What's Honda been smoking lately?

clem

clem

static fluff
DTT BOTM WINNER
I happened to check out the Honda site yesterday and went throught their list of current bikes. Man was I depressed. I know it's been like this for some time but why are they only offereing Harley clones in the cruiser department? They could have atleast kept the Nighthawk 750 alive. I'm sure they sell those bikes but how can they ignore the fact that the vintage jap look is big right now and it's not based off of some fad bike builder show?
They should do with their CB what Chevy and Dodge did with the Camaro and Challenger and issue a retro version of the old classic. It's about that time where the young guns of the early 70's are grown up and wanting things that remind them of their youth. At least that's where I'm at.
 
The motorcycle makers are clueless to the current vintage phenomenon. I have many friends that are incapable of building that would purchase a bike if it looked more like a 60s/70s classic. If motorcycle manufacturers want growth in the younger market segment, that's one way to get it.
 
They are not really clueless, for they do have those made for their own local consumption (Japan only bikes). The clueless ones are in the marketing dept.
 
Suzuki TU250 FTW. But at $4K it's the same price as a Honda CBR250 and the Ninja 250.

I still want to buy one. Would be a great little commuter bike and could have some personality. But again, $4K buys you the Honda with 1000% more performance, better everything.

suzuki-1-1009.jpg
 
Honda won't bring over the CB1100F to North America because it would be too expensive and not enough people will buy it. All the Japanese makers have modern standards but they only import them to Europe where there is more demand and sales are consistent. Here, if it doesn't have chrome or plastic, it won't sell.
 
Tim said:
Suzuki TU250 FTW. But at $4K it's the same price as a Honda CBR250 and the Ninja 250.

I still want to buy one. Would be a great little commuter bike and could have some personality. But again, $4K buys you the Honda with 1000% more performance, better everything.

suzuki-1-1009.jpg
Click to expand...


JSJamboree had this as his training bike for our ABATE motorcycle class. I had a Bandit 250 I think.
 
I applaud Suzuki for making that bike but why not a little bigger!
Maybe honda's marketing team is too busy watching the discovery channel. When they found out about the OCC bankruptcy maybe they smelled blood in the water!lol
 
I think Triumph has the retro market all sewn up with the Bonneville etc. Kawasaki tried with the w650 which was an nice bike, but bottom line is every single Japanese 'retro' bike just gets immediately cast as a wannabe Triumph Bonneville, so why bother?

Honda did the CB1100 but honestly I don't know where it is at this point. Might be for sale in some markets?

honda-cb1100-tokyo_0002.jpg
 
Same thing as lusting after the cool euro cars we don't get

It's not Honda as a whole as they make some killer bikes.
It comes down to sales and people in the states flat will not buy them. This vintage thing is small and guys aren't going to put down $12k for a bike that's still an "it"

They did bring the cb1000r and I think it's a cool bike that should compete with the speed triple and monster....but at the end of the day people will pony up for a Ducati faster then a Honda...
 
I hear what you guys are saying but.... They are obviously targeting a specific market right now. How many Harley riders are going to ditch their Harley to get on a Honda look alike? That's the market they are going after right now in the states. I've been on honda's since I was a small kid but wouldn't buy a new one right now, I'd just go buy the real thing(Harley) if I was into that type of bike. It just seems like they think that all Americans want are Harley look alikes or crotch rockets.
 
What about the Shadow RS? The red, white and blue model? Its pretty close to a standard 70s bike. The Kawasaki W650 is available in the states. Or just say fuck it all and get a Ural.
 
Look at the honda fury. It hit the market just as the chopper craze was winding down, and sales have been less than stellar because of it. The problem with marketing is turn around time. From the moment a trend is found to the moment the product hits the showroom is crucial. If to much time passes and the demand for a cool retro bike starts to wane in pop land, then I doubt they will allocate much research and funding to it. And therefore, we keep sleepy designs on the market.

Add to that the abominable price tag that usually accompanies hot on the market mini trends like cafe racers, and its a failure cocktail for companies in the long haul. Who here would pay 15,000$ for a special edition cb9000xs rd 100kz dream? Not me! Ill wait till its old and cheap. However, if honda and others retooled and started producing own parts again for old bikes, that might work...
 
Yes there are ton more people that will buy a look alike harley then something that looks old
 
The best, most successful recent retro UJM sold in NA was the Kawi ZRX1100/1200. But it didn't stick around that long, did it? There are plenty of these used for under $4000, so who's buying?

zrx1100g.jpg
 
DrJ said:
The best, most successful recent retro UJM sold in NA was the Kawi ZRX1100/1200. But it didn't stick around that long, did it? There are plenty of these used for under $4000, so who's buying?

zrx1100g.jpg
Click to expand...

Mostly old farts like me and my buds who want a ZedOne but won't pay 8 grand for a pristine one and don't have the time/skill/space to restore a 2 grand starter.

The zrx is a decent compromise.
 
These bike manufacturers need to bring back the twin 350's, 400's, 450's, 500's, and 550's that so many of the cafe bikes are based on. Like everything else, these smaller bikes have gone away and been replaced with the bigger 600, 750, 900+ size bikes mainly because people want more power (even if they don't know how to ride it) and because there are no incentives for producing smaller bikes.

I absolutely love to ride my R6 as a daily rider, but the Suzuki 250 was on my radar if it had been available in a 450-550 range. 250 is just a little too small for daily freeway action.
 
I think it's kinda funny that some "old guys" think the Japs are clueless with their models just because they don't offer a bike that they might buy (I'm over 40 too, so I'm allowed to call you all old guys ;) ).

All the Japs have had a crack at retro bikes over the years and they have all pretty much disappeared off the market. Why? Because they didn't sell. The ones that are still there have slowly morphed into more modern styled machines (like the Suzuki Bandit).

And yes - Triumph has hit the mark with their Bonnevilles and Thruxtons but this is mostly based on the history factor (like HD) and not so much on the merits of the bikes themselves. If the Japs were to try and make a Thruxton it would not sell enough to warrant keeping in on the market.

Markets change and hence, so do the models.

Personally, the more I see bland boring new bikes around the streets the more excited I get about building stuff in my garage ;D
 
Re: Re: What's Honda been smoking lately?

DrJ said:
The best, most successful recent retro UJM sold in NA was the Kawi ZRX1100/1200. But it didn't stick around that long, did it? There are plenty of these used for under $4000, so who's buying?

zrx1100g.jpg
Click to expand...

This is a great bike and a shame that not more were sold. I would love to have seen a slightly smaller version though, somthing in the 750ish range
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

DTT Light or Dark

  • DTT Light
    • www.jadusmotorcycleparts.com
    www.lostapostle.ca/
    www.sparckmoto.com

    Spread the Love

    Back
    Top Bottom