Triumph / China

[ZMC888]

Suzhou, minimum 10 HD a month. But we learned, they, the buyers, hardley ride their bikes

Yes the bikes as toys to be seen on once a month in the summer. Also 6000 kms or more is seen as an 'insane' annual mileage making your bike very hard to sell if it ever clocks up any real mileage. Essentially they are an alternative to a second or third car, and can be conveniently kept in a small garage with enough space for other family junk. Three of my neighbors have unregistered big bikes in their lock-up garages. They almost never ride them, hardly ever out of the city unless there are at least five other riders to hold their hand. They ask me if my bike is broken every time I check my tire pressure, oil or water.

Motorcycle sales figures for bigger bikes in China will depend largely on the amount of 'face' someone can gain by owning one.

[euphonius]

Yes the bikes as toys to be seen on once a month in the summer. Also 6000 kms or more is seen as an 'insane' annual mileage making your bike very hard to sell if it ever clocks up any real mileage. Essentially they are an alternative to a second or third car, and can be conveniently kept in a small garage with enough space for other family junk. Three of my neighbors have unregistered big bikes in their lock-up garages. They almost never ride them, hardly ever out of the city unless there are at least five other riders to hold their hand. They ask me if my bike is broken every time I check my tire pressure, oil or water.

Motorcycle sales figures for bigger bikes in China will depend largely on the amount of 'face' someone can gain by owning one.

I'd see them as the male answer to a Louis Vuitton bag: a fashion accessory, nothing more, nothing less.

euphonius

[bikerdoc]

I'd see them as the male answer to a Louis Vuitton bag: a fashion accessory, nothing more, nothing less.

euphonius

Fell off my chair... ROFL...

[lipsee]

I'd see them as the male answer to a Louis Vuitton bag: a fashion accessory, nothing more, nothing less.

euphonius

I never felt a real need to carry a Louis Vuitton bag around,,, I expect thats what happens when you ride a Jialling,,hehe

[euphonius]

Haha. You know, given that LV bags are note even made of leather, but of some plastic-coated canvas, they'd probably make decent tool bags. Alas, not the most affordable.

As for Jialing riders, I've never seen anyone among us even carrying a manbag! You know something I don't?

euphonius

[marcrbeaudry]

-''Not sure what makes Triumphs "iconic" any more; the story does not say which models they'll be rolling out in India.''

well, the same thing that has always made them iconic , they've always, been just a little off and out of the mainstream,
and always provided either a performance (and as in the case of your 74' Daytona - lack thereof) or styling that sets them apart. check out the website and have an objective look - from a design standpoint - they are unique and consider maybe of the performance models they are also making statements. Triumph has had a brilliant run at marketing this , the market claim they staked (the iconic image they've created) - they've been able to maintain for a great many years.

but to ask that question - i think you also need to ask - what makes ANY motorcycle iconic ? what makes MVAugusta it is an icon, or even HD ? and have they all really maintained that public perception ?
interesting question. it's something that seems to lack more and more , or is it that we simply see it less in China ?

[SabineHartmann]

Marketing, sell a lifestile idea

[998S]

Marketing, sell a lifestile idea

Motorcycles are part of the lifestyle idea from the moment they were not solely used for transportation, and that is a bloody long time ago in the Western world.
The brands who refused to jump that train vanished one after an other.