It cost $16,690 ride away, but it is now being offered at $15,490 ride away in two new colours: Metallic Triton Blue and Metallic Matte Black (Z-model).
GSX-S1000 updates
The GSX-S1000 is powered by a GSX-R1000 engine “tuned for the streets with a fatter and meatier bottom-to-mid”.
Peak power has increased from the previous model’s 107kW (145ps) to 110kW (150ps) and maximum torque has increased from 106Nm to 108Nm.
The improved performance is thanks to newly added crankcase ventilation holes which reduce pumping losses and comply with Euro 4 emissions regulations.
A back-torque-limiting clutch has been added to contribute to smoother downshifts and corner entry.
Brembo monobloc calipers are the same specification as on the GSX-R1000R with four opposed 32mm piston callipers and 310mm floating-mount discs and ABS.
The front brake hose has been updated for claimed improvements in initial stopping performance and feeling.
It has 43mm KYB inverted forks with fully adjustable compression, rebound damping and spring preload. The single KYB rear shock features adjustable rebound damping and spring preload.
The lightweight LCD instrument cluster includes speedometer, tachometer, odometer, dual tripmeters, gear position, coolant temperature, driving range, average fuel consumption, instantaneous fuel consumption, traction control, and a clock.
The white backlight provides night-time visibility and features six different rpm display settings.
It comes withSuzuki’s two-year unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Electric bicycles in the snow, bikes made in Thailand and Europe, lower prices, higher costs, tariff wars and removable batteries are all part of the Harley-Davidson and Polaris 2018 sales and revenue results.
Snow business
Harley-Davidson spent the weekend showing off its new electric bicycle and scooter to young thrill-seekers at the X Games in Aspen, Colorado, before announcing their 2018 results.
2018 sales results
No wonder they are seeking a new and younger audience as the company report their motorcycles sales results were down 6.1% in 2018 to to 228,051.
The big problem is in the US where sales were down 10.2% to 132,868, while international sales were actually up 0.4% to 95,183. Australia, however, was down 21.2% to 7019.
It’s not just Harley feeling the domestic pinch. Indian Motorcycle was also down “low-double digits” percentages last year in North America, but up “single-digit” percentages worldwide. (Unlike Harley, Indian’s parent company, Polaris, does not give actual figures, but vague percentages.)
Also, unlike Harley, Indian Motorcycle was up 8.7% to 836 in Australia, one of only four companies to register growth in the market which was down 9.6%.
President Donald Trump’s tariffs on international steel and aluminium plus retaliatory tariffs in Europe and China have cost Polaris more than $30m. Harley hasn’t specified the cost.
Trump meets with Harley execs in February 2017
As a response, both companies are building more motorcycles overseas.
Given Australia’s free trade agreement with Thailand and our proximity to South East Asia, we could expect motorcycles and/or parts to come from there. Could we also expect lower prices?
Polaris increased prices in “some markets”, mainly Europe, not in Australia. They are also “accelerating European motorcycle production in Poland”.
If that is any indication, their electric bicycle and scooter will also be quite expensive.
New riders
Harley say their goal with these electric vehicles is to attract new riders.
They also point out that these products will not require a motorcycle licence. That’s important because the increasing and prolonged process of obtaining a motorcycle licence is one of the main reasons millennials are not riding.
Harley have been on a big push over the past year to teach more people to ride through their Riding Academy and claim to have licensed more than 52,000 new riders in the USA.
Interestingly, the battery design is intended to be removable.
It will enable owners to carry the battery in one hand “to an apartment or office space to charge using a charging dock that plugs into any standard household power outlet”.
This is not a feature of the upcoming LiveWire. However, it may be a feature in other electric motorcycles from the Milwaukee brand.
Official Harley artist’s impression a small electric bike
Harley boldly proclaimed they will “lead the electrification of motorcycling”.
“These two new concepts are manifestations of that vision, and alongside the production 2020 LiveWire motorcycle, point to a broad portfolio of electric two-wheelers designed to establish the company as the leader in the electrification of mobility over the next several years and inspire new riders with new ways to ride,” the company says.
Motorcycle sales might be in a two-year slump in Australia, but there is no cause for general panic about the global motorcycle industry just yet.
Several motorcycle manufacturers are reporting growth in profits and even record sales, while many markets continue to increase in sales.
Perhaps the biggest saviour of motorcycling is the continued exponential growth in the Indian market.
Last year, more than 20 million motorcycles were sold in India. That’s up 2.6m from the previous year and almost double the sales of just seven years ago.
And don’t think that’s all scooters and 125cc motorcycles, either.
More and more motorcycles sold in India are what they call “superbikes” which are over 750cc in capacity.
China, Brazil and other developing countries are also recording massive growth in motorcycle and scooter sales.
No panic in mature markets
But it’s not just the developing nations that are doing well.
Mature markets such as Europe are up about 7% including the UK, up 2.9%.
The big concern is that the biggest big-bike market in the world, America, is marginally down last year.
However, there is no need for panic yet. US sales had been growing steadily since the big collapse from the 2008/09 GFC.
Maybe it’s a one-year blip. Let’s hope so, as it has a huge bearing on motorcycle manufacturers’ ability to turn a profit and keep bringing out new and exciting models.
Profit and panic
Meanwhile many manufacturers are continuing to post profits and/or record growth.
BMW Motorrad recorded its eighth straight year of global sales growth, up 0.9% with 165,566 bikes delivered;
Triumph was down slightly from 63,404 to 61,505, but still reported its second-biggest profit last year; and
Although slightly down, Ducati sold 53,004 bikes last year, its fourth straight year of more than 50k.
Ducati updated its popular Scrambler range in 2018
Japanese manufacturers are yet to post their 2018 figures.
All eyes will also be on Harley-Davidson who are expected to post a double-digit global slump in domestic sales, but good performances in developing markets.
Challenges
There is no doubt the motorcycle market is going through some changes and challenges:
Suzuki Australia is doing a ride-away deal on the 2019 Boulevard M109R which now comes in two new colour schemes with dark accents.
Price is $18,990 ride away, which means a saving on rego and other delivery costs of about $1000.
The new colours are white with blue trim and wheel rims, or black and red.
Dark accents
With the current shift away from chrome, most of the parts from the standard M109R have been swapped from chrome to dark, matte black.
Dark features include rear-view mirrors, drag-style handlebars and switches, clutch and brake levers, tank, clutch, magneto, side and cylinder head covers, brake calipers, side stand and the slash-cut mufflers.
The Black Edition also features clear indicator and tail light lenses.
There has been no change to any mechanicals or performance.
It is still powered by a 109 cubic inch (1786cc), 54-degree, V-twin, liquid-cooled engine producing 92kW @ 6200rpm with 160Nm of torque.
The massive 240mm low-profile radial rear tyre is the largest used on a Suzuki motorcycle.
The 2019 Suzuki Boulevard M109R Black Edition comes with a two-year unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Motorcycle sales are now in a two-year slump in Australia and it’s time to ask what can be done about it.
While it’s good news in the short term for customers with bike companies likely to offer discounts and dealers ready to do dealers, it is not good for the industry and customers in the long term.
It could mean fewer models, less floor stock to choose from, no demo models and distributors for minor brands closing down.
So, we are asking you what can be done about the situation. Leave your comments in the box at the end of this article.
Official figures
The official 2018 figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries shows that sales of road and off-road motorcycles, scooters and all-terrain vehicles are down 8.7% to 95,080.
Total motorcycle, scooter, and ATV sales
This is not quite as big a drop as the massive -9.3% last year, which was the first full-year negative result since the GFC.
Honda was the top brand with 22,735 sales, down 5.9% and a 23.9% market share. Yamaha was second with 21,145 (-1.1%, 22.2% share), Kawasaki (9376, -6.1%, 9.9% share), Suzuki (7557, -6.1% 7.9%) and Harley-Davidson (7019, -21.2%, 7.4%).
Usually the most stable category is road bikes, but they are down 9.%.
Total road bike sales
Harley-Davidson and Honda tied for leader of the road bikes pack, ahead of Yamaha and Kawasaki.
Husqvarna, Indian, Suzuki and Yamaha all had increased sales in 2018 compared with 2017.
Automotive slump
The slump is not contained to motorcycles. New vehicle sales dropped 3%, including a 14.9% drop in December.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) Chief Executive Tony Weber blames the automotive slowdown on a slowing housing market, tightening of money lending and the drought.
These effects are being felt throughout the motorcycle industry, but are particularly noticeable in Motorcycle Holdings which owns TeamMoto.
Honda has led the January sales rush for the past three years and there is good reason to believe they will get the sales rush going again.
January is a big motorcycle sales month as manufacturers/importers offer discounts to get rid of stock they didn’t sell at Christmas time.
They are also keen to clear last-yearmodes to make way for this year’s models.
Sales rush
Sales figures for 2018 are due out in the next few days and Honda is tipped to once again be number one.
But that won’t stop them offering discounts to keep stock moving. That’s probably why they’re number one!
Other manufacturers are bound to quickly follow suit.
It’s great news if you want to buy a new bike, but not so great if you just bought one and then find you could have saved hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars by waiting for January.
Other big sales months in the year seem to be June with end-of-financial-year sales and July when manufacturers and distributors want to get the new financial year off to a good start.
Discounts and bonuses
Most manufacturers don’t offer direct discounts as it looks like they are devaluing their products.
Instead, they may offer free on-road costs which can save you up to $1500 depending on the bike.
Other offers can include free first service, accessories or merchandise.
Honda offers what they call “Honda Dollars” which means you can choose to spend that money on Honda products in the store where you buy the bike or take it as a cash back offer on the price of the bike.
