[gerrygrande]

It always gets me how these bikes are awarded these honors before the consumer even has a chance to obtain and test one himself. I think the bikes should be made available for the consumer to decide before some marketing sales type try to influence the buyer into possibly purchasing something he or she may not want.

 

[SeanAlexander]

>>"before some marketing sales type try to influence the buyer into possibly purchasing something he or she may not want"<<





Ummmm... what are "Marketing Sales" types supposed to be doing?

 

[dirtybmxr]

That is what they are supposed to do, but I think there was another point being made. The problem was when the ONLY input the consumer gets comes from the "marketing types", you can rest assured you know little about a bike. It makes sense for the manufaturer to sell a few of these things before someone objective gets their hands on them and lets the public know a different (less-than-perfect) perspective.

 

[hdpetey]

They did the same thing with the Polaris then the consumers got a hold of it, I mean very few got a hold of it, and ripped its tranny and other items. I agree let those who ride decide.

 

[CBR1000F]

Hmmm.... lets see....



"Honda's GL1800 Gold Wing received Rider magazine's 2001 Motorcycle of the Year Award. Mark Tuttle, Senior Editor at Rider, noted that the new Gold Wing redefined motorcycle touring by providing the performance of a sport touring motorcycle with the comfort expected of a luxury tourer."



I don't think so. Will it hang with the mid-eighties design of the (still produced) Kawasaki Concours, let alone any NEWER sport-tourers? Heck no. Lets call apples, apples and oranges, oranges, shall we?

 

[Gixxerboy]

Good point, CBR! Sport touring... those guys must be smokin something. My 89 Mazda pick-up is thus the most amazing sport tourer as it can 'tour' to the twisties hauling my GSXR.

(to avoid flameage... I never haul my bike - I ride the thing there eventhough by back bum and shoulders revolt... unless it's got a broken 2nd gear.. hypothetically)

 

[Z1R]

Whats a honda?

 

[9214]

I haven't checked the numbers, and I haven't taken the 1800 for a test ride, but I would've expected these two bikes to be fairly close- considering the reviews the new Leadwing has been getting. If you wanted to put the GL to shame, shouldn't you have compared it to an ST1100 or R1100RT, instead of a bike whose most redeeming quality is that it's affordable?

 

[Shaft]

What's a Z1R?

 

[CBR1000F]

C'mon... you just made my point for me. It won't hang with the Concours in acceleration, top end, braking and cornering... And the Concours is OLD. Newer sport tourers are even better. Why embarass it by trying to compare it? It has a totally different function in life, which is touring, without the "sport" modifier.

 

[CB1er]

Hey CBR,

What info are you using to compare the Concours with the new GL? Have you rode both bikes?

 

[CBR1000F]

Check the numbers: The Leadwing weighs 200 Lbs. MORE than the Concours, makes 19 more Hp, has about twice the frontal area, a much higher drag coefficient, AND less ground clearance.

 

[CarsSuck]

I'd drop the "sport" from the concours

as I consider that a plain touring bike, the riding position is almost bolt upright, this is not a sport anything, but just a good modern touring bike in my opinion (and a good one I think). The GL on the other hand, needs the word "luxury" added. It is not a touring bike, it's a luxury touring bike. Or perhaps the word "geriatric". I think the concours is called a sport tourer because it doesn't look big and traditional enough. The old guys thinks it looks like one of those new fangled dad burned whatevers, which seems to be what they're saying about the new GL, so maybe that's your explanation.

 

[TCAir]

Power is more than just Ponies

With torque numbers that imbarass a modern small sedan motor.

How does the old explanation go...

"Horsepower sells vehicles, Torque wins races.."

Do not underestimate the new wing. The 1500 was a power house on it's own. Move the rev limiter up 500 rpm and re-jet the two barrel carb and this behemouth goes from being a 1/2 ton Luxury tourer to a 2nd gear-front wheel in the air- automatic seat cussion to rectum installer.

I am not saying it is a full fledge sport tourer (CBRs of 1000+ c.c's) or a bus (Suzuki Cavalcade etc) but I am sure that it will run with the Kawasaki Concours I rode, and then some.

 

[gerrygrande]

They should suck up a bit and let us consumers decide which machines deserve the rights to a award. Get my point!

 

[Grappelli]

yes, well, this award *IS* just a marketing exercise, isn't it..

 

[111]

Some "unofficial" numbers...

...quarter mile (best of five runs) 12.60 @ 122.402

top speed (indicated) 142-144 mph @ 6,200 rpm (approx...tach was a little hard to read, apparently hit rev limiter). Approx two mile flat straight, brushed concrete... Paced by '99 CBR100XX at approx same (indicated) speed (140-145 mph).

[Very surprised Blackbird pilot...]

Unaltered GL1800, non-abs, no CB/CD, empty bags/trunk, rider weight approx 165#. tires @ 40/42 psi for speed run.

Weather; clear, cool (63*F), humidity 40%, winds negligible.

 

[011]

Re: Power is more than just Ponies

Hey -

Some of us LIKE to ride the bus!

Brian

 

[CBR1000F]

Re: I

Torque wins races... Which accounts for all the races Harley's been winning, right? Oh wait a minute. They don't win races. Also... I seem to recall that the Concours does the 1/4 mile in low 12's, not mid to high 12's, and it STILL mid-eighties design, and I STILL maintain that the LeadWing COULD NOT compete with more modern sport-tourers, as I said in my first post. As I said, it wouldn't keep up with a Concours, let alone any of the newer/faster/better handling/braking sport tourers. I never said that it wasn't a good motorcycle, just that saying it doesn't have sport-touring performance, as that silly-assed award said. That's all.

 

[Haga]

How bought off does this awards thing sound? Speaking of which, how credible is Cycle World when they're running a mag of just GSXR's this month???