VINNY STYLES Q&A
To get a feel for what’s going on from the showroom floor we spoke to Vinny Styles, Sales Manager at Wheels Motorcycles, Peterborough. Wheels Motorcycles is a multi franchise dealer and also sells a large selection of used machines. With over a decade of experience in the trade, Vinny told us what’s happening on the new/used retro front. www.wheelsmotorcycles.co.uk
Q: Who’s buying new retro machines? A: “There’s no stereotypical buyer, and the current crop of retro motorcycles appeal to a wide variety of motorcyclists. Some people have decided that their racerep days are behind them, yet they still want the benefits of a new machine. To benefit from their useable power, bikes like the Kawasaki Z900RS are obvious options.”
Q: Who is buying used retro machines? A: “The older we get, the more savvy we become, and used bike prices remain very strong. Bikes like the GSX1400, CB1300S and XJR1300 hold their values very well. They hide their years well, too, and we have seen values rise over the years for good examples of naked retros. This is at the expense of race-reps of the same era.”
Q: Do you see more of the same from manufacturers that are building modern retro bikes? A: “It shows no signs of dying a death, from what I can tell. Who doesn’t like a sharp-looking retro? Suzuki has entered the ring with their Katana. It’s a case of manufacturers responding to what the market wants. The bigger picture is even more interesting. Kawasaki offer a wide range of genuine Kawasaki parts so you can customise and personalise your Z900RS. Our café racer demo bike came with the ‘Performance Pack’, which included a gorgeous Akrapovic silencer and a funky tank pad. Then there’s the aftermarket products, whereby many owners see these bikes as something that they put their own mark on.”
Q: How did the Z900RS and Café model go down in 2018? A: “We had a Kawasaki launch night very early in the season to showcase the new 2018 models. The Z900RS was the bike that most people wanted to sit on and photograph. It’s a good-looking bike that also rides exceptionally well. I did a video for the Wheels Motorcycles Youtube channel. It was one of my favourite rides of the last 12 months, and it has also been one of our most viewed videos. The Café version takes the model one step further, with the lime-green paint and bikini fairing give it an identity of its own. Both have sold well for a new model.”
Q: What (if any) used retros are getting harder to find? A: “These bikes aren’t getting any younger, so finding exceptional examples gets tougher with time. Meanwhile, prices remain very strong. Suzuki GSX1400S are always good news. They also tend to be owned by people that keep them for a few years or so. CB1300S are plentiful and wear better than the competition. Nostalgia never goes out of fashion!”