Demand for motorcycles grows in Russia
As of February 2025, the weak yen has made Japanese used motorcycles seem cheaper in overseas markets, leading to increased demand, particularly in Russia, and there are an increasing number of cases where the purchase price of used motorcycles exceeds the price of new motorcycles. Particularly noteworthy is the phenomenon where the transaction price of current model motorcycles at dealer-to-dealer auctions sometimes exceeds the price of new motorcycles.
According to Bike Passion’s research, some 2023 and 2024 model bikes are trading for more than they would be worth if they were new. There are several factors that contribute to this, especially in Russia, where import restrictions mean some models are unavailable on the market, resulting in higher prices. Also, due to limited supply in the country, demand for certain bikes sometimes exceeds supply, driving up resale prices.
One example is the 2023 Gold Wing Tour, which has a suggested retail price of 3.15 million yen but is being traded between dealers for 3.6 million yen, an increase of 450,000 yen. This is due to the high demand for this model, especially overseas, due to a low supply in the domestic market.
The 2025 model R1300GS Adventure is also trading at a higher price than the new car price, rising from 3.03 million yen to 3.47 million yen. This is also thought to be related to the balance of supply and demand in overseas markets.
As such, in the current market, certain motorcycle models are being traded for purchase prices that exceed their new car prices, making this a great time for owners to sell.
