Are bikes getting cheaper?

[enkil]

Wow! That looks like a kawasaki er6..

[woopwoop]

Originally Posted by enkil

Wow! That looks like a kawasaki er6..

A bit I suppose. I thought it looked like a modern UJM. I'm waiting for a Chinese factory to buy the rights to the BSA name and build a cheap copy of this Kwaka.

[Scaredofthedirt]

Originally Posted by 2upAussie990

I bought my KLX 450 unrego'd and bog stock 3 years ago and screwed every $$ and got it for $10k, no onroads nothing, now they are $10k rideaway or less.

Originally Posted by woopwoop

I don't think anyone here suggested it was an adventure bike, or light weight or anything else. It started as a discussion around the possibility of (mainly) Honda giving the market a bit of a shake up price wise. Looks like it might have already started!

Anyhow, if the idea of a cheap Honda gets you a bit worked up, you're really going to love this bit of news!

New kid on the block


by GR | May 10, 2012



Prepare to be surprised...

We've just had a gallop on the first serious bike ever to be produced in China and it's suprisingly competent as well as being spectacularly good-looking. We got it with a trade plate on it (meaning it wasn't registered and we couldn't ride it for long enough to seriously examine it). We tried to be first but it had also been given a short squirt by Bikepoint and Motorcycle Trader. Having checked the odometer, their evaluation comprised about 60km between them so at least we've been the magazine that rode it for the longest. Mr Everyman, Alan Cathcart, has also had a ride so he might beat us into print as well but out test will be based on some decent road time. It's good - arguably the start of motorcycle's future. It's a twin with a redline at 10,000rpm and did an indicated 186km/h. Look for the test in the September issue. Oh, and I bet we're the only magazine that actually tested its fuel consumption...

from here.......http://www.twowheels.com.au/articles/2012/new-kid-block

All going well I got me one of them as a guest gumby opinionater late next week.

Do a YouTube search, there is a cool clip of one being ridden by a stunt rider.

[woopwoop]

Originally Posted by Scaredofthedirt

All going well I got me one of them as a guest gumby opinionater late next week.

Do a YouTube search, there is a cool clip of one being ridden by a stunt rider.

I know you probably can't say too much, but as far as you can, let us know what you think. What capacity is it?

[Cruz]

Haven't read any mag tests which are full of Honda ads, just reports from European testers and riders on the net. Like this one here.

http://www.ashonbikes.com/content/honda-nc700x-0

They are made in Japan and I have not read a report yet that complains about the bikes quality of manufacture.

"Project leader Soya Uchida laughed: “I got a hacksaw and cut a Honda Jazz car engine in half, but it really didn’t run very well, so we had to put some more work into the NC700X.”

"Honda most certainly did put work into the NC700X, and it came at the project from such a left-field angle, this has the potential to be the most significant motorcycle engine of recent times. Yes, I do know all about Ducati’s 1199, but that and every other new engine in the last few years – or even decades – has been no more than an extrapolation of what we already have. Some are extreme and brilliant techno porn, like the Ducati, but none has the originality of this unassuming middleweight, a bike which until now has been at best a small blip on the radar of most motorcyclists – indeed, it will remain so to many, but the bike isn’t aimed at them."

"Many riders will take some time to adapt to the short shifting and low revving needed to make the most of the machine, and sure enough, on the bike’s press presentation in Portugal there was a clear polarisation of opinions between those journalists who ‘got’ the NC700X and those who didn’t. The latter complained about constantly hitting the rev limiter as they were searching for power at the top of the rev range, but with the NC, you have the power already and immediately at much lower revs – there’s no looking to do, it’s in your face. It’s like changing from a petrol car to a turbo-diesel."

Would like to try one out, low revs, heaps of torque at low revs, the motor should last for ages, brilliant fuel economy, sounds near perfect for light adv touring and carrying gear around with you. A 14 litre tank to get you 350 klms appears achievable. Now they need to fit a 19 inch front at least, prefer a 21 inch though. A ride away price around $10,000 sounds great to me.

[Scaredofthedirt]

I think there is an increasing place in the motorcycle market for lower cost (buy, fuel, maintain, insure etc) bike with more focus on basic transport than hyper-speeds and bling.

Now if only the grubberment would do something about registering/insuring the driver instead of the vehicle we could all have a practical bike parked next to our toys and cars.

[Scaredofthedirt]

Originally Posted by woopwoop

I know you probably can't say too much, but as far as you can, let us know what you think. What capacity is it?

Hey woop,

All that the importers have asked is that I am honest (good or bad) in what I say.

If my crappy laptop is fixed I'll post up a little story this time next week.

Capacity is 650cc parallel twin.

[woopwoop]

Originally Posted by Scaredofthedirt

Hey woop,

All that the importers have asked is that I am honest (good or bad) in what I say.

If my crappy laptop is fixed I'll post up a little story this time next week.

Capacity is 650cc parallel twin.

Thanks, I'll be interested to see what you think. Sooner or later the Chinese are going to start getting serious. This might turn out to be the bike that Honda are presponding (I just made up that word) to.

By the way, I wasn't suggesting you wouldn't give an honest opinion. I just thought you may have a commitment to publish elsewhere first.

[woopwoop]

Originally Posted by Cruz

"Many riders will take some time to adapt to the short shifting and low revving needed to make the most of the machine, and sure enough, on the bike’s press presentation in Portugal there was a clear polarisation of opinions between those journalists who ‘got’ the NC700X and those who didn’t. The latter complained about constantly hitting the rev limiter as they were searching for power at the top of the rev range, but with the NC, you have the power already and immediately at much lower revs – there’s no looking to do, it’s in your face. It’s like changing from a petrol car to a turbo-diesel."

Would like to try one out, low revs, heaps of torque at low revs, the motor should last for ages, brilliant fuel economy, sounds near perfect for light adv touring and carrying gear around with you. A 14 litre tank to get you 350 klms appears achievable. Now they need to fit a 19 inch front at least, prefer a 21 inch though. A ride away price around $10,000 sounds great to me.

I agree. It sounds very interesting to me. Don't hold your breath on a bit more suspension and a 17 and 19/21 wheel set though. So far here we've got the Integra and the "naked" street bike. In some markets eg America they also get the NC700X "crossover". (Which even Honda don't claim as an "adventure" bike.....they just say it looks a bit like one, similar to the VF800/1200X) The only hope now (and it's slim) is the as yet unspecified "fourth model", I've seen references too.

[davorallyfan]

Originally Posted by woopwoop

Are prices starting to come down a bit?

Today I was reading that the Honda NC700SA (the naked street bike that is one "platform" for the new 700cc parallel twin) will be priced at $8,500.

Then saw that the re-vamped KTM 690 Duke is heaps cheaper than the previous model at $11,000.

Admittedly these prices are without on road costs but both seem like pretty good value to me.

A sign of better things to come, perhaps?

I reckon we have never had it so good.

Is the NC700 a BSA sloper twin?

You can buy a lot of bike - ones that can take you places and eat the commute for ...little money.

I think it will only get better.

What this might also mean is that exotic, or specialised kit will hold its price better.

[Cruz]

Originally Posted by davorallyfan

I reckon we have never had it so good.

Is the NC700 a BSA sloper twin?

No, just half a Honda Jazz car motor with mods.

[Precis]

Originally Posted by woopwoop

Thanks, I'll be interested to see what you think. Sooner or later the Chinese are going to start getting serious. This might turn out to be the bike that Honda are presponding (I just made up that word) to.

"... to which Honda are presponding."
Jeez.....

[MODNROD]

I'd pay 10G cash for the Integra (the scoot version).
To get to work, I carry a 50L gearsack of clothes and a 20kg bag of food (4on - 4off), and ride/drive 100km on country highways, including 15km of gravel (not too badly corrugated).
At present, the Vmax is diabolical on the gravel (40mm pogo's aren't quite cutting it! ), and the Supra is great until the really cool green LED dash goes out all the time due to the bumps! Serves me right for having 2 completely unsuitable vehicles for the job.

This Integra thing, chuck on the gearsack, sling the food bag off a hook somewhere in the middle, sit on 100kph (night) and use about 7L for the return trip of 200km every week, or about $10. Don't hafta worry about getn wet, cold (maxiscoots are cool!), replacing capacitors in a 20yr old electrickery dash (Supra), sliding sideways down red grease uncontrollably (Vmax), waking up the neighbours when I leave at 1:30am (Supra AND Vmax ), and it will keep doing all this for the next 20 years?

For under $10G?

Bargain.

[woopwoop]

Originally Posted by MODNROD

I'd pay 10G cash for the Integra (the scoot version).
To get to work, I carry a 50L gearsack of clothes and a 20kg bag of food (4on - 4off), and ride/drive 100km on country highways, including 15km of gravel (not too badly corrugated).
At present, the Vmax is diabolical on the gravel (40mm pogo's aren't quite cutting it! ), and the Supra is great until the really cool green LED dash goes out all the time due to the bumps! Serves me right for having 2 completely unsuitable vehicles for the job.

This Integra thing, chuck on the gearsack, sling the food bag off a hook somewhere in the middle, sit on 100kph (night) and use about 7L for the return trip of 200km every week, or about $10. Don't hafta worry about getn wet, cold (maxiscoots are cool!), replacing capacitors in a 20yr old electrickery dash (Supra), sliding sideways down red grease uncontrollably (Vmax), waking up the neighbours when I leave at 1:30am (Supra AND Vmax ), and it will keep doing all this for the next 20 years?

For under $10G?

Bargain.

I dunno, but i reckon the Integra will be more like about $12500 on the road. http://www.bikepoint.com.au/news/201...-arrives-29370

[outback jack]

Cheap bikes where? I haven't seen a DR cheap for ages.