Motorcycles Are Cheaper in the Winter: Fact or Fiction?

The myth of motorcycles being cheaper during the winter is not bikers’ folklore, but rather a proven fact. It is an established fact in the market with solid evidence and market trends. Riders who are looking to buy a bike should know when the best time is to buy a motorcycle and during which season to save thousands of dollars. Whether motorcycles are cheaper in the winter or are totally opposite, let’s learn about this in detail in this article.

The bike industry is no exception to the basic laws of the economy. The demand for the bikes decreases dramatically during winter when it is too cold to ride a bike. In certain states or cities, it becomes nearly impossible to ride a bike. This forms what is known to the motorbike industry players as the winter discount window. This is the time when the customers have all the cards.

Think about it logically. In January, when there is snow on the ground and the temperature is below freezing, how many people are walking into the dealership to buy bikes? The answer is very few. This shortage of demand causes dealers and private sellers to be more flexible in their pricing.

Bike dealers have to pay a good price to even keep the bikes standing in their stores throughout the winter. Each bike in the showroom is an expense in the form of store rent, utility bills, and loans that dealers take to stock their products. Based on the model and value, the storage costs may be between $50-$200 per bike for a month.

These costs keep rising if the bike stays in the store. Consider a dealership store that has around 100 bikes sitting for four months of the winter season. You can calculate how much it will cost the dealer. There are other expenses too, like the insurance cost and other overhead expenses. Such financial strains enable dealers to offer real promotions so they can sell the inventory at lower profits.

Motorcycle business is predictable in terms of the new year models' release cycle. The new model years are usually released between August and October (during the winter). At this time, the dealers are left with the inventory of the previous year that they should clear. They are not used or worn-out bikes; they are new machines with full warranties. They only carry the name of the previous year's models.

To clear this old stock, bike makers usually give extra dealer incentives during the winter months. To eliminate the storage costs, such factory incentives can result in great savings to those riders who purchase bikes in winter.

National Powersports Auctions has the most detailed info on seasonal motorbike pricing because it tracks wholesale prices of the number of bikes sold during the year. As per the numbers, the bike-selling trend remains almost similar each year. The bike prices are at their highest during the spring riding season and lower during the winter months.

This data has recorded winter price declines of between 6 to 8% in the various bike categories over the past years. Sport bikes will have the most noticeable seasonal changes in prices. Meanwhile, touring bikes will have smaller changes in the prices.

The seasonal price influence differs radically according to geography. Winter discounts are much greater in cold-weather states, such as:

• Minnesota

• Wisconsin

• New York

• Chicago

• Boston

• Montreal

• Minneapolis

The discounts are not too big in US states that are relatively warmer or stay moderate, such as:

• California

• Florida

• Miami

• Los Angeles

• Phoenix

Due to severe winter conditions, seasonal effects may result in bike price variations of 15-20% between the hottest and the coldest seasons.

Bike markets that are comparatively warmer have fewer seasonal changes in prices. This is due to year-round riding that makes demand consistent across the year. Nonetheless, in areas such as Arizona or Southern California, there is some seasonal influence caused by the trend in the bike market.

Winter purchasing plans are also supported by the data on the depreciation of motorbikes. New bikes are losing 5% of their value as soon as they come out of the lot. They also lose 19-27% by the end of their second year. Nevertheless, this depreciation favors winter purchasers.

A bike bought in winter has already taken the bulk of the initial depreciation blow of the prior owner or dealer floor time. Also, when you wait to purchase it during the winter, you will avoid the high prices of high-season demand.

The month of December presents special chances to smart buyers. A majority of people are interested in spending money on their families when it comes to giving them gifts during holidays. Still, the bike inventory remains mostly unnoticed. Dealers offer end-of-year clearance sales to save on inventory costs, and this is a real savings opportunity for bike buyers.

Black Friday and holiday weekend sales are other good add-on saving opportunities for motorbike buyers.

Both Jan and February are the two most promising months to get the best bike deals. Both dealers and private sellers experience post-holiday financial pressure.

The best of the year, as far as bike purchases are concerned, is February. It is the month of the year with the fewest number of days, and it has a way of making dealers rush to meet the monthly sales target. The weather is at its worst during February, and demand is also at its lowest.

With the onset of better weather, bike fever sets in. The month of March is usually when the price trend starts to rise. The bike demand starts to heat up as the riding season approaches. The months of April and May experience further price growth as the riding season comes back.

The months of June to August are the high-price months if you are looking to buy a motorbike. The ideal riding conditions push demand to the highest levels each year, and dealers hardly offer discounts when bikes are selling out easily. If you are buying a bike in the summer season, you are likely to pay the retail price as well.

Sports bikes experience the greatest seasonal price variations. Their prices usually decline 10-15% between the summer highs and the winter lows. This is because sports bikes are mainly targeted to recreational riders who put their bikes away during winter. The younger demographics that purchase sport bikes are also more price-sensitive and ready to wait until there are deals.

Seasonal price changes are not as large, but still noticeable in cruiser bikes. The cruiser market is relatively less seasonal since these bikes are usually used as primary transportation, and they are also popular with older customers who have more stable incomes and are less inclined to buy impulsively depending on the season.

Touring bikes record the least seasonal price changes since they are usually used for long-range trips, irrespective of the weather conditions in the locality. These bikes also appeal to serious riders who can travel to warmer climates in winter seasons and ensure a more stable demand throughout the year.

Off-road bikes exhibit high seasonal effects in the cold states and low seasonal effects in warm climates. During the winter season, when the trail is not available, the price of the dirt bikes is likely to go lower in cold states. However, off-roading on dirt and ADV bikes is usually done throughout the year in warm states. This translates to a decent demand throughout the year.

The benefits of winter bike purchase in terms of insurance benefits are not always considered by the buyer. Bike insurance is rated on a seasonal basis, too. In most cases, winter months are covered at no extra premium since insurers are aware that bike riding reduces significantly in winter.

If you initiate an insurance plan in winter, it implies that you are getting a plan in the most risk-free months, and you may get a better rate.

Most bike makers have special financing deals that are made in winter to clear bikes in stock. These may be 0% APR offers, long-term offers, or lower down payments. BMW, Harley Davidson, Honda, Yamaha, and others have regular winter financing specials that can save buyers hundreds or thousands of dollars in interest rates.

Another type of bike manufacturer incentive is winter warranty extensions. Other brands provide a long warranty free of charge on bikes bought in the slow months.

Purchasing during the off-season provides you with many benefits:

• You get months to get ready to ride.

• You have time to study accessories and learn more about the bike.

• You can make adjustments to the bike as per your style and preferences.

• You can receive proper riding training.

• You will not experience the rush to just start riding the bike.

• It is also possible to have a proper break-in of your bike before you properly hit the road when the riding season is in full swing.

This preparation time can result in better decision-making, and costly errors can be avoided.

If you buy your bike in winter, you will need to plan the storage, and it will cost you, too. These expenses must be included in your overall purchase budget, whether you will use your own garage or rent storage space.

Depending on location and services offered, professional bike storage may cost $50-200 per month. There are dealers that will store the bike for free or at a discount when it comes to buying the bike from the dealer.

If you buy a bike in winter, it must be well prepared to be stored in case you are not going to ride right away. These involve changing the oil, fuel stabilizer, battery, and covering. These steps may require some effort and expense, but they save your major investment and make sure that your bike is ready when spring comes.

During winter, the most flexibility is usually shown by the private bike sellers. Utility bills, heating costs, and storage distress serve as the real inspiration to sell bikes. Winter motorbike sales by the private party may have a price reduction of 15-25% over the bike prices in the spring season.

Purchasing a bike from dealers in winter is usually accompanied by financing deals, warranty extensions, and pro preparations. The absolute discount can be less than that of the private party sales, but the overall value proposition can be high.

Dealership stores also offer the ease of one-stop shopping for bike accessories, service, and support. Most of the dealers also offer winter storage services at no extra cost.

Urban markets that have access to good transportation tend to exhibit greater seasonal price changes. This is because these bikes are more of a recreational means than a transport means. Smaller seasonal effects can be observed in rural markets where bikes are a crucial means of transport.

The price fluctuations of Harleys are less seasonal because of strong brand loyalty and the lack of price changes. However, H-D dealers usually have good financial and trade-in deals in the winter.

Japanese brands, including Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki bikes, usually exhibit greater seasonal price changes compared to Harley. These brands feature more sport-oriented and recreational models, which experience less demand during the winter.

Moderate seasonal effects are typical of BMW, Ducati, and other European brands. Their high-end positioning and tourism orientation provide a more stable demand. However, special financing in winter can be of great value.

There are many reasons to prove that the best time to purchase a motorbike is during the winter. Auction house market data, dealer practices, seasonal demand patterns, and simple economics all indicate huge savings to winter buyers.

The industry experts always advise serious bike buyers to purchase during the winter. The savings are not only limited to the purchase price, but also to the financing specials, insurance benefits, and preparation benefits that add a great amount of value to winter purchases.

The smart motorbike buyers know that the right time to purchase a bike can save thousands of dollars. However, you will have to wait a couple of months before you get to ride your new bike. However, the benefits of buying the bike during winter make the wait worth it to most buyers.

The seasonal bike market is not only about weather, but it is also about knowing the market psychology, dealer economics, and when to purchase them to get the best deal. Buyers who do their research and make a plan in advance always win over the impulse buyers who shop in the high-demand season.