Steve H wrote on 07/09/17 at 11:31:36:Most starter bikes these days are made in third-world countries and are produced quite cheaply. Why does the same 250 that costs $1000 to put on the floor in a third-world country cost us $4000 or more? Profiteering??? It's the same bike. Quality here is no better than there.
I think the cost increase to the US is a really involved issue, and I don't believe any single entity is making a huge profit on them. I do believe the issue is really a lot of small costs, fees and taxes all adding up while the bike is in transit to the US dealer.
The bike has to be shipped to a port, then put on a ship....then unloaded from the ship at a US port that likely has fees and some form of import tax, then it has to be shipped to a distributor, then eventually to a dealer. While in motion there are vehicle related fuel and licensing fees/insurance and maintenance costs to be paid - and at every stop there is a person(s) that are earning wages and getting benefits paid to them, and a building that costs money for mortgage,insurance, taxes, ,etc.
Back in the 70's when I first started riding the entry level bikes were in the $600 range and were very simple air cooled engines with a carb....a web searched shows the Suzuki T500 Titan was $899 in 1970 (it was not considered a beginners bike). Today the entry level bikes are in the all over $5,000 if you buy new - and they are mostly fuel injected, water cooled, and EPA compliant.
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