tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post8389749265848994946..comments2023-05-24T04:50:19.407-06:00Comments on MondayMotoMadness: What do men want?J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-80649277371767521632010-03-08T06:15:51.249-07:002010-03-08T06:15:51.249-07:00I agree that there are few new bikes that tempt my...I agree that there are few new bikes that tempt my limited budget. I'm not a cruiser or hyper-sport bike rider. I was talking to a friend and was thinking that a nice 996 Super Hawk might be nice if/when I want to trade in my R100RS.<br />The cost of EPA/DOT certification is extreme. Not only do they run them to make sure no nasties escape the tail pipe they also run quite a few of them into barriers to make sure the gas tanks won't explode. But I think the biggest increase in price comes from the allowance they must set aside for lawsuits. Call it the trial-lawyer fee. We've all seen what that has done to our heath care costs!J. Braunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-18799302946848078332010-03-07T18:49:22.532-07:002010-03-07T18:49:22.532-07:00Honda has a Classic 400cc bike that is very CB400/...Honda has a Classic 400cc bike that is very CB400/CB450ish in design. They won't bring it here.<br /><br />They also won't bring the good quality Honda scooters made in various SE Asian and other islander Honda companies. Some of them would bury the competition. <br />But, for an example of what happens to a price of a scooter when it comes to America. The Sym Symba (Sym was a Honda manufacturing parts supplier, 3rd party, that has broken out on their own several years back.)<br />The Symba is a modern Honda Cub with a 104cc motor and in the short test ride I had with one I enjoyed it and found it could get my bulky American frame up to 50 and a little bit on a relatively flat section of city streets and it did so with efficiency and aplomb. I was really surprised how it handled.<br />It sold in other parts of the world for about $1700 US. When it came here it sells for $2600 US. EPA testing is expensive but really is it that expensive?<br /><br />If Honda were to bring in a couple of their scooters and undercut the Chinese bikes that are selling for $2500-$3500 then they could gain a market and put the Chinese scooter makers who create the junk out of business. The Taiwanese scooter makers put out quality scooters.<br /><br />I am a little wordy this evening...sorry.<br />Recently, intead of looking at a modern Honda I decided to buy another vintage bike and picked up a CB550K0 (1974) It will need some cosmetic work, set of tires, and the usual for a bike that has sat for a decade and one half. May be all it needs, then again, it might have an issue that hasn't revealed itself yet.<br />Either way, old iron/aluminum won over newer bikes. The only bikes that tempt me are the Honda CX500s, Nighthawks, Transalp, and Suzuki's Vstroms for a modern bike...<br />DavidDavid Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13953801695354747826noreply@blogger.com