Topic: standard bike market today

[RAFster122s]

So, everyone loves the old SOHC/4 bikes but if Honda came out with a tubular frame version of their DOHC injected twin in the CB500 variants would it sell? 


What would it take to drop one of the power plants in a nice stiff tubular frame? 

[toytuff]

From what I have read the CB500 is a nice bike but on the heavy side. Few other issues but I have never read an article where everything was perfect in the Road Tests.

Always some little thing. On the new FZ09 guess they can't keep them on the floor however the brakes were not highly rated. First year bike, Yamaha will listen.

tt

[Bankerdanny]

I would rather see Honda import the tube frame CB400/4 that it already sells in Japan, maybe bumped out to 500.

[RAFster122s]

OK, I'm with Danny...but, I was just musing.  A four would be preferred over a twin, especially a low output twin.

You can't get Honda America to get their head out of someplace dark and convince American riders that a nice bike isn't a Harley or a cruiser. Just try taking a long trip on a sport bike or cruiser that's a hard tail and they are looking for softer seats instead of better designed bike...

David

[Killer Canary]

Bikes like these, no matter how desirable, won't sell well enough to make importing worthwhile. Not Honda's fault. Our fault.

[Bankerdanny]

The funny thing is that harley has realized that they need to make a smaller more 'Japanese' style cruiser and is rolling out a liquid cooled 750 V-twin. Honda just seems to have forgotten how to market entry level bikes.

Maybe they should just re-use the old "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" campaign to use for small, fun to ride, around town bikes.