Topic: Honda coming out with a factory "Chopper"

[Shenanigans]

Makes business sense, I guess...

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2008/12/honda-fury-factory-chopper-spi.html

[Aaron J Williams]

Factory Chopper It's kind of a contradiction in terms, don't ya think?

It reminds me of the nauseating sales campaign Harley came up with to get hip youngsters to buy bikes. "Dark Customs" oooh, it's just too cool!
I would much rather ride this one:

Actually, I would much rather build my own than buy either one of them.

[Really?]

Honda has a tradition of pushing the limits, going above and beyond and doing things other manufacturers won't tread..  I don't think they have really done this yet.

[KB02]

Kinda of a "We want to build a Victory-look-a-like motorcycle" kind of deal, huh?

Honda Fury development mule rear 3/4 spy shot

[ProTeal55]

Now if Honda built this 4 or so years ago it would of been a huge seller.
The "chopper" craze is pretty much dead. Just go look how many BigDog dealers
have closed their doors in the past year or so (i used to work for one)...

[mlinder]

Rider position is a big WTF on that.

As Proteal said, this is too late to make money, IMO.
Choppers are going out of style, retro is coming in to style.
The people that will be left who want choppers will probably be like us, we want to build our own.

[Aaron J Williams]

I thought this was their factory chopper.

Of course it didn't go over very well either, you can still buy brand new ones on feebay for $14K.

Since when has Honda followed the trend anyway? In the good old days they created the trend.

Just go look how many BigDog dealers
have closed their doors in the past year or so (i used to work for one)...

When they were open, were they real busy? I have always wondered because I see their bikes on feebay but there was never a dealer for them nearby. Did they stick to big cities for dealer locations?

[ProTeal55]

Just go look how many BigDog dealers
have closed their doors in the past year or so (i used to work for one)...

When they were open, were they real busy? I have always wondered because I see their bikes on feebay but there was never a dealer for them nearby. Did they stick to big cities for dealer locations?

The dealer I worked at sold Indian (when they were in business), Victory, and Big Dog. During the "chopper" craze we would sell 5-10 bikes per week and atleast 2-5 on a Saturday. It was crazy how many people bought $30,000+ bikes, and then all the bells and whistles to add to them. Then one day it all just stopped and the chopper craze dies as fast as it hit. The dealer couldnt survive on Victory as their main line so they closed their doors.

Big Dog Motorcycles are the best built/fit/finish "factory" chopper you can buy, but they def. are a "2nd" bike so to speak. Most owners have a daily bike (usually a HD) , the BigDog is their sat night bike.

[Artfrombama]

I would like to see something from Honda (or others) along the lines of a 400-650cc cafe racer. Light, nimble, fast, bare necessities.

[Soos]

Dunno about the bike, but gimme those rims!

Wonder if a SOHC4 would fit in that frame... gotta loose the tank though.
Mabey when they are 15-20 years old i'll get a cheap/free frame with buggered motor I'll toy with. Bet my 650's still running then





l8r

[Soos]

I would like to see something from Honda (or others) along the lines of a 400-650cc cafe racer. Light, nimble, fast, bare necessities.

+1

I'd take anything from 160-450 or so.
A little inline 4 160cc..... I'd buy one.
Any size the motor, but bare necessities a must.

l8r

[mlinder]

I would like to see something from Honda (or others) along the lines of a 400-650cc cafe racer. Light, nimble, fast, bare necessities.

Hawk GT (NT 650)
GB 500

Be nice to see some modern equivalents.

[BobbyR]

Rider position is a big WTF on that.

As Proteal said, this is too late to make money, IMO.
Choppers are going out of style, retro is coming in to style.
The people that will be left who want choppers will probably be like us, we want to build our own.

If you look at the Pic, that could be made into a bobber. I am sure the tank is probably disguised and those are some fat assed forks.

[mlinder]

Rider position is a big WTF on that.

As Proteal said, this is too late to make money, IMO.
Choppers are going out of style, retro is coming in to style.
The people that will be left who want choppers will probably be like us, we want to build our own.

If you look at the Pic, that could be made into a bobber. I am sure the tank is probably disguised and those are some fat assed forks.

I suppose. The rear end of that bike is fugly. And real bobbers usually dont have as much rake as that thing, but if you are going to buy one of those to 'customize', why not buy and build #$%* to make a real bobber, for probably less money.

[bert96]

If i had the money i would buy the Honda Rune,not to ride it but to look at it in my living room

[KB02]

I would like to see something from Honda (or others) along the lines of a 400-650cc cafe racer. Light, nimble, fast, bare necessities.

Well they had the CB599 and 919 for a while. Great bikes, but it looks like they are not in the line up for 2009.

[Kevin D]

I would like to see something from Honda (or others) along the lines of a 400-650cc cafe racer. Light, nimble, fast, bare necessities.

I found this CB400 at Honda Japan:

http://www.honda.co.jp/motor-lineup/cb400sf/

[void909]

Id love to have a rune minus the rear fender and with clip-on bars.

[andy750]

I would like to see something from Honda (or others) along the lines of a 400-650cc cafe racer. Light, nimble, fast, bare necessities.

I found this CB400 at Honda Japan:

http://www.honda.co.jp/motor-lineup/cb400sf/

I rode a CB400 in Japan just like the red one shown. Wonderful bike. Rode it 1400 miles in a weekend, over mountains, through typhoons (at night in the mountains) and at speed on the highway 

cheers
Andy

[heffay]

looks like the honda chopper riders will don loafers and white golf gloves... very badass