Bike industry is dying

650ed wrote: One reason for attracting fewer new riders might be the lack of what I would call "normal" new bikes. There are plenty of plastic Ricky Racer type bikes, cruisers, and big touring machines available, but there seems to be a lack of nice new bikes of almost any size that would appeal to a new rider who just wants to take a leisurely ride in the country. That new rider probably doesn't want some tiny 10 hp thing but he/she probably doesn't want something with 100+ hp or a big machine that weighs 800 pounds. There are a few new bikes out there that might meet the new guy's requirements, but he may be leery of buying a Royal Enfield (which he probably never even heard of) or some other "off" brand.

If you think about back in the day even though Harley hogs, fast Kawasakis, Hondas, Yammis, and Suzukis were available Honda sold a zillion plain Jane CB350s Kawasaki sold a zillion plain Jane KZ400 / 440s, etc. and most of those buyers were fairly new bike owners. What would be the equivalent bike for those new owners today? Ed

You're right; there are no Universal Japanese Motorcycles (UJMs) any more. There is no equivalent to the naked GSs, the KZs, the CBs, etc. Suzuki does have the TU250 but it is stupid expensive ($4000, IIRC) for an unfaired one-lunger 250.

I was in the market for a newer bike this year - something I could take on longer trips with a reasonable degree of comfort. As I was looking through the current offerings from most of the manufacturers, even the entry-level bikes like the Ninja 300 all seem to have full (or nearly full) bodywork. That's a very bad idea for a beginner's bike.

In the end I bought a lightly-used Yamaha FZ6R. I like the seating position and the saddle is good enough for 1.5-2 hours at a time. It's quick but not insanely fast: it has 70 or 80 horsepower, depending on whom you ask, which is more than enough to get into trouble.

The funny thing was when I went for the test ride. I turned the ignition on and was looking for the choke. The sales guy realized what I was doing and said "It has fuel injection - there is no choke". D'oh. :blush: :S

I saw one of these at Chaparral. I wouldn't trade my Z1 for it but I hope this will become a trend.
Steve
www.google.com/search?q=2016+honda+1100+...imgrc=8zASP6eRlx7QgM :

650ed wrote: One reason for attracting fewer new riders might be the lack of what I would call "normal" new bikes. There are plenty of plastic Ricky Racer type bikes, cruisers, and big touring machines available, but there seems to be a lack of nice new bikes of almost any size that would appeal to a new rider who just wants to take a leisurely ride in the country. That new rider probably doesn't want some tiny 10 hp thing but he/she probably doesn't want something with 100+ hp or a big machine that weighs 800 pounds. Ed

Ed I think your right. My son and his friends are in they late 20's and all ride big full dress street glides, but more time that I can remember they are always saying they wish they had a smaller street big to take short runs on. They always ask if they can ride my B1 when they just want a quick fix or to run to a buddies house. They say sometimes it not worth dragging out the 800 pound gorilla just for a quick ride. They would never be caught on a "Ricky Racer.... there are no normal street bikes like the KZ's made today...

SWest wrote: I saw one of these at Chaparral. I wouldn't trade my Z1 for it but I hope this will become a trend.
Steve
www.google.com/search?q=2016+honda+1100+...imgrc=8zASP6eRlx7QgM :

Holy heck, they made a four-piper!!! (It's a prototype, but still.)

After my oldest brother passed away in 2002, his girlfriend told me there was this Kawasaki in her garage that was his, that I could have if I wanted it, Still riding dirtbikes at the time (XR400/440 kit), I saw the side panel GPz550, and thought to myself, "Wow that is not that big to be riding on the street." The impact wasn't there, but the ease of working on it to get it going was. I knew nothing about their history, but when I got it running for the first time, it made me smile with the sound. I have had it ever since, and even after thinking about getting a bigger/newer bike, nothing I see out there, other than a ZRX1100/1200 would really replace this 1985 GPz550.

I work with the younger generation, and most are starting with a 600/750 making payments, and after a few mishaps, they are moving to the HD Brand because of the "cool" factor, the "potato-potato-potato" exhaust sound, they can add speakers, and other bolt-on accessories. My opinion here, the younger generation, doesn't see the cool factor in 70-90's muscle, or vintage bikes. They want what everyone else has, and tend to follow the trends of others.

I was alone riding the 900 in the 70's and am still that way in 2017. The bike has changed somewhat and so have I. The only thing that hasn't is there isn't one like this for 60 miles around. Like going back in time.
Steve

SWest wrote: I was alone riding the 900 in the 70's and am still that way in 2017. The bike has changed somewhat and so have I. The only thing that hasn't is there isn't one like this for 60 miles around. Like going back in time.
Steve

Same here. I've owned my bike since it was new (April, 1977) and have never seen another just like it on the street. I have seen a couple different model KZ650's but never a blue KZ650-C1. Ed