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Marketing failure

To answer the OP first post. I would agree if these were production units.
Since these are prototypes I believe BRP doesn't want any potential buyers driving them as I am sure there are issues with them that they plan to fix before release.
If this is the case than it makes sense not to inform the dealer about the arrival time so that the dealer doesn't tell their customers who will come expecting to ride it.
They did have a ride with 4 customers, but I assume they were informed about any issues and the plan to fix them.
 
I'd love to see Honda develop a Spyder type vehicle with a GL1800 drive train, flat 6, DCT trans and shaft drive - I'd be one of the first standing in line to buy one (but I'm afraid it just ain't gonna happen :()

If this were to occur, your and my spyder's resale value would drop into the four figure realm. :-(
 
I'd like one in the sport touring realm. Kawasaki with a 1400 motor (or maybe a 1000cc) or Yamaha with a FJR sourced 1300.
 
Now that is a possibility that I have not considered. :bowdown:

There's generally a lag time between when a new product hits the market and when demand reaches its peak. With BRP's limited dealer network they are not in a good position to compete with Honda, Yamaha or other long time brands should anyone of them hit the market with a new trike. And, you know it's going to happen. If you own one of the trouble free spyders best thing to do possibly is ride it until dies of old age, then jump on a new one of your choice. There's going to be only a very small window in time to make the change over from a BRP product to one of the more reputable brands without losing your shirt regarding the value of your spyder. Worst case is, some dealers may not even take a spyder as a trade in, period.
 
Unless they were termed "prototypes" I believe the 4 2020 RTs to be pre-production models. I get car and bike magazines and quite often they are doing a write-up, but not an actual test, on a pre-production version of a brand new model. That way, the mfr gets the publicity for a new model that looks exactly like what the customer will later see in the showroom.
 
When Spyders first came out (2007)...the cycle mags test drove prototypes and they got dissed pretty much for things breaking down. I bought one anyway. :yes:
 
When Spyders first came out (2007)...the cycle mags test drove prototypes and they got dissed pretty much for things breaking down. I bought one anyway. :yes:

I took the same chance as you over a Harley. Close friend of mine chose the Harley and his trike has been sitting in his garage for over a year while he's been going through court battling with HD attorneys over the lemon law. Recently they reached a settlement but he's still stuck with the Harley that has a continuing issue for as long as he owns it. Hopefully some aftermarket antreprenour will come along with a solution. As far as my spyder goes, it's been down a couple of times and throws me a code every now and then but it's never left me stranded, yet. I have one ongoing issue with the automatic adjusting air ride system that BRP refuses to address. Luckily I purchased an additional warrantee, the longest one I could get. Hopefully the system will go totally fubar before the warrantee is up. Other than that, I'm good.
 
BRP doesn't sell millions of these machines and maybe they don't have the marketing budget to promote their product as much as everyone would like. Also, is the market for these reverse trykes really THAT big? I don't think so.

I think the market will naturally increase with the aging of motorcycle riding people. Like me, they will eventually become unable to ride 2 wheels, then they make the choice. Quit or go 3 wheels. Not too long ago trikes were almost entirely a custom proposition. Now they are in a few of the major brands as factory options. I think the market can increase for a few more years until all the old timers wrap it up completely.
 
I think the [trike] market will naturally increase with the aging of motorcycle riding people. ....snip..... I think the market can increase for a few more years until all the old timers wrap it up completely.

Looking at the latest trends in sales figures, it's fairly evident this 'aging of the motorcycle buying public' is actually happening - millenials just aren't buying 2 wheel motorcycles, altho the growth in & developing capabilities of eBikes might see that change.... if you want to recognise/admit that the top performing eBikes are becoming more & more 'electric motorcycles' rather than 'lightly powered bicycles'!! ;)

But still, at least in the Western World, 2 wheeled motorcycles are becoming an anochronistic remnant of the 20th century, and their sales are dying as those of us who were born in the 20th century & not too averse to that degree of risk taking are dying off..... it's just that some of us are stubborn old bar-stewards and we are gonna keep our knees in the breeze for as long as we can, probably hoping to finally fall off the perch after a fantastic day of riding..... and that's where trikes come in. :ohyea: Still, there's no denying that it's a shrinking market that's gonna shrink faster as time progresses, so unless someone comes up with a real game-changer that'll attract heaps of younger buyers in (teens or twenty somethings!) then there's probably not gonna be too many manufacturers spending the $million$ required to break into it?! I really hope I'm wrong, but.... :dontknow:

And in the meantime, I'm gonna Ride More, Worry Less! :thumbup:
 
My wife is a supervisor in a business where many of her subordinate coworkers are millennials. In short, they are not risk takers and prefer to sit and sip coffee while talking to their friends via texting. About half of them don't even own cars. I hope I'm wrong too, but it seems as if they've been born into a society where everything they need or want is like a low hanging apple.
 
My wife is a supervisor in a business where many of her subordinate coworkers are millennials. In short, they are not risk takers and prefer to sit and sip coffee while talking to their friends via texting. About half of them don't even own cars. I hope I'm wrong too, but it seems as if they've been born into a society where everything they need or want is like a low hanging apple.
For over 4 decades I called on the food service industry and those I dealt with were at the top of the pyramid, owners or managers. They all had the same complaint about the younger crowd; they want a job but don't want to work. Most of their applications were scrawled and peppered with misspellings. Few dressed appropriately for the occasion. Most asked about days off and vacation before anything else.
My take is this is the result of never being taught that there are consequences for bad acts and continually being rewarded and awarded.
P.S. I just received an email from the AMA that a gov't department is going to place a tariff on imported motorcycles, parts and accessories again because of a tiff with airplane subsidies. What with MC sale falling, that's like kicking a man when he's down.
 
To answer the OP first post. I would agree if these were production units.
Since these are prototypes I believe BRP doesn't want any potential buyers driving them as I am sure there are issues with them that they plan to fix before release.
If this is the case than it makes sense not to inform the dealer about the arrival time so that the dealer doesn't tell their customers who will come expecting to ride it.
They did have a ride with 4 customers, but I assume they were informed about any issues and the plan to fix them.

I would fully understand if a BRP rep said that potential customers can't take it for a ride. But after hearing first hand from folks who were there., the red prototype was at the recent Florida rally and attendees were allowed to sit on it. That's really all I would have asked for if there was advance knowledge of the machine being nearby. And yes, according to the salesman I talked to that was allowed to ride it, there are some issues to be resolved. For instance, he said the blue one had a frunk full of water!
 
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