It's interesting to see this.
KTM hold their cards relatively close to the chest on their 2t sales - no hard figures seem to be given, but their launch videos always give the impression that 2ts are continuing in sales growth, and I've read that 40 to 50% of their total sales may well be 2ts. Their 2t profits drive/pay for so much of their 4t development.
I rarely see big price cuts / incentive packages to sell off left over 2ts (other than the 125/150 KTM here in OZ), but you see, every year, huge incentives / price cuts on bikes, even the wildy touted 09 Bergs that were supposedly unobtainable.
I often think, just how pissed off must people be, after having paid the full wedge, or near enough, for their new bike, to see it sold for SO much less, or with a whole bunch of goodies, only a few months later? Both of these sale incentives hurt the resale of bikes, and must be doing damage to consumer confidence and loyalty.
I believe that we are seeing, even with Yamaha (and perhaps KTM), little interest in their 2ts - and this will continue whilst they have so very many left over bike stocks . From what I gather, the stocks of unsold bikes, rivals that of the seventies / early 80s when Yamaha tried to take on Honda and become the biggest MC company in the world. But in this case, it's ALL manufacturers, due to the global financial crisis. Bikes just aren't being bought.
Another thing that I've read enough times on KTM talk, by various "Gurus" there, is that KTM have been selling bikes in the US for a long time, for pretty much cost price (at wholesale level). Done because the US is such a major market for them. Common sense might finally prevail , especially if they, and other companies, realise the massive middle class markets opening in India (KTM/Bajaj would certainly be aware of this) and China, as well as other markets. As it is, it seems the rest of the world is subsidising sales in the US - When I see the price difference (and I know the various duties and tax in US and OZ markets) it's beyond a joke, and I for one will not buy a KTM whilst this is happening.
Perhaps KTM are / have also been caught out by the demand for 2ts, and have not produced enough to satisfy demand, and are supplying more to the the markets where they get a better return on the sale, yet even then , they don't have enough product to meet the demand.
After seeing the efforts by that Dutch (?) dealership , that many had hoped would be the 2011 2t Yamahas, and now the South African dealerships that make the bikes look better , for what would be minimal costs to Yamaha to do, you'd think Yamaha would go that route, at least. I remember an article about Doug Dubachs 250 he used for the 09 (?) 2t challenge, where he fitted one of the 4t swing arms and rear wheel to get an easy few pounds of weight savings - much of it precious unsprung weight. It showed how little cost could be incurred to change an existing, old platform to help continued sales.
Even the lack of a linkage on the new 2t SXs may done specifically by KTM to push sales of the 4ts. Despite what they say in their press kits. So many in the US demand linkage. So , the 4t has the 'new' link, the 2t doesn't........bingo, another sale of the 4t. By the way, I would much rather have a non link bike - just give me a shock with external bottoming control, such as the Fox RC3, and I'd be as happy as a pig in the proverbial. This is what I intend to do when I make a frame for my 500 - I do AF conversions, but I don't want an AF conversion.
I'm lucky, I can make exactly what I want.
