Topic: Why it sucks to be in the US

[snarferer]

http://honda.co.uk/motorcycles/DispatcherServlet?hidActionDetail=viewproductlist&hidAction=Lookup&hidMSGID=10&hidMSGCode=TRADITIONAL&hidMSGName=Traditional

Seriously, look at all those modernized beautiful bikes.  Yeah, they aren't as pretty as our SOHC4's but its one hell of an alternative.

Anyone have any experience importing a bike from the UK to the us?

[Shenanigans]

The only bikes that us Americans buy are cruisers and sport bikes. 


As far as the big companies are concerned anyways.

And in other parts of the world they get these...


(Please ignore the ugly exhaust)



and headlight and radiator sides and mirrors and rear tail bracket... But still.

[snarferer]

I hated that bike the first time I saw it.  But everytime I look at it I like it more and more.  I could live with the exhaust, but the wheels....not so much for me.  I actually like the look of the headlight area now.  I'd much rather have the previous model year cb1000, but if this bike came to the us, I'd buy it without a question.

[333]

The only bikes that us Americans buy are cruisers and sport bikes. 

Okay, that's not so true.  Poke around that site, and you'll find cruisers and sport bikes that most Americans would never buy.  Which is why they'll never be offered to us.  Check out the VT125C or the CBR125R in the 125 section.  The more correct statement is that Americans would never pay that much for so little displacement.

[Honda!]

I kinda wish Honda still sold smaller bikes in the US.  I love my S-90, but there really isn't a modern equivalent to the bike at all.  Or a street 125.  Or a nice 350 or 450.  It sucks they don't sell these bikes here(because I know they still make them), but they just don't think the market exists for them.  All we can do is keep or old bikes running as well as we can, and we can all be happy.

[snarferer]

The only bikes that us Americans buy are cruisers and sport bikes. 

Okay, that's not so true.  Poke around that site, and you'll find cruisers and sport bikes that most Americans would never buy.  Which is why they'll never be offered to us.  Check out the VT125C or the CBR125R in the 125 section.  The more correct statement is that Americans would never pay that much for so little displacement.

well if I understand the british licensing req's correctly, the first permit requires a 125cc or less bike, which makes a market for those sort of bikes.  But look at the honda rebel, that bike sells here like hotcakes.  Mostly as a learner bike, but a lot of people stick with it for quite a while.  But if you want to "progess" in the states, you need to jump up pretty high to a huge bike.  Theres not too much in between.  I'd love for honda to bring back the silverwing......but not as a scooter.   Or bring over some of those naked bikes available in europe.

[medic09]

I wouldn't mind the Trans Alp.

[snarferer]

Yeah the Trans Alp is awesome.  In short, the US doesn't have such a thing as a mid-size bike.  (or mid-size in US is 900cc)

[TedT]

Some of it might be changing. Have been seeing a lot of the Asian 250s on the road lately and bikes like the Honda Rebel are selling at premium prices. A hig performance 250 may become a bigger seller if they were available.

[snarferer]

the cb400 and 600's they still sell in europe I think would do really well here at this point in US history.

Americans are starting to lose that "horsepower/size lust" that we've had since the 50's.  Gas prices are good for us motorcyclists.  Escalades are selling for peanuts, and the geo metros are going for 5k!  I see a lot of people moving to scooters and motorcycles, and when they realize that their gigantic harley only gets 35-40mpg.... they may see the brilliance in the smaller bikes.  I certainly hope so. 

[DarkRider]

Up here in canada we get some of those machines..I know we have the CBR125R for certian..i wouldnt be suprised if we got some of the others as well.. Reason i know about the 125R is because theres an owner that hangs out in our group as well as theres another black one running around thats owned by a friend of my roomates...