Bikes outside the US

[Watcher]

OK, so I just went on all the major Japanese manufacturers' European and Australian websites and I am completely depressed now with the US lineup from the same manufacturers.

Seems like in the US you get either sport bikes or cruisers with a handful of "adventures", one or two motos, and if you are lucky a naked/standard of some kind.

Overseas the amount of "adventures" explodes, you get a more diverse choice of motos, and nakeds are everywhere!


The whole reason I even have a GS500 is the style and era of the bike.  I'm not a Harley guy and I don't want a GSXR or equivalent, and after owning some 80s Suzuki standards and realizing the difficulty with finding parts I wanted something modern.  The GS500 looks good, rides good, and parts are cheap and available.

If I want something new off the showroom floor in a naked/standard with a modest engine my choices are:

Honda CB500F, Suzuki SFV650, Yamaha FZ-09, and that's it, and none of those choices really appeal to me.


If I lived in Australia I'd have all the same choices as well as:

Honda NC700SA, CB650F, and CB400, Suzuki GS500 and GSR750, Yamaha FZ8 and XJ6, and the Kawasaki ER-6n.


WTF!  I'd LOVE a GSR750, XJ6, or CB650F.



Granted I can find some older nakeds like the Honda Hornets, but it really sucks that the choices I have here don't even really compare to what they have elsewhere.
With all the "streetfighter" stuff going on here you'd think they'd bring over some nakeds...


It also sucks that Harley controls the domestic market so fiercely.  There's ton's of people around here that look at you like you're a communist if you aren't on a Harley, but Harley doesn't offer anything in their lineup even close to something that would interest me.
Now a Buell I would ride, but that's not really an option anymore nor do I want a big 1200cc.
I find it hard to believe that no other domestic company has popped up making inline 4 cylinders or anything like that.  But then again, they probably do but Harley probably buys them out before they can ever make a name for themselves...


Sorry for the rant.

[Badot]

I feel like I'd like to have a Buell blast if they weren't so tiny and myself so tall 

Auto belt tensioning, automatic valves, a supposedly non-fussy automatic choke, highway capable, cheap insurance, reasonably light, and over 50 mpg. Only thing I feel could be made better would be fuel injection, a tad bit more power, and obviously an increase in physical size. Seems like nothing else along those lines exist in the US.

[The Buddha]

I feel like I'd like to have a Buell blast if they weren't so tiny and myself so tall 

Auto belt tensioning, automatic valves, a supposedly non-fussy automatic choke, highway capable, cheap insurance, reasonably light, and over 50 mpg. Only thing I feel could be made better would be fuel injection, a tad bit more power, and obviously an increase in physical size. Seems like nothing else along those lines exist in the US.

Only none of it is true as it applies to the Be-last.

The one bike that makes a case for 1/2 of it to be true in the sport bike category is an MZ skorpion.
In the cruiser category its a Savage.

Both accomodate the long of limb quite fine ...

Cool.
Buddha.

[codajastal]

Yep, I love living in Australia except we pay through the nose for all these bikes

[Watcher]

I looked long and hard at the Buell Blast bikes.  They have a lot of good going for them, but the engine is not one of them.

They are really underpowered for their size.
IIRC they only get about 35HP out of a nearly 500cc thumper while the GStwin gets, what, around 50?  Even the KTM 500 thumpers get around 50HP...


No thanks.  I went with the GS instead.

[RossLH]

There's a reason Erik Buell actually crushed some Blasts into cubes, signed them, and sold them.

[Badot]

All I'll say on the matter is that to me, it looks fairly good on paper. Never ridden one though.

[Janx101]

Watcher ... have a test ride on a FZ09 .... you'll like it... i promise! 

[Watcher]

Oh, I'm sure the performance is up to snuff.  I just think it's fugly.

Whats with that tail?  Even with a rear fender eliminator I still think it would look odd.


The FZ8 was kind of similar, but looked way better IMHO.  Looked more, I dunno, "finished"?

[Janx101]

I just think it's fugly

.... Oh... My ... Goodness!! .... You Sir!! ..... On the front lawn at noon!!! ..... I Challenge you to a DUUUU-ELLLLLLLL!!!!! ..... You have cast aspersions...... Nay! .... Verily Insulted!!!!!! The Future Mrs Janx!!!!......... Choose your weapons Sirrah!! .... And be not late!!! .... For you have a date with your Maker!!!! ....