THE THREE WISE BUYS OF CHRISTMAS

www.MyMotorCycleCheck.com - the motorbike and scooter provenance website - has selected its three suggested wise buys of Christmas.

They are the BMW S1000 RR Sport, which it describes as “highly desirable”; the Vespa GTS 300 Super, “safe bet”; and the Honda XL125 Varadero, “used star”.

BMW S1000 RR Sport

Rob Hobson explains: “The BMW S1000 RR Sport  is a joy to ride either on the track or on the road. If it had been launched as a very limited edition it would probably have got more attention, but it suffered slightly on launch due to oversupply in the dealer network. Any high-spec late models hitting the used market now get snapped up very quickly. So long as you carry out a history check to ensure the one you’re looking at is what it claims to be – for instance, that it hasn’t been clocked and isn’t still on finance – then this is certainly a bike worth paying a premium for.

Vespa GTS 300 Super

“In terms of scooters that hold their value, safe bets don’t come much safer than the Vespa GTS 300 Super. As ‘the name’ in the industry, a Vespa is an expensive outlay new, but it makes a great second-hand buy. Any clean, low mileage example, which has had its initial depreciation, is a rock-solid investment.  It’s always worth checking to make sure it hasn’t been stolen or written off though, particularly when buying privately.

Honda XL125 Varadero

“For our ‘used star’ this month I’ve chosen the Honda XL125 Varadero. It is an expensive bike new, in the ultra-competitive 125cc learner-legal market, but you can’t argue with the finish or reliability. Used examples can be a fantastic buy, especially for taller riders. When it comes to negotiating on price, remember, as well as revealing a bike’s history, MyMotorCycleCheck.com also provides valuations.”

As to market trends, Hobson commented: “As the dust settles on another Motorcycle Live, the UK’s main bike show, it is interesting to reflect upon the overall feel of this year’s event. There was a cautiously optimistic atmosphere, with encouraging noises being made by a number of manufacturers.  

“Virtually all the manufacturers represented featured heavily on nostalgia and their individual heritages – most had historical examples on display. Many have launched new models which draw on the past while offering more flexibility in terms of both usage and individual input. There is certainly a growing ‘back to the future’ movement.

“Some feel that the classic market may be at its peak, but the current trend, with bikes such as the Royal Enfield Continental GT and the return of the Yamaha SR400 single, offer opportunities to buy into the past with modern reliability.

“We know that this country has an ageing customer profile and, while more has to be done to generate new blood, this existing base has to be retained. There is a growing range of products which should do the trick: Honda continues to expand its footprint while Yamaha has the MT-09 and the surprise recent addition, the MT-07.

“One of the busiest stands belonged to Ducati. With the launch of the 899 Panigale it is clearly targeting Sports riders with what is said to be a more forgiving road bike. An aggressive promotion is apparently helping sales and, while its arrival may affect residuals of the 848, sales of its large engine stable mate, the 1199, are holding up.  

“In general, any clean examples with fsh and low mileage are still in demand, although trade bids might often be low initially based on the time of year. That’s not to say there aren’t some real opportunities out there. We’ve seen some good bikes going pretty cheap.

“It has to be noted that there are some very strong retail campaigns and attractive finance packages out there, along with a significant amount of pre-registered new dealer stock in the market. As well as the obvious impact on late plate trade bids, the implications of mass pre-registering are felt well beyond the nearly new market."

In the motorcycle / related trades? Why not register for FREE motorcycle industry news at www.britishdealernews.co.uk