Why are Practical Bikes Unpopular?

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Sev · #11 Unread post by **Sev** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 4:36 am

But you save a fair bit on insurance.

I agree with Verm, look for an older goldwing, those things can wrack up hundreds of thousands of miles and keep on kicking.

-Holiday · #12 Unread post by **-Holiday** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 4:40 am

cross country trip and 29,000 miles on a Honda Reflex:

http://www.scootertrip.com/code/indexer ... e=mainpage

A Goldwing or a Venture would work too, if you want an older bike. I know you're looking new, but I honestly think "cost of ownership" is lowest when you get an older japanese bike. These things run forever and cost pennies on the mile.

aflundi · #13 Unread post by **aflundi** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 4:59 am

l

ook into a suzuki bergman (scooter) or a honda helix(scooter).

I rejected these because I haven't been able to find even one that lasted for very long -- and it doesn't look like to me they are low-total-cost-of-ownership.

I'd say the vstrom(motorcycle) also falls into the category of usefull, but ugly.

I strongly considered the V-Strom, and may still, but didn't like the chain drive (prefer a low-maintenance and reliable shaft), shim-under-bucket valve adjustments (prefer no-maintainance hydraulically adjusted valves), and the bike is pretty tall for a short legged guy like me.

Also, older BMW K series bikes can be had for reasonable prices, run forever, often come with hard bags, etc etc.

I haven't been able to find any for good prices. I'm with you on the reliability part, and I really, really like that, but I'm also told that when they break they cost a fortune to fix.

Stuff is out there.

Yeah, there's some old stuff out there, like the '85 Honda 700S I'm currently riding. Even with an unuseable 2nd gear and 20 years of considerable abuse by previous owners, I'm not inclined to replace it with anything else. There's just nothing all that practical out there.

But like you said, a lot of people are into motorcycles (at least initially) for the image it portrays, not for practical reasons. Hence the big sellers arent the most utilitarian things out there. Another large peprcentage see it as a sport more then a mode of transportation. Nothing wrong with that, but its just the way it is.

Oh, I didn't mean to imply there's anything wrong with people buying impractical bikes. It's there money and it's perfectly OK by me. What surprises me is that there is apparently virtually no one interested in a practical, low-cost bike.

-Holiday · #14 Unread post by **-Holiday** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:03 am

they stopped making them, but what about a newer nighthawk 750? I think they made them up until 2001?

Shaft driven, inline 4. You can fit a decent amount of gear on them. Its no goldwing, but even my nighthawk 650 can hold something like 800 pounds all together.

theyre cheap too.

earwig · #15 Unread post by **earwig** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:05 am

Is the Honda ST1300 more than you are looking to spend? If not they are pretty sweet.

CNF2002 · #16 Unread post by **CNF2002** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:09 am

Oh, I didn't mean to imply there's anything wrong with people buying impractical bikes. It's there money and it's perfectly OK by me. What surprises me is that there is apparently virtually no one interested in a practical, low-cost bike.

Not true! That was my goal when I bought the bike.

Dealers just dont want to sell them, because if its a low cost practical bike

1) They dont make much commission
2) They wont make as much on repairs
3) They wont make money on fixing damage since practical riders arent likely to crash themselves

So dealers dont stock up on them, and steer everyone away from buying them, by telling prospective buyers that no one ever buys that kind of bike...you need this supersport!

My recommendation is do what I did. Do all your research online and find a few bikes you like, call the dealerships and find one with that bike, tell them what you are looking for, deal with a specific salesman. Tell them you are shopping around for that bike and want to make an appointment to see theirs.

That way they know you are interested in a certain bike, and you wont end up with the putz who grabs the walk-in customer and tries to make the biggest sale.

MASHBY · #17 Unread post by **MASHBY** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:09 am

CNF2002 wrote:I like that!

Honda has no info on it on their site...any specs? price?

Go to the UK website http://www.honda.co.uk

aflundi · #18 Unread post by **aflundi** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:14 am

cross country trip and 29,000 miles on a Honda Reflex:

http://www.scootertrip.com/code/indexer ... e=mainpage

If I could get 100,000 miles out of a Reflex, or even have just a good chance of it surviving 50,000 miles without major repair, I'd consider it, but I just haven't seen it done. And, like I mentioned earlier, tires, belts and clutch weight replacements drive the cost somewhat higher than a 250 motorcycle (like a Nighthawk250, Rebel, GZ250, Virago250, or a Ninja250). Frankly I'd probably choose a Ninja even though it pretty hard to carry stuff on it.

A Goldwing or a Venture would work too,

Like the Concours, a used GoldWing or Venture would be a great touring bike, but way overkill for a practical commuter.

if you want an older bike. I know you're looking new, but I honestly think "cost of ownership" is lowest when you get an older japanese bike. These things run forever and cost pennies on the mile.

Used is fine, in fact preferable for me, just because of what you say.

But I guess my question is more about the market. Is it really true that no motorcycle manufacturer can make money on a practical, low-cost bike because no one would buy it?

MASHBY · #19 Unread post by **MASHBY** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:14 am

What about BMW.Through some luggage on the 1150r and your good to go.Although they are pricey they are very reliable.

sapaul · #20 Unread post by **sapaul** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:20 am

Look for an 80's plus Moto Guzzi, by modern standards they are now ugly, but bullet proof, agricultural technology (two fuel taps, two coils ect) the things will run on one cylinder. Plenty of low down grunt for carrying stuff and cheap to maintain and run. Swap out the points and put in a cdi and they will run for ever.