Originally Posted by rsbob

The same question about the cost to build a $14000 bike can be applied to SUVs and newer quad cab 4X pickups. They are profit centers. They are definitely better, but the value is what the consumer is willing to spend and the feeling they get from it.

Porsche was on the verge of bankruptcy and folding up shop until they rolled out the Cayenne SUV which saved the company. The best selling Porsche these days is not the 911 but the Macan SUV. Yup, they are profit wonders. I could extrapolate that the same high end bikes also support the low-end bikes of the same manufacturer, but have no concrete evidence.