Topic: 10 most desirable bikes not sold in America

[kghost]

http://rideapart.com/2014/01/desirable-motorcycles-sold-america/

[dave500]

ha ha!thats a good site to explore.

[MoMo]

All nice!   for some reason I like that little Yammie 400 the most-reminds me of the old 650 twin...Larry

[nccb]

cb1300 - sweet
FTR - sweet
GS1200SS - sweet

damn this sucks   Guess we can always spend 30 to 40 grand on an indian to sit in our garage to let everybody know we are real bikers.

[Oddjob]

I have the CB1300 in the red/white colours shown. It's a 2010 version and it's exactly how the review claimed. Torque coming out of it's ears, I mean incredibly torquey, lovely finish, good build quality although not the best Honda have done, new paint especially on the frame is pretty poor due to health and safety laws on composition, gonna have to get mine powder coated in the next few years as water based paint on a frame doesn't survive a UK winter with road salt all over the place. Handling is very good considering it's weight which TBH once you get it moving you don't notice. Only downside is the early models had a suspect gearbox but later models corrected this and it only has 5 gears and it REALLY needs 6. The latest version is reputed to have 6 gears but as yet there is no confirmation on this.

[Duanob]

I'm surprised the Kawasaki W800 wasn't on the list. I'd take one of those over a triumph Bonneville. Same style, japanese reliability.

http://www.kawasaki.eu/W800

http://youtu.be/anBP8peR8pQ

[70CB750]

+1 on W800, I saw one in Italy and spend 30 minutes looking and salivating.


Thanks for rubbing it in, Oddjob

[Oddjob]

LOL I didn't post to rub it in, just so if anyone was maybe considering importing one they knew the pros and cons of the bike. Whilst it's far from the perfect bike, it's more than justified to be included on the list. I wrote one off 18 months after buying it from new, usual story, woman driver, didn't see me etc. I loved the bike so much I immediately went out and bought an identical one, still have it now and I ride it in ALL weathers, I rode it through the entire winter last year, 10000 miles in UK winter weather has gotta mean you love bikes.

[70CB750]

I could definitely go with this one.

[heffay]

the first page, YES!
second page... not so much.

[Killer Canary]

Oddjob, you sound kind of like me. 10,000 mile summers take some doing but I've had plenty. May to October here.
Congratulations on your zeal and keep at it!

[Duanob]

Thanks for rubbing it in, Oddjob

Heh, heh, on the other side of the pond..... we have all the Harleys..........

the author pretty much slams America in this paragraph on the Kawi Estrella: Funny thing, he's right!

2014 Kawasaki Estrella

Just look at this pretty little bike and its 250cc, air-cooled single. I’m not even going to attempt sarcasm or humor here, we don’t get this bike in America because motorcycle consumers here think a 600cc supersport is a starter bike and anything under 1,300cc is for wimps. We don’t use bikes as transportation and we insist on holding on the ideal that we’re rugged individualists riding down desert highways in pursuit of adventure even though the vast majority of us live in congested cities and rarely travel at over 55 mph or have the chance to take long trips. We don’t want small bikes even though the average level of riding ability among motorcyclists is in need of improvement. We don’t want affordable bikes because we’re indoctrinated into a lifestyle of debt. Crushing, crippling debt that leaves average young people unable to try anything new, new stuff like getting a bike for practical, city transportation. That’s why we don’t get pretty little bikes like the Estrella or, in fact, most of the other stuff on this list. Humph.

Living in Seattle I would appreciate a bike larger and faster than a scooter but easily ridden around town. I looked at the Cleveland bikes, I would buy one if the time was right. I'm also trying to talk my friend into parting with his 1969 CD175. its a perfect city bike. I can't be the only one who thinks this? There are lots of scooters around the city, why not a step above? C'mon Japan there is a huge market that the Italians (Vespa) have capitalized on.

[Retro Rocket]

Im a big fan of the GSR750 Suzuki, the aggressive look does it for me... another bike the US missed out on...

That 2014 VFR800 is a sweet looking bike...

[nccb]

Has anyone imported a bike?  is it a pain in the ass or expensive?  Did you do it from a dealer? How? How? How? Hiw?

[754]

Oddjob..does you helmet look like the one in 70cb750, s avatar ?

[faux fiddy]

Has anyone imported a bike?  is it a pain in the ass or expensive?  Did you do it from a dealer? How? How? How? Hiw?

My friend has three but they were all in the states once he got them. One was a guzzi 254 that came through a dealership. Another is a grey market rz from Canada.

I remember someone here describing [lack of] bikes to US markets as  "the Cuba Treatment."

[Oddjob]

Oddjob..does you helmet look like the one in 70cb750, s avatar ?

LMAO I had to look but that's real funny, Maybe I should have my Shoei painted to look like a bowler hat.

[MoMo]

Oddjob..does you helmet look like the one in 70cb750, s avatar ?

LMAO I had to look but that's real funny, Maybe I should have my Shoei painted to look like a bowler hat.

or just fix  the bowler hat to your Shoei...Larry

[DanJ]

I'm surprised the Kawasaki W800 wasn't on the list. I'd take one of those over a triumph Bonneville. Same style, japanese reliability.

http://www.kawasaki.eu/W800

http://youtu.be/anBP8peR8pQ

I should have bought a W650 when they had them here, I always liked that style of bike. It pissed me off when my buddy sold his W2 last year that I wanted.

[LesterPiglet]

W800 at 215Kg is a bit much imo.

[Bankerdanny]

That CB400 is sweet and the GS1200 is just stunning. A fantastic 80's throwback bike and much more interesting that the CB1100 that we finally got here.

The VF800 I can take or leave. There are plenty of used VF750's and 800's available here if I want one.

[ekpent]

The GS1200 looks like your basic older style Bandit motor, pre water cooled 1250, wrapped in a nice package.  I am on the prowl for a cheap Bandit 1200 for a fun Hooligan bike.