In addition to Honda's CTX (Comfort Technology Experience) series, I've been reading about BMW's UMVs (Urban Mobility Vehicles), especially the C 650 GT (includes heated grips and seat). All it would take is one job change to see me on one of these things. It would get me to work in half the time at less than half the cost. California weather is rideable most of the year assuming decent weather protection. Disclaimer: Serious gridlock on the roadways and another recent spike in gas prices have me thinking about creative solutions. Obviously, Honda and BMW were preparing for this day long before I reached my limit.
I just skimmed through the thread. A 3.0 gallon gas tank and forward controls say "poser bike" to me. Make the customer feel comfy and confident in the show room, and they'll buy it. Having said that, anything that brings more people into motorcycling a good thing. I doubt very much it's targeted at experienced riders. To my eyes, it looks like they had too many DN-01 bits laying around and had to come up with a use for them. They are also keeping production costs down by using existing parts and tooling to create a "new" bike. In todays economy, that's how you stay in business.
That will give you a 150 - 180 mile range. By that criteria a Ducati is even more of a poser bike. (which is often true I must say, judging by the chicken strips I often see on them)
I have been lurking the BMW F800GT thread. I must say, I am intrigued. That's a good looking bike. Hard bags, ABS, great gas mileage, and belt drive. That's a pretty serious one - two punch! But the price is pretty steep, and I doubt the ergos would work for me. Still. It is something I would like to take a look at in the showroom. When they came out with the F800R, I just KNEW I wanted one. I even asked the dealer to call me as soon as they had one I could look at. He did, and I did. As soon as I swung a leg over it, I knew it wasn't for me. oh well...
Its funny how different a bike can feel than we think it should feel. I too was in love with the f800r, and it took four weeks of trying to really have a relationship with it before I had to kick it out of bed. Who knows how nice one of these things might feel? They'll probably still get more miles to a tank than an f800r
is it just me, or are the same people who have been complaining about Honda in this thread now complaining about Yamaha in the new Yamaha thread? sheesh!
The new KTM Duke 390 is coming to the USA. 44bhp, 136kg. I am joyously awaiting the 8 pages moaning that it's made in India. edit: oops, just realised I took a shot at Yamaha in that thread!!
I would expect nothing but complaining about the new Yamaha from most of this forum. After all, it is obviously a CRUISER, and this site has been called "anti-cruiser" by at least one member. As for all the haters on this thread, I was out riding my Vulcan 750 earlier today, and having a great time (beautiful weather) and came upon a group of riders? on what I consider to be the most horrendous vehicle ever, Goldwing trikes. I admit I can't stand the things, and it bugs me even more that a perfectly good motorcycle (to my way of thinking) was sacrificed to built them. I would NEVER consider riding/driving one of those abominations. BUT, that is just the way I feel. I don't go around bashing them. If that is what their owners want, more power to them. I may be in a position at some point where I cannot ride a 2 wheeler at all. But I will not give up. While I can't stand those trikes, I do like sidecars, and that is probably what I will get. Riding a bike of any kind will always be way more fun than driving a car. To anyone out there who rides a motorcycle converted into a trike, I mean no offense by this post. I simply stated how I feel about them. My feelings are no more important or meaningful than yours. Not everybody likes the same kind of bike. I just posted my feelings as an example of how such things can come across to others. Whatever you ride, ride safe.
Looked at them yesterday at the Indy show. There are no pieces of these bikes related to the dn01. Even the automatic version is a complete different auto then the dn01. The only existing parts is the engine and tranny they share with the nc700. They actually look better in person then on their website. The Ctx is to compete against the 650 v-star. They have a 28" seat height for shorter people but they put forward controls which the same shorter people can't really reach easily.
All this fussin' about how the CTX700 looks when most here have never actually seen one on static display. How you feel about a motorcycle should be a lot like having sex with someone in a pitch black room: Don't much care what it looks like as long as it feels really good when you're riding.
Sounds like you are trying to relay a two bagger story from your past. heeheehee... Been there, too. I have a feeling that the CTX line will be a success for Honda, regardless what is said on this thread. I'm not understanding the reason for the cover at the front of the muffler. I think that they are using auto engineers for this line's development, There are some insanely ugly cruiser and crotch rocket customs out there, that it seems almost anything will sell today... tp
You guys and girls in the USA really should buy some of these. Because in 10 years I don't want to reading on ADV about what great bikes they turned out to be, but some phantom tyre-kickers never laid down any cash. Cruisers make up 53% of your market. The USA is the hardest market to crack, bar none. Bizarrely, this seems to have nothing to do with the actual motorcycles. I can't think of any other country where one segment dominates like that. Where marketing has so over-taken utility or common sense. Difference is good. Diversity is good. And these bikes, for your market, make 2-wheels affordable for, what, 30-35%% of the price of a prime HD? Even if 1 in 5 of the NTX buyers go on to explore motorcycles in more depth, surely that's to be celebrated?
Ray, what so many folk in other countries don't realize is just how many loooooong straight roads we have in the USA. Cruiser type bikes work well on these super slabs, especially our Interstate systems. It's not much fun traveling 4-600 miles on a hiway all bent up on a super sport. Besides it's tough to look bad azz with leather vest and chaps, head band/doorags, and tats, on a crotch rocket. Just sayin'...tp
I understand that, really. Topography has a lot to do with bike choice (the UK and Japan share a love of sportbikes, perhaps because we are both rocky islands with undulating terrain). But I also rode the PCH last September, San Diego to Oregon and back. 3000 miles, on a 650GS. If you want the twisties, you can find them . Fwiw, I don't think the USA has felt the economic shit-storm that has hit Europe and places farther afield. God willing, you won't. But I'm not the only one that has made some hard choices. Bikes here aren't toys, or life-style statements, at least not in the same way. I'm bikeless after 10 years on two-wheels. That sucks ass. So Honda have the CTX and the CB500 series, and they are very very tempting for a guy (or girl) on a budget. Any 2-wheels is better than no 2-wheels..
You may get a job as Honda's Europes new marketing guy HONDA - "Stop Dreaming. Any 2-wheels is better than no 2-wheels"
If they gave me a free bike I'd lick their showroom with my tongue. And make the tea. I couldn't sell the FB6 though. That marketing vid is truly laugh out loud funny, it is totally devoid of irony.
Ray, Living in the gulf coast of Texas, 200-300 miles need to be traveled to find REAL twisties. Parts of the US have been hit hard economically, but the Houston area is still doing ok. Hope you get back on two wheels, really soon. tp
The Phoenix AZ area has been hit especially hard. The economy was mostly based on construction, and other businesses supported by construction workers. Construction came to a complete stop back in '08 and has not started back. We have tens of thousands of vacant commercial and residential properties for sale and rent. A lot of it has been vandalized. I'm lucky to have 36 years into a government job. used bikes are priced pretty fair, but the big powersports dealers (the ones that are left) are STILL trying to rip people off with all their bogus fees. i hope I can get a base model CTX700 OTD for under $10K. I never did care for sport bikes. Even back when I was able to ride them, it just took too much effort. Kind of like work. I just want to sit back on my easy chair on wheels and watch the miles roll by. A Goldwing is perfect for that, but at $4 a gallon for gas and 35 mpg, it gets expensive in a hurry. I'm hoping the CTX gets better mileage.
So I'm coming to unfamiliar territory here; I spend my time on battle scooters. Without going into detail, I originally considered a motorcycle, but decided a scooter made more sense for me so I bought a 250cc scooter. I saw these bikes on Honda's website, checked here the other day and low and behold 30 pages of discussion. That being said, I feel I can be fairly unbiased here. I have read this whole thread and have a question and I'm being serious here. If one was looking at a 600-800cc bike, what would be a better bike than the 3 Hondas that come with DCT and ABS? I know there are faster, more powerful bikes. Bikes made specifically for highway touring and adventure touring. Bikes with loud chrome pipes and flashy paint jobs. All have there place. But again, I ask in seriousness, what would be a better motorcycle similar in size and style as the NC or CTX at what, $8000? Of course we all would love to see a bike tailored to our needs, I get that. There are a lot of negative comments in this thread but, I'm not getting much substance. Other than discussion of foot pegs being in the wrong location for some, very few people have told how a similar motorcycle out there is better. In my observation, there is nothing wrong with these bikes; they just offer something different for a change. Fear of change, fear of something different, well that is human nature I believe. GH I'll go on back to my scooter now...