SONIC. said:
It's all fun and games until someone gets an eye put out!
Seriously, I'm not sure I understand the appeal of the SR400 or the target buyer for this bike. Hipsters, maybe?
Kick-start is great...on a bike that never had electric start available or as a back-up.
Retro bikes like the W400 and W650, which had both electric and kick starts and "looked the business" were pulled from the US market due to lack of interest here. The W800 when introduced was never even available here.
Heck even the SR500 that the 400 is based on died off here years ago.
So now take away 100cc's and electric start and bring it back?
It's going to be limited to running around town and back roads.
In my experience most new riders are intimidated by the thought of kick start.
There are thousands of Ural kick starters out there that never get used.
Apparently the SR400 has been alive and well overseas all these years.
But small bikes have always done well overseas versus in the US.
Folks in the US who buy small bikes are usually looking for practical urban rides, like scoots and Burgmans.
I'd hazard that most sub-500cc bikes and scoots are being sold at way less than $4000.
If you are looking for a full sized bike spend just a little more than the $5,990 asking price of the SR400 and your options open up pretty wide.