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Other than two wheels, what do an 800-pound bagger, a 313-pound track-only sport bike, and an electric dirt bike have in common? They're all part of what looks to me like a trend these days: Manufacturers love to produce limited-edition models they can use to draw attention and can sell at top prices.
I suppose it makes some sense. We have seen growing wealth inequality in the United States and elsewhere in recent years, meaning the wealthy are still feeling wealthy while a lot of people are being pinched by inflation, with many of them piling up credit card debt to maintain their standards of living. So why not sell some big-ticket, exclusive items to those who can afford them? The 50 to 200 extra motorcycles sold may not move the needle on a corporation's bottom line, but it can bring new customers into the fold. Customers who have money to spend.
Along with the other new models announced as part of the traditional fall introductions and the unveilings at EICMA, we have also seen some new limited-edition motorcycles being rolled out. Here are a few examples.
2023 Indian Challenger Elite
Building a top-of-the-line cruiser with all the bells and whistles, extra-fancy paint, and a premium price tag to match is not a new concept. It's been the basis of Harley-Davidson's CVO line for two decades. There are riders willing to pay extra to own a motorcycle they know will turn heads and won't look like anything else they're likely to meet on the road.
The 2023 Indian Challenger Elite goes a step beyond the already well outfitted Challenger Limited by upgrading the stereo to a 400-watt unit, adding electronic adjustment to the rear shock, and layering on a special paint job of Sapphire Blue Smoke with Black Smoke and Titanium Metallic Smoke Accents. Plus, only 150 will be built, so you're likely to have the only one at the local bike night.
With a price tag of $35,999 in the United States and $43,999 in Canada, that added exclusivity will cost you $8,000 more than a base Challenger Limited.
2023 KTM RC 8C
We reported last year on KTM's vision of the ultimate track-day bike, its RC 8C, built in conjunction with Krämer Motorcycles and based around KTM's LC8c parallel-twin engine, with top-level performance parts fitted from wheel to wheel. Later, California Superbike School's Dylan Code gave us a vicarious taste of what it's like to ride this exclusive track bike.
KTM has revived the RC 8C for another limited-edition run in 2023. This time, 200 will be built, instead of just 100, and the price has inched up to $39,599. So apparently the exclusive approach is working for the orange-blooded Austrians as well as it serves the red-blooded American cruiser manufacturers.
2023 CAKE Bukk
Even more limited is the CAKE Bukk, a lighter, high-performance version of the Swedish manufacturer's electric off-road bike, the Kalk. (You can see Zack's Daily Rider video of the Kalk&, the street-legal dual-sport version of the Kalk, and we'll soon have a review of the Kalk& here on Common Tread.) Only 50 examples of the Bukk (CAKE says "Bukk means Thunder Cloud in the ancient language from the island of Gotland, CAKE’s testing ground and inspiration for the naming of all of its products") are being offered and the U.S. price is $14,970.
At 187 pounds, with WP front and Öhlins rear suspension, the Bukk should be an agile handler. It produces a claimed 21 horsepower and the battery can provide up to three hours of riding time. It's designed to be swapped in the field without tools, so you can put in a spare battery and keep riding.
CAKE is not known for making inexpensive motorcycles, but despite its exclusivity, the Bukk only costs a few dollars more than the street-legal Kalk&.
From Triumph's James Bond editions to MV Agusta's tribute to Giacomo Agostini to the tried-and-true Harley CVO line, we continue to see manufacturers trying to boost sales by adding some frills and paint to existing models, building them in limited numbers, and selling exclusivity. It appears to be an approach custom-made for our economic times and one I don't expect to fade away soon.
