Give us some credit

When is Husaberg NA going to California DOT legal their bikes like Husqvarna USA?

Brett,

This is a smart discission from a marketing standpoint. You and I have discussed this a time or two and I have explained my theory of how this is a nation living off of credit and borrowed money. I would have to believe that given a little bit of time, maybe a year or so, Husaberg sales should double in NA. I spend a lot of time at the Glamis sand dunes and see the fads start on an annual basis. I see the new bikes of riders and hear the conversations of people all the time. They are trying to keep up with the Jones. I park my bike at the sand drags every year and get a flock of people standing around poking at my bike in amazement and asking all kinds of questions as to what it is???



I believe as you stated to me earlier that the demographic profile for a Husaberg buyer is in the 40year old and above age range, with 30 year olds being at low end of the spectrum. This is more than likely fact based on historical purchases and I would not dispute it. However, our last conversation I felt a little close mindedness on your part regarding Barretts marketing strategy and their target group. Yes, the older more established gentlemen are more financially stable and demand a better product and have the means to pay for it. However the younger crowd these days is a group of, "I want the best now, I will pay for it latter" and credit is their means of getting it now. I guess time will tell wether this new method will attract new buyers or not and I would love to see a breakdown of ages that use this method of finance to obtain a new bike. I would bet that it will be comprised of the younger, less financially established consumers. Hope this is taken only as constructive feedback and not intended as a bash. I would like very much to here some more information or debate on this topic. :thumbup:

Regards,

I would bet that it will be comprised of the younger, less financially established consumers.

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Hi Keith,
Based on UHE activity over the past year and with regard to both end user and dealer owner I would venture to say such has already been well established.

A survey of age and riding experience would prove interesting indeed.

Me:
I am 47 years old, an active motorcyclist since age 10 and have professionally been in the trade for three decades.

Many moons ago (1987) I owned and operated a Kawasaki franchise. Such proved to not be my cup "O" Tea. You know, dealing with the public and all. :lol:

Dale

rode a 05Fe550 and loved it , now I can report to friends about both bikes. Sales will increase.......word of mouth and exposure means a lot

I dont know if I want the youngsters financed. The Berg is the only edge I got :wink: .

Bob, as I recall..everyone here practically begged you to buy the 550 8)

LOL, Berger, give Big Bob a week and he'll hate it again, then next week..... :roll:
-Rocky-

I'm 43 and "I want the best now, I will pay for it later"
What does this mean?
I figure by the time I save the money I would spend it on a new deck or I could be dead, so why not have the best now and pay for it later.

Dale,

I am currently 32 years young. I bought my Husaberg and received it a few weeks later on my 30th birthday (Sept 19 '03). I paid for the bike using $3500 cash from my TRX400EX Honda quad I sold and the rest was put on my credit card but paid it off a few months later (tax return). I used my credit card to pay for the remaining 20% of the cost of the bike as I was offered a deal I could not refuse and I did not know how long it would be available but did not expect to have the funds for 5 months or so. At the time I made my purchase, I was 90% sure I was going to buy a KTM but was keeping my options open. When I went to look at the Husabergs after a friend told me to check them out (A KTM owner I might add) I was sold on them. The bad part for me was that there were no '03 bikes in NA at the time and I was told I would have to keep in touch with my dealer and they would let me know when the '04 batch would come.... if ever. Then a few days later I get a call from them letting me know about the left over '02 bikes up in Canada and the rest is history. They cut me a good deal and I was happy to pay what I did, most of the purchase price was cash used out of pocket and a little was credit. Also, This is the second dirtbike I have ever owned. My first bike was a CR125 when I was 16 which I owned for maybe two years. I sold that and did not ride for many years while deployed in the USMC. When I was discharged I was loaned a XR350 bike from a friend for about a year then I was married and did not ride as much..... go figure! About three years into my marriage I bought the Honda quad, although I did not want it but it kept the spouse happy because she thought it was safer than two wheels. I rode the quad for about three years then went through a divorce. Months after divorce was filed the bike was sold and the Husaberg became a reality......Aaaa, two wheels .Hope this gives a little demographic background on my purchase.

Regards,

RockyMt said:

LOL, Berger, give Big Bob a week and he'll hate it again, then next week..... :roll:
-Rocky-

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NO wrong I BOUGHT the 450 and I bought the RIGHT bike. I was only commenting that now that I have rode the 550 I can report on it to my friends and others who are considering bergs.

No way is the 550 better in the woods then my 450, but if you can only own one bike and like open trails and desert too then the 550 is the cats meow.

I totaly bought the right berg for me. I never said anything different

My demo,

I am now a few days short of 43, but, still feel like I'm 27! I bought my first Berg in 97, a used 94 & 1/2 FE501, so I was geez o, 34 then. I came into Berg ownership kind of by accident. All my buddies were talking about Dual Sport bikes this and that and all had said they were gonna go out and get one. I saw the 94 in the cycle trader, and it was licensed, so I thought I'd get the drop on my buddies and get a great dual sport bike to boot. Then as it turns out, everyone else didn't follow through and I ended up with the Berg.

I then figured out that the guy who sold me the bike was a out and out liar about the condition of the bike. It was T-I-R-E-D. So I spent another $2200 rebuilding the motor and the carb, yes the carb slide was worn out b/c the dode didn't keep the air cleaner clean. Had the suspension done up for off road riding from dual sporting, and wa la, I had one of the fastest dirt bikes in the desert. The only time I lost a drag race, it was to a CR500 honda. This was a great bike.

I was kind of in Sandskipper's shoes at this point, the electric start KTM 520's had come out and I was in the market for one. But, hey, no one had them at the time. I had a few $100 dollar deposits around at various dealerships. While I was waiting, I learned about the 2001 Berg's, and made my decision to buy the Berg. As it turned out, I ended up waiting longer than I thought b/c the renthal factory in england burned down, and since they were the ones making the all new one piece swiingarm, there was a delay. About 3 months after I got my 01 Berg all the dealerships started calling and saying they had a bike for me but I had to hurry. It was with a great degree of satisfaction that I was telling them, just send me my $100 back, I bought a Husaberg!

And the rest is history, except for the fact that I purchased a left over 04 for a great price, and it's even better than the 01. So, I guess I'm a pretty lucky guy, I''m 43, feel like I'm 27 and have two Husaberg's in the garage! LIfe is good!

To add my two bobs worth on demographics i am a 27 year old. Have had two bikes previous to the berg i have now.
My first bike was a PE 175 she was old but a goer then i got a KLR 250 in my early twenties but sold it when i went over seas, then just recently i bought the berg didn't know a great deal about them but heard they where good bikes.

By the way i payed cash for it. Personally i wouldn't borrow money for a bike or as i see it a toy a bloody good toy!

Pids

No worries Big Bob, I was just razzing you about the "issues" you were having with your bike last month. Since we're talking demographics I'm 51 (going on 12),motorcycles since I was 14, I saw Steve McQueen riding a bike in "The Great Escape" and it was all over, I HAD TO RIDE! My first bke was a Honda 305 "scrambler" graduated to British twins (ahh, Lucas prince of darkness...) then Kawi and Yamaha 2 stroke twins and triples, (brakes, we dont need no stinkin' brakes!) Went thru a long line of sportbikes, dirt bikes, roadrace and flat trackers. All the while serving in the Marines, raising a family and establishing a career. I really cant count how many bikes there's been. Aside from my '05 FS650C (which I did not finance or put "on a card") I currently own an '04 RC51 Honda, an '03 ZRX1200R Kawi, an '04 XR100 Honda,a 600 Rotax short tracker and an '05 Honda "Ruckus" (my wifes urban assault scooter) I sure hope I dont fit neatly into anyones deemographic pigeon hole as that would mean 51 years of rebelling against "the MAN" down the drain :twisted:
-Rocky-