I like @jdog comparison more in a realistic sense....and even that...High end bikes to high end motorcycles...its like comparing apples and bowling balls in terms of manufacturing costs.
Companies like KTM, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki....they are industrial GIANTS of manufacturing....They have massive assembly plants to make things such as engines where every step in the process has been broken down for maximum efficiency.....Compared to Pivots frame manufacturer where a human is hand painting each frame.
This is what ktm's MOVING assembly line looks like
compared to this piece of warehouse space that pivot uses to put its bikes together by hand
Think about building a modern bike....whats the most time consuming parts of the build process? Its not putting the cranks or shock on....its the details....Its running the cables thru the frame, getting all the bullshit on the bar set up, trimming cables......Motorcyles are not built this way....There is a rear brake caliper, line, master, foot brake that gets put on at once, and its done. Everything is designed around the fact that it will be assembled on an assembly line and each step can only take X amount of time. This is one MAJOR price difference. Then add in the number being built per year....How many switchblades do they make vs how many KTM 350s??? I dont know, but im quite certain its WAY more ktms. Then factor in that on a high end switchblade, pivot is essentially making the frame and thats about it. Every other part of the bike is made by someone else and every other company in that chain has to make its own profit. KTM has its own Engine plant....Honda owns a good portion of its suspension maker (Showa) and also Keihin (who made the carburetors) Pivot on the other hand has to deal with Fox, shimano, sram, etc component maker.
Now if you want to go pay ~$50,000 for a Ducati, ok maybe its a bit more hand massaged.
Factory motocross bike? HA!! I remember in article in the 90s about Ezra Lusk's supercross CR250...its cost $80,000 for honda to build it and that was 25 years ago.
Bottom line, if motorcycles were built like bikes, that shitty 250 ninja would cost 30-40,000 id guess.
Companies like KTM, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki....they are industrial GIANTS of manufacturing....They have massive assembly plants to make things such as engines where every step in the process has been broken down for maximum efficiency.....Compared to Pivots frame manufacturer where a human is hand painting each frame.
This is what ktm's MOVING assembly line looks like
compared to this piece of warehouse space that pivot uses to put its bikes together by hand
Think about building a modern bike....whats the most time consuming parts of the build process? Its not putting the cranks or shock on....its the details....Its running the cables thru the frame, getting all the bullshit on the bar set up, trimming cables......Motorcyles are not built this way....There is a rear brake caliper, line, master, foot brake that gets put on at once, and its done. Everything is designed around the fact that it will be assembled on an assembly line and each step can only take X amount of time. This is one MAJOR price difference. Then add in the number being built per year....How many switchblades do they make vs how many KTM 350s??? I dont know, but im quite certain its WAY more ktms. Then factor in that on a high end switchblade, pivot is essentially making the frame and thats about it. Every other part of the bike is made by someone else and every other company in that chain has to make its own profit. KTM has its own Engine plant....Honda owns a good portion of its suspension maker (Showa) and also Keihin (who made the carburetors) Pivot on the other hand has to deal with Fox, shimano, sram, etc component maker.
Now if you want to go pay ~$50,000 for a Ducati, ok maybe its a bit more hand massaged.
This is another good point...I have been to an EWS and have seen the factory riders bikes.....very close to what I was riding....some did have the live valve stuff, etc, but not too different.
Factory motocross bike? HA!! I remember in article in the 90s about Ezra Lusk's supercross CR250...its cost $80,000 for honda to build it and that was 25 years ago.
Bottom line, if motorcycles were built like bikes, that shitty 250 ninja would cost 30-40,000 id guess.
