Fischer MRX 650: Would you buy one?
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It's sad, but I have to say I'm glad the company didn't go with a Harley engine (or tranny). Buells would be much, MUCH more attractive to me if they didn't run out of steam at 6500rpm and clunk into gear like a Sportster.
What else is sad, is that Buells sell BECAUSE they have that crappy engine and tranny in them. Harleys are expensive, because they have a name. Fischer will have to build their own name.
The engine, in its current state, could sink Fischer's project. Even if it were the SV650 motor, I think people would be turned off by it. Now, if they could offer the top-shelf suspenders, etc, with that supercharger too (for no more than that $10k estimate), it may add just enough uniqueness and character to an otherwise overpriced SV650.
Whatever the outcome, it is unimpressive to see another American company shy away from developing their own sportbike motor.
What else is sad, is that Buells sell BECAUSE they have that crappy engine and tranny in them. Harleys are expensive, because they have a name. Fischer will have to build their own name.
The engine, in its current state, could sink Fischer's project. Even if it were the SV650 motor, I think people would be turned off by it. Now, if they could offer the top-shelf suspenders, etc, with that supercharger too (for no more than that $10k estimate), it may add just enough uniqueness and character to an otherwise overpriced SV650.
Whatever the outcome, it is unimpressive to see another American company shy away from developing their own sportbike motor.
Make it a Hooligan
Ya know...Ya can get close to 100hp out of an SV650 engine...IT'S A MITE PEAKY -- and you'd probably have to measure it's longevity with an egg-timer, but it can be done.
So, I say, trade the fancy fairing, for engine bits, and make the scariest 650 on the planet.
If you want to look like Squidly Diddly, cough-up $60 for an LP-cafe'-racer-fairing, mount it with bungee cords. and go to town.
Ya know...Ya can get close to 100hp out of an SV650 engine...IT'S A MITE PEAKY -- and you'd probably have to measure it's longevity with an egg-timer, but it can be done.
So, I say, trade the fancy fairing, for engine bits, and make the scariest 650 on the planet.
If you want to look like Squidly Diddly, cough-up $60 for an LP-cafe'-racer-fairing, mount it with bungee cords. and go to town.
They sold a fair number of Bimota motorcycles with vendor sourced engines, and at a far higher price than Dan Fisher is planning on seeking for his machine. Far more would've been sold if they weren't ridiculously priced. I for one think it's "underpriced" considering the bikes it'll compete with in the marketplace. Excelsior-Henderson proved that it's possible to spend 50 million Dollars getting a proprietary engine certified, so why follow them down that rathole? The Hyosung motor makes more power than the SV650. That begs the obvious question of: If the Japanese are so superior, why doesn't the SV make more? I say bring it on, and maybe we'll see the V-Rod engine in the Buells as a response (which is where it belonged in the first place).
I like it.
Yeah, I mean, it's not like it hard to find wrecked sport bikes with less than 2000 mile on them. Unfortunately, 90% of them will be inline 4s.
But, what do I care! I gotta cousin who's a cop in Jersey City. Hell, if you can't find it wrecked or stolen there, it probably doesn't exist.
BTW...Whenever I see an American Flag on an advertisement (especially after 9/11) it makes me sick. That's got to be about the most cynical thing I can imagine. It makes Sally Struthers, blubbering a 2am, look like Mother Teresa.
Yeah, I mean, it's not like it hard to find wrecked sport bikes with less than 2000 mile on them. Unfortunately, 90% of them will be inline 4s.
But, what do I care! I gotta cousin who's a cop in Jersey City. Hell, if you can't find it wrecked or stolen there, it probably doesn't exist.
BTW...Whenever I see an American Flag on an advertisement (especially after 9/11) it makes me sick. That's got to be about the most cynical thing I can imagine. It makes Sally Struthers, blubbering a 2am, look like Mother Teresa.
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Actually, according to the preliminary numbers, the SV does make a bit more power than the Hyosung right out of the box. Gemini Technologies did some work on the top end to extract some more power. But these are premilimary numbers, mind you.
Anyway, the engines should be close in performance because the same engineer was responsible for both the Suzuki and the Hyosung. They are very similar motors.
Anyway, the engines should be close in performance because the same engineer was responsible for both the Suzuki and the Hyosung. They are very similar motors.
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Let me just add...
...something I forgot to mention. Hyosung's development facility is actually in Japan and is staffed by Japanese engineers. Not that should really make any difference. I give them credit for being aggressive.
Also, a little checking about the relative power of the engines of the SV650 and Comet 650 revealed higher claimed hp numbers than I originally saw for the Hyosung. Based on overseas articles, the Comet motor is claimed to make 79 hp (the preproduction model tested by one of the U.S. mags was claimed to make 69 or so). This would lead me to believe that the numbers for the MRX (77 hp and 51 foot-pounds of torque) could possibly be rear wheel numbers. But that's just a guess.
According to the reviews I saw, the Comet is very comparable to the SV. The only real weak points being less than spectacular front brakes and a wonky rear shock. The Comet is also a bit heavier due to the use of a steel frame. Oh, and very high praise for the engine.
...something I forgot to mention. Hyosung's development facility is actually in Japan and is staffed by Japanese engineers. Not that should really make any difference. I give them credit for being aggressive.
Also, a little checking about the relative power of the engines of the SV650 and Comet 650 revealed higher claimed hp numbers than I originally saw for the Hyosung. Based on overseas articles, the Comet motor is claimed to make 79 hp (the preproduction model tested by one of the U.S. mags was claimed to make 69 or so). This would lead me to believe that the numbers for the MRX (77 hp and 51 foot-pounds of torque) could possibly be rear wheel numbers. But that's just a guess.
According to the reviews I saw, the Comet is very comparable to the SV. The only real weak points being less than spectacular front brakes and a wonky rear shock. The Comet is also a bit heavier due to the use of a steel frame. Oh, and very high praise for the engine.
Someone told me the V-Rod engine is too heavy for the Buells. I agree the Buells only need a great engine to take off IMHO. I really can't see how anyone other than Harley/Buell could produce an American Sportbike. As longride has pointed out several times Triumph went up against the big Four with an inline 4 600 and lost their shirts big time....What makes anyone think an American startup company could do any better ??
>What else is sad, is that Buells sell BECAUSE they have that crappy engine and tranny in them.
Nope. The "I'd buy one if it just had a real engine/tranny" deal has been beaten to death on this site. Buells sell because they're flat-out fun to ride, as is born out by its good showing in round one of the streetfighter shootout.
When I was shopping for a 2nd sportier bike to keep my Valk company, I wasn't even considering the Buell (I was looking at the SV650, Duc Monster, and the various IL4 600s) until a friend who owns one talked me into a test ride. I bought an XB12S in spite of initial reservations re the engine...because it left me grinning in a way none of the other bikes did.
It would be great to have another American sportbike join the fray, but it'll probably be a hard sell at that price unless it can really outperform the SV650 and Buells.
Nope. The "I'd buy one if it just had a real engine/tranny" deal has been beaten to death on this site. Buells sell because they're flat-out fun to ride, as is born out by its good showing in round one of the streetfighter shootout.
When I was shopping for a 2nd sportier bike to keep my Valk company, I wasn't even considering the Buell (I was looking at the SV650, Duc Monster, and the various IL4 600s) until a friend who owns one talked me into a test ride. I bought an XB12S in spite of initial reservations re the engine...because it left me grinning in a way none of the other bikes did.
It would be great to have another American sportbike join the fray, but it'll probably be a hard sell at that price unless it can really outperform the SV650 and Buells.
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Re: Take a look at the SV650
In the U.S., Hyosungs are branded as Alphasports, or Alpha for short.
How do you think people felt about the name "Kawasaki" when it first appeared here? Or "Yamaha," or "Suzuki?"
I think that their best bet for this country is to go with the shortend "Alpha." Although, in the rest of the world, they go by Hyosung (pronounced h-YO-sung).
In the U.S., Hyosungs are branded as Alphasports, or Alpha for short.
How do you think people felt about the name "Kawasaki" when it first appeared here? Or "Yamaha," or "Suzuki?"
I think that their best bet for this country is to go with the shortend "Alpha." Although, in the rest of the world, they go by Hyosung (pronounced h-YO-sung).
Funny you should mention that...
I was wondering, and trying to remember what I thought about Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki (respectively) as they come into the country. And, I really can't remember being all-that shocked, or amused, by them.
Though, I do remember being blown-away when I found out Honda and BMW made cars. And, the Yamaha-tuning-forks-thing, had me goin there for a while, too. But, thats about it.
However, Subaru got a couple of snickers, if I remember right.
BTW, I'm a mite annoyed with you at the moment...Ever since I read "hy O sung," I've had...
"Hy-O! Hy-O! It's off to work we go! With a Hy O sung, at the top of out lungs. Hy O! Hy O..."
Running through my head
I was wondering, and trying to remember what I thought about Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki (respectively) as they come into the country. And, I really can't remember being all-that shocked, or amused, by them.
Though, I do remember being blown-away when I found out Honda and BMW made cars. And, the Yamaha-tuning-forks-thing, had me goin there for a while, too. But, thats about it.
However, Subaru got a couple of snickers, if I remember right.
BTW, I'm a mite annoyed with you at the moment...Ever since I read "hy O sung," I've had...
"Hy-O! Hy-O! It's off to work we go! With a Hy O sung, at the top of out lungs. Hy O! Hy O..."
Running through my head
I'm just droppin this in here 'cause it fits...
After my cat woke my up this morning, at 530, I started thinking...
And, I know Ive been in on-this probably more than I should. But, 1st ,Its lotsa fun, and 2nd, Im avoiding research work that I should be doing (not doing it, pretty good, too). So, this is what I came up with...And, Sorry! But, this is how my mind really works...
The Fischer does have some good points - not the least of them being - some very-nice design work, a set of Ohlins inverted forks, and a fully-adjustable rear suspension. Unfortunately, once you get past the suspension, on the spec-sheet, there's Not-Much there (and, included in Not-Much is a set of Continental tires zzzz). For all that - and Not-Much - you pay ten-large however - you also get, what amounts to, an extra, 5 hp and 6 ft/lb. of torque.
Let me see hmm That comes to $3700 more than an SV650 (if you pay list for the SV; and, who does that?). As for Fishers dealer network (as yet, none) warrantee (remains to be seen) parts supply (whazzat?) reliability (too early to tell) and by now you should be able to see the direction I'm moving (though, not likely, on a Fischer).
Yes, I know! Im being a Rat-Bastard about the whole thing, but Thems-the-Facts!
Now, heres the good news(if you have a shred of self-awareness) about the MRX 650. Most of us really dont measure up to anything with much more power than the MRX 650, anyway. Sorry to mess with you illusions - just the same you got over, never sleeping with Super Models (while conscious) SO DEAL WITH IT! So, since, it would take around $2K to up-grade an SV650 to the level of MR X, and you would still have an SV, when youre done; the Fisher might not be such a bad deal (if you care all-that-much about exclusivity, that is).
As for, all of the Buy-Us! Flag-Waving! Golly! Dont you just feel awful about 9/11, Bull $hit Hell, ISNT DEEP ENOUGH for the cynical bastards!
Now, back to my research (you guys know anything about 10th Century, Western Russia?).
After my cat woke my up this morning, at 530, I started thinking...
And, I know Ive been in on-this probably more than I should. But, 1st ,Its lotsa fun, and 2nd, Im avoiding research work that I should be doing (not doing it, pretty good, too). So, this is what I came up with...And, Sorry! But, this is how my mind really works...
The Fischer does have some good points - not the least of them being - some very-nice design work, a set of Ohlins inverted forks, and a fully-adjustable rear suspension. Unfortunately, once you get past the suspension, on the spec-sheet, there's Not-Much there (and, included in Not-Much is a set of Continental tires zzzz). For all that - and Not-Much - you pay ten-large however - you also get, what amounts to, an extra, 5 hp and 6 ft/lb. of torque.
Let me see hmm That comes to $3700 more than an SV650 (if you pay list for the SV; and, who does that?). As for Fishers dealer network (as yet, none) warrantee (remains to be seen) parts supply (whazzat?) reliability (too early to tell) and by now you should be able to see the direction I'm moving (though, not likely, on a Fischer).
Yes, I know! Im being a Rat-Bastard about the whole thing, but Thems-the-Facts!
Now, heres the good news(if you have a shred of self-awareness) about the MRX 650. Most of us really dont measure up to anything with much more power than the MRX 650, anyway. Sorry to mess with you illusions - just the same you got over, never sleeping with Super Models (while conscious) SO DEAL WITH IT! So, since, it would take around $2K to up-grade an SV650 to the level of MR X, and you would still have an SV, when youre done; the Fisher might not be such a bad deal (if you care all-that-much about exclusivity, that is).
As for, all of the Buy-Us! Flag-Waving! Golly! Dont you just feel awful about 9/11, Bull $hit Hell, ISNT DEEP ENOUGH for the cynical bastards!
Now, back to my research (you guys know anything about 10th Century, Western Russia?).
sign me up
After riding around my 50hp Hawk GT for 3 years, I've come to realize that there is more fun in riding smaller, lightweight bikes that handle than tiptoeing around on 160hp cruise missiles that will spit me off with one sneeze.
I've been seriously considering upgrading to an SV650s, but after upgrading the Hawk's suspension bits to superbike specs, it'll be hard to start over again with the SV's bargain bits.
This appears to be exactly what I'm looking for. If it'll come in under 10k, I'll buy. If it'll come in around 11k for the supercharged version, even better! I don't give a hoot if the engine isn't made on American soil. Car manufacturers do the same. The first Plymouth Voyager minivan had a Mitsubishi motor in it, and Dodge-Chrysler-Plymouth have been selling re-badged Mitsubishis for so long now. Pontiac's Vibe is a rebadged Toyota Matrix, even though it is built in Fremont, CA. Get with the program, people--it's called Global industry. The guys with the ideas and the design and the execution and the quality offering is ALL AMERICAN, and that's what I can appreciate.
After riding around my 50hp Hawk GT for 3 years, I've come to realize that there is more fun in riding smaller, lightweight bikes that handle than tiptoeing around on 160hp cruise missiles that will spit me off with one sneeze.
I've been seriously considering upgrading to an SV650s, but after upgrading the Hawk's suspension bits to superbike specs, it'll be hard to start over again with the SV's bargain bits.
This appears to be exactly what I'm looking for. If it'll come in under 10k, I'll buy. If it'll come in around 11k for the supercharged version, even better! I don't give a hoot if the engine isn't made on American soil. Car manufacturers do the same. The first Plymouth Voyager minivan had a Mitsubishi motor in it, and Dodge-Chrysler-Plymouth have been selling re-badged Mitsubishis for so long now. Pontiac's Vibe is a rebadged Toyota Matrix, even though it is built in Fremont, CA. Get with the program, people--it's called Global industry. The guys with the ideas and the design and the execution and the quality offering is ALL AMERICAN, and that's what I can appreciate.
Don't have the time
Just how many "kits" do you think would sell? It would be the equivalent of assembling a bicycle, which most Americans can't even deal with.
And if they realized that they would have to source their own motor, be it a possibly bunk one from some obscure junkyard out in Jersey, you have yourself a half bike, put together by untrained consumers which would do wonders for the resale value
And let's not forget how the insurance companies that won't insure bikes put together by their own customers, with each one having different engines/components/varying degrees of reliability?
--just my .02
Just how many "kits" do you think would sell? It would be the equivalent of assembling a bicycle, which most Americans can't even deal with.
And if they realized that they would have to source their own motor, be it a possibly bunk one from some obscure junkyard out in Jersey, you have yourself a half bike, put together by untrained consumers which would do wonders for the resale value
And let's not forget how the insurance companies that won't insure bikes put together by their own customers, with each one having different engines/components/varying degrees of reliability?
--just my .02
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