Suzuki School's 'Market Awareness 101' is in session
Wow, the Bandit is a steal.
All you guys who were talking for the past months about sensible bikes the manufacturers don't make, here they are and go buy them. You have no excuse not to at these prices. The Bandit, WeeStrom and SV650 are targeted at you. I know where I'm going if I need a commuter - straight to a DL650 with ABS.
Suzuki is very much on the ball with the distribution of ABS on the street/commuter oriented models and skipping it on the 'hard core' sportbikes. The same goes for the noticeable (and wise) absence of linked braking systems. I'm not saying we're better than them, I'm just saying that the perception of most riders is 'skip it' and Suzuki's listening.
I daresay Honda could learn a thing or two here: bikes that have the features people want, are relatively inexpensive, and perform. Actually that's a thing or three, but it's sort of a grab bag so take what you will. Down with technology for technology's sake, which seems to be Honda's corporate mentality these days. However, that's just my opinion.
Gawd almighty that M109 is ugly though. U-G-L-Y-ugly (clapclap-clap) You ugly! (clapclap-clap) You ugly!
--Foxy