The autumn season is when most motorcycle manufacturers begin to reveal their offerings for the following year with the hope and expectation that sales will sky rocket.

However, whilst many manufacturers have started to produce less expensive motorcycles in the sub 500cc market, many motorcycles of greater engine sizes are over £10,000. The signature models from the well established brands are £20,000 or much more in some cases.

So the question remains as who will buy the more expensive motorcycles and at what point will be market fall in on itself as motorcycle riders turn away from those expensive purchases?

In the current economic climate, these brands of higher priced rides have already felt the pinch. Brands like Harley Davidson, Indian and Kawasaki have all had drops in sales of their most expensive bikes, albeit the likes of Kawasaki are able to offer cheaper mid range bikes which have proven to be affordable especially in the American market.

So are we at the stage where the only motorcycles that are most likely to sell in mass number are those in the sub 450cc-500cc and £5000 range where riders will only reach deep up to a maximum of 10K for larger engine bikes?

Just as occured during the 1970s with the Japanese invasion in the UK market which decimated brands like Norton, Triumph and BSA. Now the Chinese brands have grown in quality, variety but have stayed true to low cost riding. The Chinese inflow might still be resisted by many but unless other brands can match their price point, it will be difficult to see how the market can recover for the traditional suppliers.