Motorcycle & Powersports News
Commuter Bikes are Good for Us
Motorcycle riders don’t just save themselves time and money, they do the same for car drivers. They also help to reduce emissions by cutting back on the number of cars on the road… At least that is the conclusion of global transportation experts. Through the miracle of social media, this story has made mainstream news in America in conjunction with the recent lane filtering law change in Oregon. May being Motorcycle Awareness Month and the fact that winter has finally released its hold just in time for gas prices to spike upward have all contributed to making this topic newsworthy outside of the powersports industry.MPN May 2015 CoverThe sweeping statements about saving time, alleviating stress and even eliminating greenhouse gasses make for good headlines and sound bytes on the nightly news… All fine and dandy, but does it translate to the U.S. marketplace?
“I just returned from an intensive eight day market research trip to Europe,” says Scot Harden, Zero Motorcycles’ VP Global Marketing. “I spoke with dealers and customers in Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Milan and London and I can tell you that there are many similarities between the groups… but there are differences, too.” Harden notes the fundamental divide is the difference between motorcycles and scooters rather than the concept of commuting on two wheels.
“The bigger difference lies between the motorcycle and scooter consumer than the European and American motorcyclist,” Harden elaborates. “The main difference is the heavily imbedded and entrenched scooter market that exists in Europe… simply put, scooters are a cultural phenomenon in Europe.”
Mike Hickman, National Sales Manager for SYM importer Alliance Powersports says they have also seen the cultural divide and are bridging the gap with with a small displacement motorcycle for would-be commuters who won’t go the scooter route. “The 150cc Wolf Classic has been an absolute home run for us, and not just in SoCal. Big cities like Boston, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Columbus and St. Louis have been selling the ever-living life out of this bike,” exclaims Hickman.
A_MyRoad700i_Action_001“This is a wonderful commuter bike, with its 17” wheels it makes for a great, comfortable ride,” he adds. “It’s a small displacement bike like no other in America and one that we have really struggled to keep in stock.” Because of the low seat height and light curb weight, the Wolf has proven to be very popular with the ladies and the commuter crowd, claims Hickman. “This bike has also made its way into several M-1 training schools across the country. In addition, we have been contacted by a branch of the U.S. military expressing interest in the Wolf.”
A_2015-honda-cbr300r-cb300f-tech-talk-02Good things apparently do come in small packages, especially for an emerging commuter contingent. Kawasaki’s best selling sportbike globally has been the “baby Ninja” 250R/300R. Since it was upgraded in 2008, more than 10,000 units a month continue to sell, most of them as commuters. Ditto for Honda’s ubiquitous CBR250R/300R. Commuter motorcycle sales definitely have a place in the global market based on the Big Four’s international sales volumes.
Don’t count out scooters completely though, cautions KYMCO USA’s Director of Marketing, Rick Pawelka. “We have seen many new customers enter the scooter market looking for daily commuter vehicles that are as economical to own as they are to operate.” He notes these are new customers entering the marketplace, not necessarily traditional motorcycle owners. “With the gas prices beginning to rise again, more and more consumers are turning toward alternate means of transportation.”
KYMCO’s MyRoad700i just might get some dealers to rethink their idea of scooters as a viable commuter alternative. This in not some buzzy little 49cc 2-stroke! “It really is the ideal commuter vehicle for the American market,” says Pawelka, pointing out the fuel-injected 699cc parallel twin puts out 58 horsepower! “All the convenience and comfort of a CVT scooter combined with the performance that puts some sportbikes to shame.”
A_DSCF7761Honda is also targeting the scooter commuter in 2016 with the return of the PCX150. “Known for being practical, versatile and affordable, the PCX150 is great for customers who are looking for the ultimate commuter or a fun way to get around town,” says Lee Edmunds, Manager of Motorcycle Marketing Communications at American Honda. “The PCX150 has a sleek and nimble design, comfortable passenger seat and 12-volt accessory adapter for charging personal electronics. With excellent fuel efficiency and a 2.1-gallon tank, visits to gas stations are few and far between.” What a concept!
Combining the concepts of scooters and EVs is Florida-based upstart Flaunt Electric Vehicles (FEV). Its tag line “don’t just ride it… flaunt it” flies in the face of conventional wisdom, but maybe it is time for the commuter market to make a paradigm shift? “We recognized a need for transportation that is eco-friendly, economical, fun, safe and roadworthy,” explains FEV Director Kevin Mount. “Flaunt Electric Vehicles, Inc., was created to manufacture and distribute a line of industry-leading electric scooters that provide the eco-friendly and economical transportation options that modern consumers want and need.”
“What we love about Flaunt is that it is more than just a fun mode of transportation,” says Mount. “They operate at up to 45 mph, with a range of 30 miles, making them great for running errands and many short commutes.” Flaunt is currently in the final stages of pre-production and has an intended inventory date of summer 2015. “Our plan has always been to start a distributor network throughout the country and sell the scooters directly to dealerships, so that our end-consumers have a centralized place to go for after sale services, upgrades and future Flaunt models.”
Scooter or 150cc-300cc freeway-capable motorcycle, gas or electric, there is a market for “affordable, alternative transportation” in America concludes the crew at Ooty’s Scooters. The Santa Barbara-based SYM and Genuine Scooter Co. dealer says, “Our goal is to; ease traffic congestion, save gas, and to have some FUN in the process! Each two-wheeler equals one less car.” Now that is our kind of math!
