The new CBR500 - Are you going for it?! It's a twin btw...

[GI_JO_NATHAN]

?

[bombsquad83]

Knowing Honda this we will be lucky is this thing comes to US AND is priced competitively for the market it should go to.  If it runs at the same price as a Ninja 650, it's going to have trouble competing with anyone except Honda loyalists.  I agree it looks really nice, and I like the concept.  Maybe we are finally getting to the point in this economy where we will have price battles in the budget/learner and economy tourer/commuter segments.  I know I'm not interested in a Supersport bike.  I hope this is a sign of more good things to come in this segment.

[yamahonkawazuki]

Knowing Honda this we will be lucky is this thing comes to US AND is priced competitively for the market it should go to.  If it runs at the same price as a Ninja 650, it's going to have trouble competing with anyone except Honda loyalists.  I agree it looks really nice, and I like the concept.  Maybe we are finally getting to the point in this economy where we will have price battles in the budget/learner and economy tourer/commuter segments.  I know I'm not interested in a Supersport bike.  I hope this is a sign of more good things to come in this segment.

indeed. i am a gs loyalist. BUT id ride this bike

[piresito]

New bikes for every wishes and likes!!
http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/motorcycles/heres-a-low-down-on-hondas-6-new-motorcycles-headed-to-eicma-2012-64664/



You old school guys, now can have the CB1000, which pretty decent for an old school...

The CBR500 looks are disapointing, even having a preference for faired bikes, I would prefer the CB500F!

[SAFE-T]

Must be some significant power losses with the 270degree crank as Honda uses a traditional 180degree crank in the CB500 series. Too bad, because the 270 sounds so much better.

[The Buddha]

I dont think the 180 vs 270 is as much a power consideration ... I think a parallel twin with a Vtwin sound may just be confusing to people ...
I dunno, I think a parallel twin with a parallel twin sound is nicer IMHO ... dont need v twin sound, though the xs650 I am building has a 277 crank in the thing.

Cool.
Buddha.

[SAFE-T]

Budget bikes have a tough go, because here their competition is used bikes. So if your budget bike is too expensive, the market for it will be very small.

[r8ter316]

Budget bikes have a tough go, because here their competition is used bikes. So if your budget bike is too expensive, the market for it will be very small.

Indeed.

Still waiting for Super Tenare and KTM Adventures to go down in price.....it will be a long wait.

[Juan1]

Budget bikes have a tough go, because here their competition is used bikes. So if your budget bike is too expensive, the market for it will be very small.

Well said. I will absolutely buy one of these...after I can get it used for a couple grand.

[The Buddha]

Budget bikes have a tough go, because here their competition is used bikes. So if your budget bike is too expensive, the market for it will be very small.

Well said. I will absolutely buy one of these...after I can get it used for a couple grand.

That actually is a useful function the manufacturers are neglecting ... a bike that survives a beginner, and allows itself to be sold after the owner is done with it gets them to the showroom quicker cash in had for that next bike.
It really works well for the brand if they made a non failure prone non maintenance intensive bike they sell to beginners in all categories. The suzuki savage and the new 04+ GS500 are very poor examples, the 89-00 was fine back in the day when carbs and air cooleds were the industry standard ... now they have been saved for the most part by a group of manufacturers that did even worse than these 2.

Cool.
Buddha.

[simon79]

Hello everyone - haven't posted for a good while now...

I've been at the international motorbike expo in Milan last week and I was quite curious to look at these new 500cc Honda models.
I sat on all three of them, the one I liked most was the naked CB/F.
In a word I hope they'll be reasonably priced and if this is the case they might sell well here - fuel and insurance prices are taking their toll on motorbike owners, especially in tough times like these.

Personally if I decided to downgrade and part with my new-to-me I-4 600 one day, the CB/F would be an option no doubt.

Also liked the new 300cc Kawasaki Ninja which looks a lot more grown-up than its 250cc predecessor. Keep 'em coming.

As for the new 250cc Inazuma by Suzuki - well, not for me. Bring back the GS please - thanks.

[The Buddha]

We need the 89 GS500 with a water cooled FI 4 valve motor and a 15" rear wheel with belt drive. 40hp is plenty, but I want atleast 80mpg. It can be a 400 for all I care. It needs to be a parallel twin in that GS type of frame and be cheap and easy ...

Cool.
Buddha.

[piresito]

We need the 89 GS500 with a water cooled FI 4 valve motor and a 15" rear wheel with belt drive. 40hp is plenty, but I want atleast 80mpg. It can be a 400 for all I care. It needs to be a parallel twin in that GS type of frame and be cheap and easy ...

Cool.
Buddha.

Just curious, why the belt drive?

[SAFE-T]

And the 15" rear wheel ?

[SAFE-T]

Belt drive is low maintenance and lightweight ~ a good combo for a sporty commuter or flyweight sport tourer

[The Buddha]

And the 15" rear wheel ?

Have you priced a 15" rear tar ? And a 15 with a 90 profile in say a 150 width is about the same dia as the 130/70 OEM.
That and belt dr will cut down you maintenance costs by 80% and get this, without affecting suzuki's bottom line, cos no one buys the tars and chain from suzuki.
So does a twin disk FE BTW.

Cool.
Buddha.

[SAFE-T]

Figured the 15" size was a price consideration ~ might be an issue for owners who want sporty tires, no ?

[The Buddha]

Figured the 15" size was a price consideration ~ might be an issue for owners who want sporty tires, no ?

You can get somewhat sticky in 15 ... just not race slick sticky.
However it should retain the current axle and what ever else ... you can swap to the 17 ... or the katana 4.5 17". A beginner doesn't want to swap tars and chains in 3 - 6 months. They should target beginner bikes at ... well beginners. Not club racers ... who by definition are tinkerers.

Cool.
Buddha.