Price increase chart: read it and weep

This chart shows a selection of 2010 price rises, ranging from the 25% hike to the Yamaha V-Max and R1 to the 4% increase to the Suzuki GSX-R600.

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Japanese manufacturers claim that currency fluctuations and increasing manufacturing costs have forced the increases, with Yamaha being most aggressive.

The V-Max, for example, has gone up from £15,999 to £19,999, the R1 has risen from £9999 to £12,499 and the R6 was £7799 and is now £8999 – a full £1000 more than Triumph’s brilliant 675 Daytona.

European manufacturers have also made increases, though only KTM have put prices up by over 15%.

This means that European superbikes are closer than ever to their Japanese rivals. The Ducati 1198, for example, is now only £700 more expensive than the R1.

A full analysis of the price rises – and their impact on used values – appears in the new MCN, out January 13.