This is a BEAUTIFUL cruiser
IMO. Please understand also, riding style has a lot to do with what you consider for a machine or should even more than beauty. I for instance thoroughly enjoy hard angle turns with a bit of pace more than just humming along on the motorway. I don't hate on the big machines I rather like them just not the honda.
BRUMBEAR wrote:I am not on this one sorry I don't like it at all. 5 speed? Single binder up front @ 700lbs? I like the shaft drive but it's uncool not a fail but a Sabre to me is this
I agree, giving the Sabre name to this poser wannabe coffee shop rebel without a clue bike is an a front to the Sabre name. This is what a real Sabre is, and yes I still have her, though she is now a restoration project waiting to happen.
Hanson wrote:I think it intriguing that two thoughtful and well regarded forum members, both currently riding metric cruisers from Kawasaki, should rate this Sabre at the opposite extremes of the Total Motorcycle Cool Wall spectrum. It must be that subjective aesthetics play a significant role in the cruiser segment.
Motorcycling is more than just numbers, it is an experience which is unique for each rider and a form of self expression.
Bravo: Lady and Gentleman alike.
Hanson, you have it exactly. subjective aesthetics
BobK wrote:It looks to me like it's trying too hard to be cool.
Gummiente wrote:Yeah, now it's trying to look like a Victory instead.
I agree with BobK and Gummi. It's trying too hard, and came out looking like a caricature of a Victory. (A bike that itself is sorta caricature-ish.) Uncool.
That (pic below) to me is what a Honda Sabre looks like, it's a naked, standard muscle bike. It never sat with me well that Honda re-badged the name into a custom cruiser. But times do change, but a shame really.
But it's also so heavy in weight and in life it looks too "skeletal" it just seems to be missing something. I think it's VERY unique of Honda to offer such a different model (and strange of Honda to offer such a different model as well) that, that fact alone makes it cooler, but just not cool enough IMO for a cool vote.
BRUMBEAR wrote:I am not on this one sorry I don't like it at all. 5 speed? Single binder up front @ 700lbs? I like the shaft drive but it's uncool not a fail but a Sabre to me is this
I can't help myself on this one, have to give it an awesome! And yes that is related to personal aesthetic interest. It is just such a unique looking bike, and no I don't agree that it's trying to be a Victory. I can see some basic resemblance, but then every bike has resemblance of something else! Unless you are looking at a Can-Am... which you all seem to hate.
NOTES: If anything, the new 2014 Honda Shadow Sabre ABS sure does inspire discussion! Definitely a unique love it or hate style, but you have to agree that Honda went out on a limb with the designing of the Sabre. If you think about it, it's hard to design a bike that 50/50 love/hate, there sure are not many of them that fall so close to the line...