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Kawasaki is building a retro 800cc bike ala the Triumph Bonneville, but it is not being imported...
Back to the question embeded in my opening sentace. As we talk with people in general, young old or in between, how do you explain why anyone would buy a bike in the first place? Commuting is but part of the conversation I would have.
Taking that line of thought to its logical extreme why would anyone buy a bike in the first place? If a car is mandatory for life why not maximize the car and avoid the expense of the bike all together? The point is for some of us it makes economic sense or enough economic sense to include our motorcycles as part of our daily commuting plan. It does not work for everyone. I do my own repairs on both and am in a single driver household. I gear up in ATGATT and for some that is a deal breaker. Based on various places I have lived in my riding life I could have lived without either a bike or a cage quiet nicely.
Back to the question embeded in my opening sentace. As we talk with people in general, young old or in between, how do you explain why anyone would buy a bike in the first place? Commuting is but part of the conversation I would have.
when gas hit over $5, i bought a new yamaha tw200 for $3999. I insured it for $75/year, registration, in ca, about $70 or so. Compared to the f250 i was driving to work 9 miles each way, i saved a ton of money. I put $5 a week in the tank & that's it. Oh yeah, it was fun too! I haven't sold the f250, i still pay insurance, etc, but the less i drive it, the more money in my pocket. Riding a $20k motorcycle isn't going to save money over a $20k car like a prius, but a cheap bike will!
no, but motorcycle parts and service sales are saving the industry. people are fixing up their current ride because they can't afford to get a new one.
Having to pick up a bike after an "awchit" was what decided me to sell my beloved Yamaha Venture Royale and buy the 04Rt. That Yamaha was the best road bike I've ever ridden including a Vincent Black Shadow and numerous Japanese bikes. The BMW 2004 RT was a joy to ride and work on but the 2006 RT is a quantum leap better.
I wish that BMW would devise an interlocking device where the side stand would not retract (fold up) unless the clutch was pulled in. It seems most of the laydowns are the result of a bike rolling forward and collapsing the side stand. I know, "make it foolproof and a better fool comes along".
And then there is my 86 R80 with the self retracting side stand. It can't be lowered when I am sitting in the saddle, and a strong breeze will cause it to collapse. Fortunately, the center stand is very easy to use.