New rider looking for an entry level dual sport. XR 150 seems perfect. I knew it would cost more to have a new bike but an extra $900 in delivery/setup? Ive got no intention of paying. Im just bitchin. See what yall think?
If you think that’s bad, that amount of dealer markup is considerably less than it was a year or two ago. $900 in freight/setup/bullshit charges is like a third to a quarter of what dealers were tacking on not too long ago. It’s actually not too bad.
If you want to pay less, I would consider maybe getting a drop shipped Chinese bike. And before the inevitable bitching starts - the XR150L is also a Chinese bike. It’s made by Sundiro with input from Honda, and is a low-end bike that’s already been sold in South America and other developing areas for quite some time. The only thing “new” about it is that it’s available in North America for the first time. The ones sold in the US are assembled in Mexico. Owners have been reporting since day one the fit and finish is noticeably lower quality than Honda’s other more expensive bikes.
At the moment the Lifan KPX250 appears to be the bike to beat. You can have one dropped in your driveway for $3k and enjoy: Noticeably more horsepower, fuel injection (the 150L still has a carb), a 6 speed transmission, and a better dual sport tire selection with the larger front and rear rim sizes it comes with. The only knock against it for some new riders I can think of is that it’s taller.
You can spend the $1200 change on a helmet and gear, tools, and fuel.
The truth of it is that the Chinese bikes have come a very long way from where they were just a few short decades ago, and some of the new contenders are pretty much exactly at the level were the Japanese bikes were those same few decades ago. Meanwhile, the relentless march of globalization means that most of the “Japanese” bikes are not, in fact, actually made in Japan anymore. Manufacturing has been outsourced to areas with cheaper labor, and that includes both production of the OEM parts as well as final assembly. My KLR650, for instance, was assembled in Thailand.
The other truth of the matter is that buying a bike from a dealership saddles you with all the bullshit the dealership model brings, which is definitely higher cost and upsells. But it’s also a guaranteed place to take the bike back to if you have problems or need service done. Now, whether or not the dealership will try to weasel out of any and all warranty work or nickel and dime you for everything at the service counter is another question, one which I can’t answer for your particular dealership. But for most drop shipped bikes, you don’t even have that luxury – any work you’ll need done on it you’ll have to do yourself, and few mechanics or shops will touch Chinese bikes due to a combination of inexperience, ignorance, and prejudice. The only exceptions I know of are Lifan, to a limited extent – they do have a service network in the US although it is very small – CFMoto, and CSC. The warranty support you get from your importer or manufacturer is going to be parts only at best.
Generally people underestimate how much work bike engines and components can do and for how long. If you are focussed on resale then yes, new bike low kms, but you can pick up a slightly older bike for less. Manufacturers refresh the goodies to sell bikes. On the street ABS/Traction is helpful if you ride in cold or wet. But nothing is really necessary, even the fuel gauge (usually unreliable anyway). Buying a bike is a journey to be enjoyed. Keep us all informed about your progress - we are all rooting for you.
In my experience, the way to get a good price on a new bike is to find two dealerships within a reasonable distance from you that are both trying to get rid of the same bike from last year. So, we’re only a little bit into 2024. If you can find two or more dealerships with 2023 models, spend time calling and texting each one of them. Tell them you’re ready to buy at x price and ask if this is possible out the door. Keep calling around, “I found one for $X. Can you beat that price?” If they can, take that price and call back the first one with the same question and the lowered price. Take your time. Don’t leave a deposit. It may take a week or so to find the best price. The only way you can get a good deal is if they’re stuck with these things and are competing with each other to get rid of them. Good luck!
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