Never mind the MX, read between the lines:

https://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/suzuki-end-mxgp-japan-motocoss-racing/#...

There are hard times ahead for motorcycle manufacturers. Companies like Harley Davidson who have not innovated their product for decades will become a fraction of who they are...if they are able to properly downsize (otherwise they'll just disappear). Even established brands who sell competitive products like Suzuki and Kawasaki, who consider BNG an improvement, are in for trouble.

The motorcycle industry has done a poor job at selling the value and fun of riding. Look at what Honda did in the 60's and 70's - and they were considered a novelty brand in the 60's. No one is aggressively marketing motorcycling for motorcycling sake.

The future belongs to companies like KTM, Zero, Yamaha and a bunch of smaller/nitche companies that have their ear to the market and take chances. These companies aren't afraid to innovate, create new market segments and deploy technology. Moreover, they market to a broad spectrum of riders - and non-riders.

I have owned a lot of motorcycles over the years. I don't know why, but over 50% have been Suzuki. But if they refuse to take chances and continue to turn-out boring products - then they'll pay the price.

It is a bit weird - but nobody is making a motorcycle right now that I would buy new at a dealer.....I also just don't have enough disposable income to justify buying a new bike when I can buy a very nice used bike at half price.

The Triumph Thruxton would be great - but it is out of my budget.  The Honda CB500X with detachable luggage would most likely be the best "new" bike for me to consider if I wanted a dependable bike to just go riding and exploring on and not worry that much about what the bike looks like.
http://powersports.honda.com/2017/cb500x.aspx


I would buy a Suzuki 650 retro standard bike like the Tempter....they don't make it. (So I am starting to build one).

I would buy a mid sized (600 - 800cc) Sport Touring bike that is comfortable for double riding...they don't make it so I bought a used Honda NT700.

If I was much better off financially - I would consider buying a BMW R1200 RS.....but the huge amount of electronic stuff on it scares me.  I might go looking for a low mileage R1100 RS that has carbs and can be worked on by an average mechanic....they are pretty cheap on the used market as they are 16 - 24 years old!

Keep in mind they are not cutting the US program where pretty much all the best racers in the world currently race.  GP racing has almost turned into a feeder series for European riders to cut their teeth on at the pro level before coming to the use to race the Pro Motocross and Supercross series.  (And there are a lot of really talented Euro riders right now.)  

The Japanese series has traditionally been a testing series ever since the AMA implemented it's production rule back in 1986.  After that, the one off "works" and pre-production bikes were "raced" in Japan buy test riders.  Over the years, one off "works" bikes gone by the wayside and Japan is mostly just production bikes and early production models.  

I think OEMs feel they can test without racing and then just release a new model and work with it.  KTM has even been releasing mid year production models to get new tech into the hands of their racers early.  This gives them some racing experience that they can then apply to the next model year without being forced to switch the whole team to the new bikes.

The OEM's have other options theses days, but it still sucks that the industry is depressed.  

I agree 100% with Dave above.  I want a standard retro "fun" bike.  There is not one new bike on the market that I would buy or can afford.  I came from the BMW world where I owned 3 "Airheads," a '68 R50, a '74 R90, and a '78 R100 (over 38 years old).  I rebuilt the first one completely.  The second I updated and did some mechanical work, and the last I did lots of upgrading.  All three, to me now, are too big and heavy for me so I wanted to do the best I could with a smaller, lighter bike.  I am 68 and LOVE to just ride (since I was 14).  I no longer do an interstate slab, but lots of back roads, mountain riding.  

So...I purchased this used S40 (2011) and it is OK, but I was dismayed at the poor handling, and the obvious poor designing of some critical areas.  But, it is what it is, and when I ride it, I do really enjoy it.

piedmontbuckeye wrote on 10/26/17 at 06:58:02:

I agree 100% with Dave above.  I want a standard retro "fun" bike.  There is not one new bike on the market that I would buy or can afford.  I came from the BMW world where I owned 3 "Airheads," a '68 R50, a '74 R90, and a '78 R100 (over 38 years old).  I rebuilt the first one completely.  The second I updated and did some mechanical work, and the last I did lots of upgrading.  All three, to me now, are too big and heavy for me so I wanted to do the best I could with a smaller, lighter bike.  I am 68 and LOVE to just ride (since I was 14).  I no longer do an interstate slab, but lots of back roads, mountain riding.  

So...I purchased this used S40 (2011) and it is OK, but I was dismayed at the poor handling, and the obvious poor designing of some critical areas.  But, it is what it is, and when I ride it, I do really enjoy it.

Your prays have been answered. This bike has my full attention:

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2017/10/2018-kawasaki-z900rs-debuts-at-tokyo-m...

Dave wrote on 10/25/17 at 07:28:40:


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Well put Dave.  I feel the same way.

At the risk of getting run out on a rail   - have you (or anyone else here) ever considered/tested Royal Enfield?

I know - they're from India and the first few years they had bum engine cases, but I saw them at a (non-trade) show and I gotta say, I was kind of impressed.  Especially with the sub $6000 price tags.  

They have an interesting, sort of retro look to them too.

I never got a chance to ride one - so if anyone here has, lemme know what you thought.

Anyhoo - just throwing that out there.

I'm not much for 4 cylinder bikes and you all know I'm about shapes & lines and that is one freakin bueatiful bike ! Maybe some in Japan is hearing our call for more standards/retro.