| Author |
Message |
    
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 09:02 pm: | 
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One of the great things about living in the south. Would be just fine for all but the noobie straight out of the academy. |
Danger_dave
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 09:20 pm: |
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Meh - the only South you live in is the North South.
I can do South. |
Danger_dave
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 10:00 pm: |
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40 minutes and no bite! |
Boltrider
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 10:28 pm: |
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I'll join the chorus of "I don't give a shit." It will take a complete change from that company to sway my opinion. |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 10:29 pm: |
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That is one damn sexy Sporty, Nice red accents. If the factory built that instead of the XR1200.... sub 500 lbs, mmm delicious. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 10:33 pm: |
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Just need find a donor bike and I'm off to the races. |
Danger_dave
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 - 02:22 am: |
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$US40K
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbike s/Motorbikes/Classic-vintage/auction-290608076.htm |
Johnnylunchbox
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 - 08:30 am: |
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Take a V-Rod, shed about 150 lbs, bring the rake in, raise the rear, shorten the wheelbase a little, mid-controls, give it real suspension travel, add some kind of fairing (full, 3/4, or 1/2), add hard bags...
Do it all with some retro/modern styling and I think you'll have a winning tourer that can actually lean. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 - 09:15 am: |
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The lightest iteration of any V-Rod is the Roehr and it's still 500lbs.
It doesn't matter how they package a V-Rod, it's a bloated pig. Great as a cruiser.
I LOVE what Mr. Roehrich has done with the V-Rod motor, but there is a reason Erik rejected the V-Rod power plant.
I suspect that if the current crop of upper level folks had their way, they would pull the plug on the V-Rod completely.
I suspect that the V-Rod is on its last legs. |
Johnnylunchbox
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 - 09:28 am: |
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FtBstrd - even a 600 lb V-rod based sport tourer would be in line with the Kawasaki Concours and K1200GT class bikes. I'm sure it makes a pig of a sportbike, but a sport-tourer, I'd buy that.
Last I checked those bikes were selling fairly well. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 - 10:56 am: |
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I understand the desire for a V-Rod based sport tourer. Unfortunately, I don't see it happening for many reasons:
1) A Sport Tourer is too close to a sport bike and no one wants to buy sport bikes
2) Under its current configuration, the engine would outclassed by the C14, ST1300, FJR, and BMW1300GT.
3) HD has an aversion to fully faired bikes.
4) Sales of V-Rods are awful, so I don't see HD dipping a second time into that well.
5) As a naked cruiser, the V-Rod is 637lbs dry. As a full faired bike with luggage and better seating, I don't see it losing weight. The BMW1300GT is 635lbs wet. The Connie is 670lbs wet. The FJR is 641lbs wet. The closest bike, the ST, is 760lbs wet.
Under the current pricing, the VRSCST would be more expensive, heavier, and have less power.
The problem isn't the platform. The problem is the weight of the motor. It's 150lbs too heavy. In order to boost HP and drop weight, they would need to redesign the motor. I don't see that happening.
The core buyer doesn't buy the one they have. An FJR, 1300GT, or Connie buyer isn't likely to look in HD's direction. |
Paw
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 - 12:14 pm: |
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This is H-D's biggest problem...The majority of their core customers are into buying American. However, that customers children and in some cases grand children do not care what country of origin they buy a motorcycle from. As I see it the majority of the younger generation can not justify buying a Harley when they can get a metric that is built just as good for thousands less...And don't say a sportster is affordable. I know they are. But lets face it everyone who buys one says one year later, I wish I would have bought the bigger bike.
And with that said if H-D continues to sell their bikes at un-affordable prices for the young customers they are trying to get, they will be in huge trouble way before 2020.
This is how H-D could get the young customer to buy their bikes. H-D need to take every big bike and make a cheaper version say cut corners on the fenders make plastic like the metrics...Build an H-D like the Metrics companies do and drop the price buy 2 to 3 K and watch how fast H-D's go out the door. I'm not saying drop the bikes with all the steel fenders and fancy shit on them just add another line. I know what people will say...The H-D faithful would never go for it...Well guess what they are not H-D's future...H-D's future is buying the plastics cheaper material bikes. And H-D need to start a line for the younger customers!!!
(Message edited by paw on May 18, 2010) |
Crackhead
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 - 12:31 pm: |
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plastics wouldn't survive the HD shake
The V-Rod could never be a sport tourer, it weighs to much but as a tourer sport based on the Street-Rod it could be a good bike. |
Paw
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 - 12:37 pm: |
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"plastics wouldn't survive the HD shake"
Yes it would...The motors are counter balanced and the shake is no more than the Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 the biggest production V-twin.
(Message edited by paw on May 18, 2010) |
Ironhead1977
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 - 04:36 pm: |
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We just bought a spyder for the wife. All plastic and one nice ride. |
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