"Brompton profits plunge more than 99% amid bike industry turmoil"

[wafter]

Saw this article this morning, looks like the slump is happening with Harley Davidson, revenue down by 60%

https://newatlas.com/motorcycles/harley-davidson-revenue-slumps/

They have factories in the US, Brazil, India and Thailand, and parts are sourced from various other countries.

Despite this diversity, things are not looking good for this iconic brand.

A comment to the article says 'they are mostly seen as ridiculously expensive, heavy, slow, and old'

The HD showroom in Reading closed recently, not sure if it's a victim of the decline

The "slump" is happening everywhere. Really I think it's reasonable to view it as a correction to a more sustainable (less unsustainable) model where the finiancial cost of manufactured goods is starting to reflect their real costs in terms of energy, natural resources and labour - rather than some unsustainably low value underpinned by the merciless exploitation of less "developed" labour markets, rampant pillaging of natural resources and debt.

Seems we might be living through end-stage capitalism.

 

[Gunk]

I popped in to our local Brompton dealer this morning to see if I could cadge a box. They didn't have any because they are just not selling many new bikes, their refurbished used ones are also taking over a month to sell where last year they would have sold in a matter days.

I have two advertised at the moment, and so far the response has been very lukewarm, last year they would have sold in a couple of days, so the market has definitely changed. IMO it is a combination of a lack of disposable income, people working from home and the fact that Brompton's don't really wear out, so if you have a serviceable 15 year old bike why splash out £1500 on a new one if it's not really necessary.

 

[wafter]

I popped in to our local Brompton dealer this morning to see if I could cadge a box. They didn't have any because they are just not selling many new bikes, their refurbished used ones are also taking over a month to sell where last year they would have sold in a matter days.

I have two advertised at the moment, and so far the response has been very lukewarm, last year they would have sold in a couple of days, so the market has definitely changed. IMO it is a combination of a lack of disposable income, people working from home and the fact that Brompton's don't really wear out, so if you have a serviceable 15 year old bike why splash out £1500 on a new one if it's not really necessary.

I've noticed this in other non-cycling areas too; I think on a broader scale it's probably the manifestation of ongoing cost-of-living issues against the backdrop of the inevitable festive drain.