Is the speed of technical change making model years a thing of the past?
A few days ago, Yamaha, (excuse me, “Star”) announced the new 2010 Vmax. If you look at the photo above you’ll instantly notice the change, … it’s red. The old 2009 Vmax was black, it looks like Star is continuing the tradition of the old model that ran for decades with little more than color changes year after year. There’s nothing wrong with that but it’s funny how everyone is accustomed to “new” models when there’s no real need for one and nothing to add. The Kawasaki Concours is another example of a decades long model with almost no changes until 2008 when a truly new model was introduced, now being followed with color changes.
When Harley introduced their “nine new models” a couple of weeks ago, they caught some flak because it was essentially a parts bin operation, something they’ve done for years. I’m not sure why Harley is often singled out for criticism when all of the manufacturers do it. As I mentioned in a comment, maybe if they didn’t make such a big deal of all of the new models it would have been less of an issue for some, but the question for everyone is, why do we need model years in the first place?
Some bikes have been initially titled as a particular year because that’s when they were sold though they were just unchanged versions of the same bike sold the year before. Manufacturers seem pressured to come up with something “new” even if the current model is fine. The whole business is built around customer expectations of new models. I’m not even sure if we could change the process without some major upheaval in how bikes are sold, registered and marketed.
Technical changes are often introduced mid year, you need to look at production dates to know if your bike has the new wiring change or brake caliper or whatever, so the arbitrary year designation serves little purpose, even when trying to discern how a bike is equipped. Cars, at least in years past, had major sheet metal changes every year, but bikes have far less bodywork, sometimes none at all, so what exactly is the point?
Few of us are concerned about buying a new model year computer or digital camera or cell phone or any other technical device, we just look for the new model when it appears. Some things change so fast they hardly last a year before being superseded by something new. It’s a feature or capability or design that builds interest and demand, not the “all new 2010” model.
Manufacturing motorcycles and cars is obviously different than making computers and cell phones but the concept of model years was set in motion when building vehicles was in its infancy. Maybe a model can be introduced and refined over time. Companies can work on a new model and launch it when it’s ready to add to the lineup or take the place of the old model. Instead of making a model year calendar change, perhaps we can focus on a real technical or design change that means something before saying a model is really new.
What do you think?
Wave says
I often think this when looking at the US automotive industry. Here in Australia we don’t have the same obsession with model years, and never have done. Because our population is much smaller than that of the US, Australian car manufacturers have never been able to afford the R&D costs of creating a new model with styling changes every year. As a result, our cars remain in production for at least two or three years, and hence were never referred to as a particular model year. For example, the EH Holden was built from mid 1963 to early 1965, but they’re not referred to as a 1963 Holden. Small changes are marked with a number designation as well as a model name, eg. the VS Commodore had Series 1 and Series 2 versions. In the present day, with no obvious changes from year to year, I think the American industry should follow suit, and start marketing their products by their letter designations. Leave the model year behind!
Tenaya says
There is a reason to care about the official model year of a vehicle, be it motorcycle, car or truck. When it comes time to SELL the vehicle, a portion of its value is determined by its chronological age, which is determined by its official model year.
Thus, my 2005 Honda ST1300A may be exactly identical to a 2006 Honda ST1300A with identical farkles and the same mileage, but it’s worth some amount LESS.
BTW, I chose to buy a 2005 (only available in red) instead of a 2006 (only available in black) because of its color.
kneeslider says
Wave, the “Series 1” or “Series 2” designation is probably a very good way to handle this.
JustPete says
Almost like Tenaya said. It affords these companies the ability to charge you $1000 – $2000 more dollars for pretty much the same thing that cost that much less from the year before. Notice the price jump for the “new” Vmax and all the “new” H-D’s. Ri-damn-diculous. But to cut H-D some slack, there was some major upgrades to last years H-D’s but most people just still feel the need to knock them no matter what they do.
Kenny says
Paul,
I’m not too sure what you are on about. Are you complaining about PR departments going banzai everytime the “new model year” comes around, or the fact that there is a point in the year where a factory releases info on all the “new” models.
Wave,
Do you meen like the old Kawasaki designations like say the ZX-6R B1 and the next years one was the B2. The next model revision was given the designation C1. Or like the current Suzuki designations GSXR-600 K1, K2, K3..etc.
Sticker Boy says
“But we’ve changed the paint scheme!” enthuses the showroom sales guy as I ask him to point out the difference between the 2009 YTFZ-1100 and the 2008 one. Lol.
bblix says
I think there is some confusion about MY designations from a practical, engineering standpoint. MY designations are a milestone at which to target not just new models, but engineering changes to models. It really is more about scheduling change, rather than the change itself.
Running changes are typically frowned upon (expensive, difficult to track and verify). In my experience they are quite difficult to implement unless there is a significant issue.
My experience has been that 1/2 model year releases are typically changes that are running late, or will not fit into, for whatever reason (validation/verification/tooling lead-times, etc), the standard schedule.
As for H-D’s new models. I worked on products for a number of the vehicles released this year. There are many, many changes to these vehicles, some small, some large (from a project standpoint) that the end-user may not notice or appreciate. A subtle change to a rear lightbar, or side mounted license plate requires new component design, new tooling, testing and validation, and large sums of money to implement.
Change is typically incremental, rather than revolutionary. Frankly, few companies are rewarded when they attempt radical change. H-D could do something crazy (V-Rod anyone?) but the likely return is minimal.
Tanshanomi says
On behalf of parts clerks everywhere, PLEASE don’t make model years go away! Owners can provide so few clues as to what bike they really own as it is. When the guy says he has a “600 Ninja” but has no clue as to whether it’s a ZX600C, D, or E, he probably at least knows the model year.
kwj says
Tenaya hit the nail on the head. Most of the time there are no changes that anyone would notice to automotive models from one year to the next (not even cosmetic ones). The main reason for the model year is so you know how much to charge/pay for used models (mileage will only get you so far). A 10 year old Concours would be worth less than a 2 year old one even if they had the same amount of miles on them.
todd says
It’s so you remember how old it is and remember you need to upgrade. How old is Windows 98? Though they don’t do that much any more the idea was that it would be painfully obvious how obsolete your OS was the next year.
Of course, I feel bikes have been pretty much fine the way they were since the early seventies.
-todd
Walt says
Automakers sure play fast and loose with the “year” of their vehicles. When they have something new and cool they’ll intro it at midyear as the next year’s model. Can’t recall a specific example right now but I’ll bet you guys can. This way they get many extra days of sales and send the message that’s it’s something out of the future — a 2010 model and here it’s midyear ’09!! Wow!!
Hawk says
“Planned obsolescence” was probably first used by Henry Ford. After a good run at annihilating his competition with the Model T (complete with ever-increasing assembly line efficiency) he decided to introduce the Model A. Oh-oh, the dilemma was how to tell all those good folks driving Model Ts that there was a reason to “upgrade.” The Model Ts has been marketed as, “The only car you’ll ever need.” As assembly line production began to approach demand, a uniquely North American phenomenon was born …. make it look different so we can sell more.
A lot of the rest of the world were happy to keep the old beast, rebuild, nurture and polish it …. but not here. There are many businesses in the UK (and elsewhere) who thrive on engine rebuilding and aftermarket parts production. It’s almost a source of pride that some drivers are still commuting in 50 yr old cars. Here, if you bend a fender on a two yr old car, it’s probably a write-off.
We all know the massive depreciation when you drive a “brand new” vehicle off the dealer’s lot. Matched only by the next two years. Where did the money go? To feed our ego? If any manufacturer could figure out how to badge their current product as a “2011 model”, they’d sell a bundle …. until 2011. Even if they’re technically junk.
I drive a 1985 car and a 1985 motorcycle. Both are serving me vey nicely, thank you. My only regret is that it’s getting hard to find parts when I need them. But I’ve spent a hell of a lot less than my neighbour and I get to go the same places.
Guess I haven’t contributed to the “economy” much, eh?
FREEMAN says
I don’t see any reason to get rid of model years. Who cares what they say about it being “new,” even if it is identical to last years model, when technically it is new from a manufacturing standpoint. Vehicles, and all their individual components, age and degrade over time.
Tin Man 2 says
The new HDs are cheaper then last years, if you check content, The New Wide Glide is almost $2000 cheaper then it was in 2008. Most manufactures are finding ways to cut prices in the face of the weak market. The days of annual price increases are over, Some Imports have gone up in price but that is caused by the weak U.S. dollar,not the manufacturers. The U.S. has become a low cost place to manufacture goods, notice the parity of price on large cruisers, the gap is smaller then ever before, mostly because of the devalued dollar, but also the loss of wages in the U.S. economy as we get forced down by compitition in the labor market.
jet says
As talked about previously it is about manufacturers being able to get premium dollars for products with little or now change. It should be that in order for a model to be considered new it must have been changed to a certain degree in appearance (excluding color changes, mirrors etc…) and new technology incorporated into the entire bike before it can be released as new model.We are the only country in the world that will accept a color change as acceptable for new model year and pay the price. Harley sells scream n eagle bikes for thousands more than a base bike and there is no performance differences at all.Yah you get decent paint, but if you want the performance you have to throw thousands of more dollars at it to get what you already paid for. Save your self some money buy a model thats a few years old, paint it your self and no one will be the wiser.
Paulinator says
Excellent explanation, bblix. I’d also like to comment on the cost-reduction campaign that HD is constantly enforcing on there own – on top of the FED. Look at one of the new Harleys up close and you’ll see labor, process and material savings everywhere, (except paint) that didn’t exist just a few model years ago. Fork tubes aren’t completely brushed, shiney parts are powder-coated aluminum instead of polished, seat pans are molded plastic with the uphostery stapled directly into them, The V-twin only measures 43 degrees now… They are masterful at Camouflaging all the short-cuts that might have any negative impact on “percieved” value. That said, upon close inspection the HD still wins hands-down over any of the metric imitations. And I don’t ride HDs – not into that religion.
FREEMAN says
@ jet:
I think you’re reading into the advertisements a bit. There’s nothing I can see from a quick look at the official HD website that claims there are new models coming out. It clearly says “new bikes” and “new motorcycles” but nothing about any new or unique models. It also clearly labels them as “2010 Motorcycles,” “2009…,” “Used…,” etc. There is no deception going on here.
hoyt says
Knowing the year (or series # as Wave mentioned) that new technology was introduced with a model could help avoid a bad used purchase.
There’s a bit of skepticism towards the first year’s production run of anything radically new because refinements are made in the 2nd, 3rd, etc. year. Or series #.
SteveD says
Maybe replace model years with versions, 2.1. Book value could still be based on year of manufacture, which could be kept in the records.
aaron says
harley caught flak because yamaha didn’t call the 2010 star V4 powercruiser a Y-max, and kawasaki’s 2010 sport tourer isn’t designated the “screamin’ wide bones ultra concours” they’re still a v-max and concours, and not advertised as an “all new model”
MCVTriumph says
Model year designations are dictated by the Federal Govt., there’s even a certain time when models produced before that time have to be one year and models produced afterward have to be designated another.
OMMAG says
Aside from the common use of model year to assign some arbitrary value or identification to a vehicle …. No there is NO USE for them.
Value and identification issues can be determined just fine from using the VIN and the production date data. In the case of a significant change in the vehicle a version identifier would work just as well.
All the other stuff is marketing mumbo jumbo…. aimed at creating an image and perception of a product.
Tin Man 2 says
Jet, The Screaming Eagle bikes are actaully a good value if your into that style (Im Not) You can not duplicate the bikes for less money and they have Engines that are not available on any other new Harley. They also hold their value better than any other bike on the market, The SE bikes may not be for You and I, but you cant fault HDs marketing, It works, Even today the SE line up is gaining market in this stale economy!!
Tin Man 2 says
I Vote to keep the model year system now in use. I believe the “version” system only works for devoted brand followers. 2.2 or 2.3A mean nothing to the average consumer, The year is understood by all. There is more room for abuse if the year is deleated.
Lamar says
Different handlebars, seat and fenders do not a new model make…..
Walt says
Paulinator,
Will this cheapening of products never end? I’m surprised and shocked to hear that Harley has cut their vee angle from 45 degrees to 43. What’s next? 40 degrees? 35? Where will this end–with a low-budget parallel twin of the sort Triumph has foisted off on us? Cheap bastards.
Not for me. If I’m buying a Harley I want the traditional, full and throbbing 45 degrees of raw V-twin power. Nothing less. Though when I think of it, BMW offers a whole 180-degree cylinder separation on their boxers. Sure shows they’re investing to deliver quality where it counts.
todd says
From what I gather, model year designation is for emissions and regulations compliance. M.Y. 2010 motorcycles will have to comply with even tougher emissions requirements. It would be hard to enforce if the government just told everyone to wait for their next “version” release to implement the emissions compliance.
-todd
non seq says
Walt,
That is, hands down, the most bizarre comment I have read on the Kneeslider thus far.
Cheers!
steve says
I prefer bikes that have run almost unchanged for years. When you ride a lot of miles and have a problem on the road you are likely to find the part in stock if you have a very popular model. Like it or not I have talked to many a Harley rider that rides one for that reason, parts availabilityon the road.
Paulinator says
Walt, non seq, you know I was kidding about the V angle, Right? Harley Davidson is an Icon. If you buy one today, you’ll probably wear the same toothy/toothless grin that your great-grand pappy sported next to his new HD, in the famlily photo elbum on the fireplace mantle. That contiuum is skillfully preserved and maintained by HD as they ever improve the product and trim cost from one model year to the next. They are here while all others have faded.
I wonder what the impact will be when they diverge completely from air-cooled engines?
Nicolas says
Out of the subject, but i was wondering … since when is a vertical twin not as enjoyable/valuable as a V-twin ?
polywogg@verizon.net says
MY is especially important if the build date is particularly early or late.
todd says
Steve, that’s just the reason why I haven’t bought a Harley, I keep finding too many of their parts on the road…
-todd