Market gap in the 500cc class

[PostHuman]

Bikes in other countrys are are transportation. in America they are mostly Toys.

yes mostly... bec it depends a lot on what bike you buy.

my bike is a toy. a high performance toy. it's not ideal for commuting.

i'll buy a comuuter bike in the future if the Crimson Funds allow it.

And people who buy bikes as toys are an insult to motorcycling.

[CNF2002]

And people who buy bikes as toys are an insult to motorcycling.

What if I have one of each?

[VermilionX]

And people who buy bikes as toys are an insult to motorcycling.

that's dumber than anything i have ever said in all my time here in TMW.

and i have said a lot of dumb things here.

[flynrider]

And people who buy bikes as toys are an insult to motorcycling.

People who buy bikes as toys will eventually sell these bikes at bargain prices, so that people like you can finally own the bike you want and will no longer have to envy them.

[accoutred]

I agree with everything PostHuman said except for digital gauges.

Where the heck is the manufacturors today? Esp. with freakin' Carburators. GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My cousin lived all over Asia the last 2-3 years from Thailand to India up through China and everwhere in between. He said that the people there ride their little 100cc 200cc 250cc 300cc 350cc 400cc all day long until the engine goes and then they rebuild it and keep them going. They get up pretty fast on their 100cc-200cc. Ride them at 70mph all day (no emission rules in Asia). He said his favorite bike is Honda's 400 version of the Interceptor but they don't export it to America yet they have them all over Asia.

Really, the only people in America who ride a bike are the people who love to ride. You don't get ordinary folk riding. Only those with a passion even bother. Or the few noobs that wanna adrenaline rush. Guess there are two types in the end.

[crazy5dave]

In tailand i saw up to five people at a time on a 100cc scooter. Dad riding. Mom is the pillion holding a baby in here arms and 1-2 small kids standing on the step through place. No Helmets Ever. No thats practical transportation, or was it a death wish.........

[Dennis316]

my dad lived in belarus for 30 years of his life and the basic form of transportation there was a motorcycle not because people loved it, hell he hasnt touched a bike for 14 years sinced he moved here, it was because cars are much harder to get, im pretty sure about 98% of people would rather have a car as their single mode of transport than a motorcycle, i would i know that for sure. Its incredibly easy to get a hold of a car here in the US, a decent motorcycle runs about 2,000 give or take a bit, i got a 1993 civic CX with 87k miles for like 1400!. i have a bike for fun (and for "decent" weather) but if i had to depend on it to get me everywhere in all weather and all year i would kill myself...


all of the above was off topic...anyways i got a Kawasaki 90 dual sport as my VERY FIRST bike just to learn basics on, then i "upgraded" to a 2003 Honda rebel and i thought it was pretty powerful because all i had to compare it to was a 89cc 2 stroke from 1978...my ideal upgrade from the rebel would be a "standard" or naked bike of about 500cc...i looked at the katana and the gs500 and ex500 or w/e its called and they all suck i would LOVE to see a destroked SV650 or FZ6 or even a Z500 (think Z1000's little bro). and yes i know about the Blast, but i prefer to stay out of country with my bikes...here some ideas that i know will never be made into reality but i htink they are good.... Honda VFR500 anyone?!...Suzuki 450 bandit!?...Tiumph Speed Double (LOL)

i just think that if suzuki can make the SV650 cost below 6k msrp and the Yamaha FZ6 be at 6499 with an R6 engine then why cant there be something below those with EFI and comparable for about 4700-5300?