In the spotlight: Germany’s bestseller

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In the spotlight: Germany’s bestseller

In the spotlight: Germany’s bestseller
And the winner is…

Yes who? It all depends on which statistics the jury believes.

Monika Schulz

02/02/1999

It remains exciting. The computers at the Federal Motor Transport Authority in Flensburg are running at full speed: »Suzuki GSF 600, plus 18. BMW R 1200 C, plus 23. Kawasaki ER-5, plus 32 … «The last new registrations of the past year are meticulously noted. The Motorcycle Industry Association (IVM) calculates the final result almost every hour in order to be able to name the “Top ten 1998”, that is, the ten best-selling models. A statistic that has its pitfalls. Like any other. The BMW R 1100 R and GS go unchecked in the same pot, brew up to 5700 pieces and end up ?? zack ?? on the first place. On the other hand, such close relatives as the Drag Star 650 siblings appear separately. If they were counted in the club, the crown with around 6000 units would go to Yamaha.
So do we learn from it? Exactly: Do not trust any statistics that you have not falsified yourself. The importers are of course just as smart. At the last minute, the most opaque and transparent actions are started in order to slide right to the front. A mouse-gray zone in which we move there. But interesting. And do not say now that they would not at least secretly study some leaderboards in the toilet. Books, movies, cars ?? What ever. Out of sheer curiosity. Clear. Only the others can be manipulated.
Of course, that’s one of the things with top sellers. Just because he sells millions of books does Konsalik not become a Goethe. But people like him because they understand him. It is similar with motorcycles: One Yamaha Drag Star isn’t a particularly good machine, but it looks great. And that’s what it’s about. Not just for cruisers. In every class. Everyone in the sales industry confirms this: Design comes first. Only then does the technology come. No wonder that when reading the “Top Ten”, motorcycle testers get the thought that they have missed their job.
Not entirely true, dealers and importers reassure: Of course, the price / performance ratio also has to be right. And customers often find out more about this in specialist magazines. Even if the purchase decision is ultimately made on the stomach, he wants to know where the beloved bike is and whether it is worth the money.
OK. Let’s take a closer look at the “top ten” from these points of view: Yamaha XVS 650 Drag Star. The best-selling motorcycle in Germany. Just beautiful. In the slightly more expensive A version, nicknamed Custom, with thick front tires and mighty fenders, even more beautiful. And even a little bit better when it comes to handling. Yamaha hit the bull’s eye with the Drag Star. Correctly interpreting the zeitgeist. Like back then, twelve years ago, with the XV 535, which is still one of the bestsellers today. A really good motorcycle for a chopper, by the way.
Second place: GSF 600 Bandit. Not only beautiful, but also unrivaled cheap. Last year there was no better motorcycle to buy for 10,690 marks. Nevertheless, it is a pity that Suzuki has not yet responded to the criticism of the fork and shock absorber: The components are designed so weakly that the driving stability suffers when the pace is fast.
“What nonsense,” the Catholic part of the bandit fan base is indignant. After all, it’s not a super athlete. And the evangelicals say: “So what. A Yamaha XJ 600 Diversion is much more sluggish. Not to mention the engine. ”Nonetheless, it is also one of the“ Top ten ”of 1998. With 1,800 points behind the Bandit, it is true, but at least it is. An almost unbelievable success? for a machine that doesn’t really score points in any discipline. “That’s why she’s represented in all of them,” countered her admirers. They are right. In fact, such an XJ can do everything: strolling, racing, traveling ?? also for two with sack and bag. Most tourists don’t mind the fact that she goes on her knees enormously. Will the gas be taken out a bit? The main thing is that you sit comfortably and have no fuss when maneuvering.
Incidentally, the suffix S denotes a half-shell cladding on both the XJ and the GSF 600. The same goes for the big bandit, whose success has nothing mysterious: 1200 cubic meters for less than 15,000 marks, without a shell, many say yes and do not expect any stability miracle. If the spring elements are supposed to pump a bit, this part also has enormous pressure. One twist of the throttle and it catapults you into orbit.
Somehow understandable, including the good performance of the BMW R 1100 GS. Certainly a very useful touring motorcycle. For people from 1.80 meters, mind you. Smaller ones should keep their hands off this huge beast. Suddenly it seems twice as difficult in rough terrain, and safe contact with the ground helps enormously. Will the GS also be as successful this year? After all, there is now Varadero. The new sexual enhancer from Honda.
In the case of the second BMW among the »top ten«, it is difficult to derive the high number of registrations only for those who still do not believe in the cruiser boom. The people of Munich themselves have long been believers, as they prophesied for them R 1200 C in their first advertising campaign: “The BMW among cruisers.” That’s exactly how it is. “A BMW is a BMW is a BMW.” The white-blue propeller on the tank gave every motorcycle wings.
Just take the F 650 ?? eighth place in the ranking and certainly not a bad bike. But no better than the almost identical Aprilia Pegaso 650, which can only book just under 900 new registrations, while the Bavarian Funduro comes with 3103 pieces. German workmanship? Chocolates. The F 650 is built in Italy. At Aprilia! Seat height? Is at least one argument. While the Pegaso invites you to have fun at 85 centimeters above zero, BMW offers a lowering kit for the already lower F models. By the way, Aprilia wants to know: For 1999 the price of the Pegaso was reduced by over 1,100 marks.
Just before the F 650, the Honda CB 500 comes in. Inexpensive, proven and good. But the design ?? so without a whistle. The main competitors, Kawasaki’s ER-5 Twister and Suzuki’s GS 500 E, also deserved bolder lines given their technical qualities. Namely, it has never hurt. This year the fight for the CB will certainly be tougher, as Kawasaki has reduced the price for the ER-5 by 700 marks, while Honda increased it by a good 800. An ordinary CB now costs a proud 9790 marks. Hundreds more with the half-shell.
The fairing is standard equipment on the Fazer. And the driving pleasure too. Hardly any motorcycle garnered as many merits as the FZS 600 last year. What a successful overall package. Engine, chassis, handling, price, performance, design – everything is very nice. All? Well, not quite. The fork is a bit too slack, the seat presses permanently, and the comfort for the passenger tends towards minus two. As a touring motorcycle, the Fazer falls more or less flat. Your talents are more on the sporty side.
Speaking of which: where are the athletes? After all, they should have the largest market share with 29 percent, while enduros with 15 and tourers with ten percent have to be modest. The rest is shared between choppers, cruisers and all-rounders. So: where are you, King Tiger?
Coming straight: Rank 12, 13, 14, 16 and 18. Kawasaki ZX-6R, ZX-9R, Yamaha R1, Honda CBR 900 RR and CBR 600 F. Well, who says it? Lots of highlights. One test winner after the other. Everything will still end well and everyone will find their justification. Now one can only be curious how many new registrations the KBA computers spit out for December 1998. Thousands probably. Daily approvals from Heppenheim, Offenbach, Friedberg, Lohne ?? wherever the importers fight for market share.

Interview Manfred Weihe (Yamaha) – The magic word is: consistency

Manfred Weihe, Vice President of Yamaha Deutschland GmbH, on the success of the drag star and on the increased activities in the supersport area

Mr. Weihe, the Drag Star 650 was the best-selling motorcycle in Germany in 1998. What do you attribute that to? Last but not least, it has to do with the XV 535, which kicked off the trend towards the mid-range chopper. For years it has been one of the best-selling motorcycles in Germany. If a model has been so well received in a certain class, will its successor be bought too? experience shows. So the Drag Star was accepted as a continuation of the proven XV 535. And that is exactly what it is: a consistently styled motorcycle tailored to the zeitgeist with a good price / performance ratio. With the 1999 innovations, you have ten chopper / cruiser models in your range. Where should this end? According to our calculations, there are even more. But that’s not that important. I think that means that the possibilities are largely exhausted. However, we are heavily dependent on developments in the USA in this segment. When the Americans say, “We need more than 1,600 cubic meters,” a check is made to see if something like that arouses interest in other parts of the world. If so, there will be construction. At the moment, however, Yamaha is not only investing more heavily in cruisers, but also in super-sporty motorcycles … That was sorely needed. And with that, the Japanese responded to one of our core demands, namely to become active in the hardcore area. Our image was beyond a super sporty motorcycle brand. Do you think a super sports car could achieve similar sales successes as the Drag Star? If done consistently enough, yes.

Interview Franz Pissinger (Motothek) – «Motorcycles have to get cheaper?

Franz Pissinger, authorized dealer of several brands (Motothek Schwabisch Gmund), on buying behavior and the tasks of importers

Mr. Pissinger, you sell several 100 motorcycles a year. What is the most common purchase decision your customers make? The design. A motorcycle has to turn on. In second place are technical things like performance or weight. Does the retailer have a major influence on the purchase decision? You have to differentiate between beginners and advanced users. Beginners are happy to be advised and convinced by the specialist. Experienced customers, on the other hand, usually know exactly what they want. How high do you value the influence of test reports in motorcycle magazines? Very high. Above all, the sports-oriented clientele draws on trade magazines to form their opinion. Which, by the way, is not always easy for us dealers. In your opinion, what are the reasons for the success of the 600 Bandit and the Yamaha Drag Star? The Drag Star thrives on its uncompromising styling. The Bandit is an easy-to-use vehicle, pleasing to the eye and the wallet. What should be done to further boost the motorcycle market? Motorcycles need to get cheaper. The entry into motorcycle life as well. Driver’s license, machine, equipment ?? that messes up something. With a few percent price reduction on the part of the dealer, little is done. That means that the importers are in demand here. Politically and financially. Your job is not just to manage the market; you have to grow it. This also includes all the trappings like making sport more attractive again, promoting biker meetings and promoting our hobby in a positive way.

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