereafter.
Incentives
Dealers are offering tremendous incentives to get potential buyers to purchase new bikes this year. Some of them are going as far as offering free sportbike motorcycle accessories’ packages which include “Arai helmet, BKS race suit, TCX boots, BKS gloves, back protector, tank/tail pack, Datatool alarm, sport panniers and a rear paddock stand. All together this would normally cost you approximately $3300… Yamaha is offering free Akrapovic carbon end cans worth $1500, with every new R1, while Triumph is trying to tempt buyers with $1500 accessories vouchers with the sale of some models. ” (motorcycle news .com)
To get additional information about motorbike mirrors, motorcycle mirrors, and frame sliders, please visit our motorcycle parts and accessories informational site.
To get additional information about motorcycle mirrors, pig spotter mirrors, and frame sliders, please visit our sportbike motorcycle accessories informational site.