I don't imagine that the dealers are paying much less than the MSRP on the bikes. I am not saying that they are loosing money, but I imagine that they are not going to be running to the bank after they sell through their FZ09 stock. The markup on bikes is not very high. If that were the case, then most motorcycle dealerships would not carry much in the way of accessories, because why would they? Why carry stock that you don't need to?
A majority of moto dealerships have so much inventory in accessories, that it is sometimes shameful. The real money is made in parts and service. There is a retail markup paradigm called a "Keystone." Keystone markup is a code word for a retailer to mark up the product 100%. Meaning that they bought it for $10, and sell it for $20. That is why most retailers are all too happy to sell last year's gear at a 50% discount. They replace their investment, and free up capitol for this year's piece.(Keystones are often used in "soft goods" like t-shirts, key-rings, coffee mugs; and not the "hard goods" like helmets, and jackets)
Watch your dealership's sale rack, and that will give you a window into their markup on gear:
- Several sizes of a jacket that just went to the sale rack? Probably about a 25% markdown on their markup. This nets the dealership a 25% profit.
- One or two odd sizes? Probably right at the break even point. Netting dealership 0% profit.
- One left that is a XXXXL and in an awful colorway? Well below their cost because they are tired of looking at it. Netting negative profit, but the buyer's mistake is now gone.
Retailers thrive when they make their stores look new and updated. That is one thing that I will give to the big corporate stores, gear based, or otherwise. When they get the new stuff in, there is an obvious change! Almost everything is rotated. Nothing is in the same place that it was in last week. Maybe the same section, but not the same place. Now you have to look for the thing that you almost bought last week. Maybe you find something new that you didn't see last week. It gives the buyer a sense of urgency.
Anyway, now that I am done with being off topic:
Moto dealerships don't make the money on the bike, they make it on the jacket and helmet you buy with the bike, as well as the setup charge they add to the cost of the bike. And then the service they perform on your bike once you already bought the bike.