[JustPlainBill0]

At today's exchange rate, you are getting a screaming deal! MSRP (base price) in USD for a DCT AT is $13,700 -- that converts to 19342 CDN. I'm moving to Canada (or buying from Yamaha)!

 

[JustPlainBill0]

You do have to wonder why companies do this "unequal" pricing in this day and age where everyone is connected and knows full well what is going on.

Notwithstanding the price of the actual bike, in the UK we pay £800 for the DCT transmission. In the US you seem to be paying around $6-700. Even allowing for disparate taxes and a cr*p exchange rate it would appear that the UK is getting a raw deal.

All they do with all these shenanigans is create resentment and ill-will. Well, it p*sses me off that's for sure!

Such a great question Yromulus that I Googled it. Lots of factors involved, import duties, tax and value added tax being the most significant but corporate opportunism can play a part too. Here's the best article I found:http://tinyurl.com/gmd4g2s

A big consideration not mentioned in the article: motorcycle MSRP prices are set and fixed for a year in advance. They don't go up and down on a daily or weekly basis as raw materials, currency exchange rates, taxes, fuel and transit costs change. Manufacturers have to build in margins so they don't end up losing money on their products. And if they over-estimate demand for a particular model, they do lose money when they have to discount it heavily to sell, they have to account for that as well.

Well, that little learning exercise blunted some of my annoyance at Honda. Hope it works for you too. :nerd:

 

[JustPlainBill0]

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I expect Honda thought the DCT box would be more attractive in the UK than in the US (more motorcycle commuters in the UK), hence the price variation.

Probably not. This http://www.dutycalculator.com/dc/24...otorcycle-from-france-to-united-kingdom-is-6/ indicates there's 6% import duty plus a 20% VAT (value added tax) on motorcycles imported into the UK (displacement 501-800cc's). The U.S. does not impose duty or VAT on motorcycles so those taxes alone would account for a $3380 USD ($13K x 26%) increase in the price of a base Africa Twin imported to Britain over one imported to the U.S. Or mostly, why the DCT option costs $700 in the U.S. and a 26% VAT would raise the cost to $882 (608 British pounds). Couldn't find the VAT for motorcycles over 800cc's, but assume it's greater than 20%.

 

[JustPlainBill0]

Yeah, sales tax here is added at the state level and isn't included in MSRP. But I did learn that there's a U.S. import duty of 2.4% levied on motorcycles over 970cc's that is folded into the MSRP. Can you say "thank you Harley Davidson"?