Discussion
Why do bike manufacturers seem to add 50cc-100cc every couple of years to each model in their line up. Only to have to reintroduce a new smaller capacity bike like there wasn't one before? Why can't they just make the current model better / lighter / faster?
Is it just a marketing ploy, so if you started on a KTM 390, you'll buy a 690 - 790 - 890 - 990 - 1290 - 1390?
Surely they could still release new and improved models without increasing the capacity, and still keep the upgrade path.
Is it just a marketing ploy, so if you started on a KTM 390, you'll buy a 690 - 790 - 890 - 990 - 1290 - 1390?
Surely they could still release new and improved models without increasing the capacity, and still keep the upgrade path.
Bob_Defly said:
Why do bike manufacturers seem to add 50cc-100cc every couple of years to each model in their line up. Only to have to reintroduce a new smaller capacity bike like there wasn't one before? Why can't they just make the current model better / lighter / faster?
Is it just a marketing ploy, so if you started on a KTM 390, you'll buy a 690 - 790 - 890 - 990 - 1290 - 1390?
Surely they could still release new and improved models without increasing the capacity, and still keep the upgrade path.
EU emissions regs are a lot to do with it but its also an easy way to make the previous model seem old and encourage owners to buy the new model.Is it just a marketing ploy, so if you started on a KTM 390, you'll buy a 690 - 790 - 890 - 990 - 1290 - 1390?
Surely they could still release new and improved models without increasing the capacity, and still keep the upgrade path.
Marketing im sure, there is a bike to cater for most niches these days. It does seem that the bikes get bigger and more powerful in the class in a bid to win the numbers game. Then manufacturers realise only a small percentage of buyers can afford or even want the top of the range bike and they need a volume seller, so they fill the gap with the sweet spot bike which would have been the top tier 5 years ago 
Bob_Defly said:
Why do bike manufacturers seem to add 50cc-100cc every couple of years to each model in their line up. Only to have to reintroduce a new smaller capacity bike like there wasn't one before? Why can't they just make the current model better / lighter / faster?
Is it just a marketing ploy, so if you started on a KTM 390, you'll buy a 690 - 790 - 890 - 990 - 1290 - 1390?
Surely they could still release new and improved models without increasing the capacity, and still keep the upgrade path.
Slight bias but the 690 sits outside of that range, the natural progression is more 390 to 790/890. It’s a much more hooligan/ handful than the 790 and 890 engines. Is it just a marketing ploy, so if you started on a KTM 390, you'll buy a 690 - 790 - 890 - 990 - 1290 - 1390?
Surely they could still release new and improved models without increasing the capacity, and still keep the upgrade path.
It’s a combination of Euro standards, marketing and niche filling. Euro standards generally stifle engines so they need larger engines to maintain roughly the same power.
Niche filling is what BMW/Audi have been doing with cars for years on the basis that it stops customers buying outside of the BMW ‘ecosystem’ (other corporate nonsense words are available). With PCP, this is even more important as you could tie in a customer to your brand for 10 or 15 years potentially.
Marketing is just that. I’m deeply cynical and of the opinion that most bikes are plenty powerful enough nowadays and actually what most consumers would benefit from is fitting much higher quality manual, fully adjustable suspension with a variety of different spring rates, in combination with higher power brakes and better standard sintered pads across the ranges.
They won’t do that though, because although having suspension that’s set to your weight and properly powerful brakes arguably are better than power that needs more and more complex electronics, the average consumer just sees POWER!!!! and then moans if it’s not more powerful than the previous model.
It also doesn’t make good YouTube videos or MCN headlines. Seeing ‘new X model comes with adjustable shim stacks, and a variety of different spring rates from the factory’ would get me excited, but it wouldn’t generate half as much interest as ‘1290 is now 1390! etc’.
- gets off soapbox.
Engine capacity for motorbikes seems to be equal to the size of cars - https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/volkswage... Golf 1 compared to Golf 8 in size.
Cars, however, are downsizing cm³ for efficiency with the help of turbos.
Each of the growths seems to match stepping up in terms of consumer expectation.
Cars, however, are downsizing cm³ for efficiency with the help of turbos.
Each of the growths seems to match stepping up in terms of consumer expectation.
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