Is Honda Bailing?

fgwolf · 03-02-2010, 01:16 AM

Guys,
This isn't too technical, but is Honda getting out of the pwc business? Where are we going to get parts? I'm a novice newbie with two fresh-out-of-the-crate 07 leftover f-12s sitting in his garage that haven't been run yet. Tell me I'm not hosed, please.

Hurricane249 · 03-02-2010, 01:21 AM

Yes they are done. Honda couldn't care less about power sports and this is just another one of their moves to prove that point.

freekstyle · 03-02-2010, 01:31 AM

No, they are going to start making standups! You know that is where the money is at... lol

itsslow98 · 03-02-2010, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hurricane249

Yes they are done. Honda couldn't care less about power sports and this is just another one of their moves to prove that point.

Pretty sure they arent giving up quads and dirtbikes......or street bikes but ok.

I think Honda should give up lawnmowers personally but parts will still be available but i dont think youll need much unless you dont take care of your skis.

M. Cole · 03-02-2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fgwolf

Guys,
This isn't too technical, but is Honda getting out of the pwc business? Where are we going to get parts? I'm a novice newbie with two fresh-out-of-the-crate 07 leftover f-12s sitting in his garage that haven't been run yet. Tell me I'm not hosed, please.

I don't think your hosed. The last thing I was told by the store manager in Ashboro was that Honda had suppended production on their skis to get inventory down. He said thay have done this several times in the past on some of there bikes. I was also told that Honda is building a new plant in Japan and may be moving the ski line to that facility later on. I bought a leftover 07 and have no complaints. I think Honda makes a great jet ski. Just read the manual and do the required maintenance and it should last a long time.

M. Cole · 03-02-2010, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hurricane249

Yes they are done. Honda couldn't care less about power sports and this is just another one of their moves to prove that point.

Where are you getting your info? Or are you comments just wishfull thinking on your part?

dav_dman · 03-02-2010, 10:24 AM

imo, they are done with pwc's. They are big into powersports and I don't see that changing. Again, just my guessing. Having said that, you will be able to get parts for 10 years ..they back their products up. If you need them..great ski's.

SflSwampRat · 03-02-2010, 10:26 AM

im glad theyre out of the PWC biz. its not like we needed more couches on the waterways.

faster7581 · 03-02-2010, 10:37 AM

i worked at a shop that sold honda evrything, honda really shoved the watercraft down the dealers throats, it didnt pay off.. they made them get rid of seadoo to stay a"powersports dealer", the shop went from selling 70-80 seadoos ayear to 8 hondas the first and 5 the second.. IMO, honda is pulling out because their product hasnt come close to selling as well as the big 3..

Hurricane249 · 03-02-2010, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M. Cole

Where are you getting your info? Or are you comments just wishfull thinking on your part?

My comments come from over 17 years in the power sports industry, a good number of years with Honda. Look at what they are doing with their AMA, WSB, MotoGP, Indy, and F1 teams. Racing is the key to development and research. Look at the their bike sales compared to the the other manufacturers. Wins on Sunday equals sales on Monday in the power sports industry. Honda used to be the cutting edge in sport bikes. Now they can't compete. Honda used to be the cutting edge in everything, now they couldn't care less. They want to sell cars and lawn mowers. Their power sports division is an afterthought. It's the wet spot on their sheet. I have it from an inside source that they are done with PWC. They were slow to get them to market and then only allowed Powerhouse Dealers to sell them. They cut off their nose to spite their face. The sad thing about it is that if they had allowed all dealers the chance to sell them or at least one in every market they would have succeeded. I grew up on the north end of KY Lake, it's a BIG lake. The closest dealer is over two hours away but their are two Honda dealers nearby; one is 20 minutes from a ramp at the north end, one is 15 minutes from a ramp further south but yet no Aquatrax dealers???

Keep in mind I have a CBR, a VFR, and have had many others as well as cars, SUVs, and lawnmowers. I guess the only Honda product I haven't owned is their airplane. All Honda cares about now are cars and lawnmowers.

As far as the new plant in Japan it was tooled to build cruisers, Gold Wings, sport bikes. They moved engine production there at the end of 2009 as well. They are moving their Maryville, OH manufacturing there. No PWCs will come out of the Kumamoto plant.

So M. Cole it's not wishful thinking and itsslow98 they will continue to make bikes and quads but they just won't sell at the rate they did just five years ago...that's not all the economy's fault either.