European Brands of Your Dreams: Here are the Value Models Made by European Manufacturers that You Should be Looking For

Japan has four world-class motorcycle manufacturers, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki, but I also love the sense of luxury and brand power that European manufacturers have built. But, as an import, the price is inevitably high.
For those riders who are thinking, "I love the value-priced motorcycles made by European manufacturers", there are many models that can be ridden with a standard motorcycle license!

A significant price increase for the 2023 model year is a given.

The exchange rates of USD/JPY and EUR/JPY have been rapidly depreciating since the spring of 2022.
A weaker yen means higher prices for imports from overseas, and the rapid rise in prices of goods in Japan due to successive price hikes for food and other items is also a problem. In the case of motorcycles, however, it is difficult to raise prices several times a year in response to changes in the exchange rate, as is the case with fuel. For this reason, many foreign brand importers are affected by the exchange rate, as are Japanese manufacturers, but they are selling 2022 models at the prices set before spring (some models have already been announced for 2023 while changing their prices).

What this means is that, based on exchange rates, many of the 2022 models made by foreign manufacturers are a bargain. On the other hand, it means that prices for 2023 models will surely increase and that the increase could be as little as 10-20%. In this light, it would be a very wise choice to purchase a new model from a foreign manufacturer that still has a new model inventory as of the fall of 2022.

When thinking about how to get a good deal on a model made by a foreign manufacturer, one thing that comes to mind is which model is the best value for the money, even without taking into account the exchange rate. Many Asian manufacturers offer reasonably priced motorcycles, but when it comes to European brands, they are quite expensive, to begin with, and it is difficult to find a motorcycle at a value price. So, with the theme of riding a coveted European brand motorcycle at a reasonable price, we have come up with a list of new motorcycles that you should buy now.

Pick up a reasonably priced European Motorcycle.

※ Graphs were prepared by the editorial staff based on manufacturer information as of October 2022.
Prices are the manufacturer's suggested retail prices including sales tax as listed on the manufacturer's website.
Motorcycles in bold letters are featured motorcycles.

In recent years, more and more European manufacturers have been developing and producing reasonably priced global strategic motorcyclesby setting up factories in Asian countries where they can lower production costs. This has led to an increase in the number of models that are low-priced while maintaining some of the brand power of European manufacturers. Especially in the middle class, there are many models with a sense of value pricing.

Most of the new motorcycles made by European manufacturers that are available in Japan as of September 2022 are 2022 models, but some models have already been announced as 2023 models, and their prices have already been revised accordingly. BMW, for example, announced numerous 2023s on September 9, and even though many of its models are now equipped with daytime running lights and tire pressure sensors as standard equipment, their motorcycle prices have increased considerably.

In spite of this situation, we first picked up motorcycles from European manufacturers with lower prices in each displacement band, based on the manufacturer's announced prices as of September 2022. Among them, we selected two from the large motorcycle license class, one from the over 250cc and under 400cc class, one from the light motorcycle class, and one from the moped class, starting from the lowest price.

Ducati Scrambler Icon Dark

Aim for the Ducati of your dreams for just over (approx.) 6920 USD!

In the past, the smaller-displacement versions of the Monster series also functioned as entry-level Ducati models, but today Ducati's role is filled by the Heritage series of scramblers equipped with air-cooled V-twin engines. The Scrambler series offers a wide range of variations, but the basic model is the iconic 803 cc engine model, of which the dark version has a matte body color, simple round mirrors, and a headlight rim without chrome decorations, further reducing the motorcycle price.

Among European motorcycle manufacturers, Ducati has a high premium image. Even if it is an air-cooled model with simple equipment, many riders will find it a bargain if they can purchase a new large motorcycle license class model from such a brand for a little over (approx.) 6920 USD.

Triumph Trident 660

The middle price of a traditional English manufacturer is less than (approx.) 6920 USD

Triumph manufactured its first motorcycle in 1902. After World War II, Triumph was very successful through the 1960s, when Japanese motorcycles began to emerge, but went bankrupt in the 1980s and was revived in 1990. In recent years, Triumph has expanded its lineup, focusing on three-cylinder engines, either in-line or in parallel, and vertical twin engines with cylinders standing vertically.

In addition to its existing middle-class liquid-cooled, parallel three-cylinder series, Triumph is launching the Trident 660, a naked sports model produced in Thailand and priced at a reduced level, and the Tiger Sport 660, an adventure model, starting in 2021. Of these, the Trident 660 is still under (approx.) 6920 USD, although its price has increased from the initial model. It also features traction control and a color LCD meter.

BMW G310R

About $20,000 more for the 2023 model, but still cheaper.

BMW also has the F900R, a sports naked model equipped with an 894cc liquid-cooled, parallel twin-cylinder engine that is priced at a little over (approx.) 6920 for the base grade, but the price of this model is about 555 USD higher than the previous year for the 2023 model year. Still, at (approx.) 8000 USD and up, it is a good value considering its displacement and the BMW brand, but we picked up the G310R because we would rather have the lowest price for a BMW.

It is an Indian-produced sport naked with a 313cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine featuring a forward intake and rear exhaust. It underwent a big minor change for the 2021 model year, and in just two years since then, its price has increased by nearly 485 USD. For those who know the previous price, the value price may not seem so great.

Lambretta V200 Special

Italian fashionable scooters are affordable

The first scooter was introduced in 1947, just after World War II; the factory closed in the 1970s and was revived in 2017, making Lambretta the first scooter brand to originate in Italy. Currently, the company offers three models, the 200, 125, and 50, using the same chassis. They feature the traditional steel monocoque body but are also equipped with modern items such as LCD gauges and full LED lights.

Because of the standardization of the body, the price does not drop that much even with the smaller displacement. Instead, even the flagship V200 Special is priced at (approx.) 3530 USD, which is relatively reasonable for the year 2022. It is also cheaper than Vespa's 150 series.

Aprilia RX125

Expensive as a moped, but the cheapest Aprilia

Even with smaller displacements, the cost of shipping from overseas and the hassle of importers remain the same, so basically, the smaller the displacement range, the less affordable an imported motorcycle becomes, but among these, the RX125 by Italy's Aprilia seems to be relatively reasonable. This is an off-road model with full-size 21/18-inch front and rear wheels. The engine is a 124.2cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder.

It is built on a steel twin-tube frame and is armed with an inverted front fork and petal-shaped front and rear disc brakes, while the motorcycle price is reduced by production in China.
There is also a supermotard-type SX125 with the same basic body parts, priced at (approx.) 3120.