| Author | Message | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1134 Registered: 10-2003 |
You guys seen this yet? http://www.yamaha-motor-europe.com/products/motorcycles/adventure/xt660z.jsp I hope they bring it stateside... John | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 2207 Registered: 9-2003 |
Nice! They need a big-bore DP bike as they are the only one of the big four that don't offer one Stateside. Like the early-90's Super Tenere 750 twin, this one's got the Paris-Dakar repli thing going on. Ck out the latest issue of M/C Consumer News...they did a 4-way comparo of DP bikes from Yami, Kawi, Honda and BMW. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1135 Registered: 10-2003 |
It would be really interesting if somebody came out with a 450cc ~50hp dual sport bike in the 250 pound range. It wouldn't be so good on the highway at that light weight, but I could lift it! | ||
| george_wright
Intermediate Member Username: george_wright Post Number: 119 Registered: 3-2005 |
Don't mean to hijack this thread, but I thought you bike jocks might like this article (from a guy who sold a BMW R69S because he needed the cash to get married). | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1137 Registered: 10-2003 |
That's a good read. Of course, I don't know the answer to the problems it highlights. Common sense is often thrown out the window when it comes to vehicle purchases, and of course the high fatality rate might just as easily be from the low percentage of sport bike riders who wear helmets (at least in my neck of the woods). Of course, I've seen dealers sell sport bikes to people who've never ridden before too. Ah, to be young and invincible again? I'd be happy with 50 hp, though 100 is fun in small doses... John | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 2209 Registered: 9-2003 |
George, Thanks for the article. I am familiar with the skewed IIHS/NHTSA stats for "older" riders, myself being in the Motorcycle Safety Training Community. I wasn't aware of the growth in sportbike sales amongst that demographic, despite being firmly entrenched in that demo AND having just purchased a "sportbike" (my insurance agent considers EVERY bike in the Ducati line-up a sportbike). Further, despite the fact that I am an extremely experienced rider (23yrs, 3yrs as a MSF RiderCoach and well over 100,000mi in the saddle), I too am surprised at the level of performance of todays bikes...and I bought a "slow" 90hp, 400#, air/oil-cooled two-valve Duc (used to be called DesmoDue, now just Dual Spark, LOL). Cheers, Kevin (Message edited by kmh364 on September 19, 2007) |
