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wren on the vtxoa board wrote:
VTX, Honda failed to offer a wide rear tire model and an interstate model with hard bags trunk and fairing. Also, a tach and gas gauge should have been standard on all VTX's as the competition has them. Suzuki has sold a lot of M109's (wide tire) and look at all the HD and Star hard bag, trunk and fairing models you see on the road.
Goldwing, forcing the customer to buy an adequate at best navigation system if you want heated grips and seat and/or ABS has discouraged potenital buyers. I was in a local dealer here in town and he had three wings on the floor, two with navigation and one with everything including the airbag. When I asked how the Wing sales were doing, he said, "They have slowed, most customers don't want to be forced to buy the navi system to get the comfort package or ABS." Failure to fix the quick appearing wobble when tires wear has sent a bad image to potential buyers as well. If someone is researching the Wing, the wobble class action suit is no secret. BMW and HD have become viable alternatives to the Wing.
These are just my opinions.
If I owned a motorcycle manufacturing company, I would have employees who did nothing except monitor message boards like this and report back the comments, wishes, desires and complaints about my motorcycles and the competition's motorcycles. In today's business environment, no matter what your product, you have to stay ahead of your competitor and offer what the consumer wants. You can't rest on your past successes and gain or hold market share.
Here's my opinion. I don't know about Honda's sport bike or dirt bike competitive situation, but when it comes to the VTX1800 and Goldwing, I'm sure Honda is losing market share to Star, Suzuki, HD and BMW.Got the word last night that MMP (Honda's Marysville Motorcycle Plant) is cutting production by 20% and transferring associates to the auto plants in the area. The powers that be said it was due to reduced sales.
For those that don't know, MMP is where they build the VTX, The Goldwing and the 1100 Shadow.
Its kinda sad. Like other folks, I think if Honda had responded to what the market wants, the situation would be different. Unfortunately, the Tourer just ain't it.
VTX, Honda failed to offer a wide rear tire model and an interstate model with hard bags trunk and fairing. Also, a tach and gas gauge should have been standard on all VTX's as the competition has them. Suzuki has sold a lot of M109's (wide tire) and look at all the HD and Star hard bag, trunk and fairing models you see on the road.
Goldwing, forcing the customer to buy an adequate at best navigation system if you want heated grips and seat and/or ABS has discouraged potenital buyers. I was in a local dealer here in town and he had three wings on the floor, two with navigation and one with everything including the airbag. When I asked how the Wing sales were doing, he said, "They have slowed, most customers don't want to be forced to buy the navi system to get the comfort package or ABS." Failure to fix the quick appearing wobble when tires wear has sent a bad image to potential buyers as well. If someone is researching the Wing, the wobble class action suit is no secret. BMW and HD have become viable alternatives to the Wing.
These are just my opinions.
If I owned a motorcycle manufacturing company, I would have employees who did nothing except monitor message boards like this and report back the comments, wishes, desires and complaints about my motorcycles and the competition's motorcycles. In today's business environment, no matter what your product, you have to stay ahead of your competitor and offer what the consumer wants. You can't rest on your past successes and gain or hold market share.