A Perspective on Big Nakeds in Europe.
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4. Sex. Watch a European T.V commercial it may very well be about "sex"... In the U.S.A watch a related commercial about "sex" and it is about helping you get laid. Having the edge on the other person, one upping them. My point is.... America is very uptight about sex, and the body. And we like to get the bigger one because it is more attractive than the CHEAPER, smaller one. In a european country in my opinion, you get on the motorcycle that is most practical so you can focus on HAVING sex more.
I'm late to the argument here, but here's my 2-euro-cents worth.
If you have a bike as a strictly recreational vehicle, then you choose between looks or performance: the classic cruiser/sportbike split. If you actually use a bike as transport, the chances are that you live somewhere with tight traffic and narrow streets, like a European city. A naked does the business here, which is why they sell so well in the EU and UK. But a big naked is too heavy, too wide (yes, two inches DOES make a difference when lane-splitting), costs more to buy and insure, and cannot display its power advantage in an urban environment. Thus, no sales.
Some big nakeds do sell in reasonable numbers - Bandits and Fazers. They have the sort of aggressive motor characteristics which makes them into streetfighters. But Honda have never made a motor that was anything but smooth, safe and predictable, and that's the wrong character entirely for a streetfighter. Which is andother reason why all the big H's big nakeds, from the 'Big One' through to the CB1000, don't sell. They're too big, and too soft.
If you have a bike as a strictly recreational vehicle, then you choose between looks or performance: the classic cruiser/sportbike split. If you actually use a bike as transport, the chances are that you live somewhere with tight traffic and narrow streets, like a European city. A naked does the business here, which is why they sell so well in the EU and UK. But a big naked is too heavy, too wide (yes, two inches DOES make a difference when lane-splitting), costs more to buy and insure, and cannot display its power advantage in an urban environment. Thus, no sales.
Some big nakeds do sell in reasonable numbers - Bandits and Fazers. They have the sort of aggressive motor characteristics which makes them into streetfighters. But Honda have never made a motor that was anything but smooth, safe and predictable, and that's the wrong character entirely for a streetfighter. Which is andother reason why all the big H's big nakeds, from the 'Big One' through to the CB1000, don't sell. They're too big, and too soft.
Good Middleweight Nakeds?
I would have bought the Kawi ZR7S, but they returned to the "camshafts come out to adjust the valves" design of the early 80s (late 70s?), and the suspension was so cheap I just couldn't stomach it.
For $3200 I picked up a like new '01 Rex (ZRX1200R) w/2600 miles that has almost everything I need.
Just like this new Honda, the temptation is to bargain bin the suspension on naked bikes. How much do cartridge forks and remote resevoir shocks cost the OEM? I don't know, but I do know I won't buy a bike without them. Damper rods and oil emulsion are dead, so let them stay buried.
Anybody know when the new GSX-R1000 will come with pressurized forks?
I would have bought the Kawi ZR7S, but they returned to the "camshafts come out to adjust the valves" design of the early 80s (late 70s?), and the suspension was so cheap I just couldn't stomach it.
For $3200 I picked up a like new '01 Rex (ZRX1200R) w/2600 miles that has almost everything I need.
Just like this new Honda, the temptation is to bargain bin the suspension on naked bikes. How much do cartridge forks and remote resevoir shocks cost the OEM? I don't know, but I do know I won't buy a bike without them. Damper rods and oil emulsion are dead, so let them stay buried.
Anybody know when the new GSX-R1000 will come with pressurized forks?
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Well depends on what you mean by corgeous. Sex comes free if you don´t count the fixed cost which is enormous
- cruiz-euro
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Its the same for small companies. Its the law.
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And because of that - the most fearsome Army...........
;^D
;^D
Re: You are ahead of your time I think ... Now...
"Yep maybe the dealer was giving me smoke. "
Not a hard thing to accomplish when the dealer saw someone so willing to believe their own bullshyt.
Standards were pretty much the only bikes available in the 60's 70's and even the early 80's, weren't they? The market became more focused for a reason. Looking at the evolution of the GoldWing tells you everything. People in this country don't buy "all-arounders' any more. They want the extreme end of whatever segment they are interested in. That's why the market evolved into fat-tired cruisers, stupid fast sportbikes, and large-barge tourers. Very few want the middle ground. Standards stopped selling for that reason, and I'm sure they never will sell in big numbers again here. Motorcycling has been down that road, only you weren't old enough, and certainly not smart enough, to realize it.
"Yep maybe the dealer was giving me smoke. "
Not a hard thing to accomplish when the dealer saw someone so willing to believe their own bullshyt.
Standards were pretty much the only bikes available in the 60's 70's and even the early 80's, weren't they? The market became more focused for a reason. Looking at the evolution of the GoldWing tells you everything. People in this country don't buy "all-arounders' any more. They want the extreme end of whatever segment they are interested in. That's why the market evolved into fat-tired cruisers, stupid fast sportbikes, and large-barge tourers. Very few want the middle ground. Standards stopped selling for that reason, and I'm sure they never will sell in big numbers again here. Motorcycling has been down that road, only you weren't old enough, and certainly not smart enough, to realize it.
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I had the "pleasure" of working on a lawn and garden product launch for the Swiss market. What a major protectionest bunch they are. Might look cool from the outside looking in, but any fun that comes from outside the EU gets the living Krap taxed out of it. NO THANK YOU!
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You mean the women don't look like they do in the travel brochures?
I subscribe to the catch and release philosophy like bass fisherman do.
Like the bumper sticker says, "Catch and Release for better (B)assin'
Women are at their best in a constant state of uncertainty. Get 'em comfortable and it's all over for you!
I subscribe to the catch and release philosophy like bass fisherman do.
Like the bumper sticker says, "Catch and Release for better (B)assin'
Women are at their best in a constant state of uncertainty. Get 'em comfortable and it's all over for you!
The big reason that nakeds don't sell well in the US is that cars are cheap, gas is cheap, and in most places parking is cheap. In the US motorcycles are really just for fun. What I will disagree with are the people that say Cruisers are comfortable. I just don't like the legs in front riding style.
My dream bike? The ZRX Now that looked like a motorcycle.
My dream bike? The ZRX
Now that looked like a motorcycle.
Re: You are ahead of your time I think ... Now...
(Reagan voice)There you go again (Reagan voice off).. I said that nakeds will be the Gen Ys "cruiser" i.e they will want something more comfy than sportbikes. Gen Y will not buy cruisers. That was your generation's, baby boomers (the Worst Generation as opposed to the Greatest Generation) thing. I think the Gen Y generation is going to be great by the way. If they can shed following orders from baby boomer failures like W
(Reagan voice)There you go again (Reagan voice off).. I said that nakeds will be the Gen Ys "cruiser" i.e they will want something more comfy than sportbikes. Gen Y will not buy cruisers. That was your generation's, baby boomers (the Worst Generation as opposed to the Greatest Generation) thing. I think the Gen Y generation is going to be great by the way. If they can shed following orders from baby boomer failures like W
Who says Americans only buy race replicas and cruisers?
Maybe in Flatstraightroadsville that's the case but here where we have mountains and lane splitting my local dealer can't keep the new 695 Monsters or the GT1000s in stock, when the new Speed Triple came out he couldn't keep one on the floor for the first 6 months, he's got a bunch of people already standing in line for the Hypermotard & I bet he sells a bunch of the new Tigers too
Let the kooks do what they want and ride your own bike.
Maybe in Flatstraightroadsville that's the case but here where we have mountains and lane splitting my local dealer can't keep the new 695 Monsters or the GT1000s in stock, when the new Speed Triple came out he couldn't keep one on the floor for the first 6 months, he's got a bunch of people already standing in line for the Hypermotard & I bet he sells a bunch of the new Tigers too
Let the kooks do what they want and ride your own bike.
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I totally agree
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Re: Na Na it's not that complicated.
With Street Rod you have to change your name to "SmokeMe", at least if there are any old V-Maxes around. You want to keep your name riding a cruiser and not look like a Pee Wee Herman you should get a Rocket III.
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With Street Rod you have to change your name to "SmokeMe", at least if there are any old V-Maxes around. You want to keep your name riding a cruiser and not look like a Pee Wee Herman you should get a Rocket III.
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