those that didn't sell

[sportbikecalgary]

How about an article about the bikes that didn't or don't sell well in Canada. With the amount of work a manufacturer has to go through to make a bike Canada-friendly, it would suck to not have it sell every well.

I'm thinking of some older bikes like the Yamaha Vision 550 or the Honda Hawk650gt (I have one) that didn't sell well but became a cult bike. How about the Honda 1000 Hurricane? or the Yamaha TDM series? or the Transalp?

There's lots to pick from. I'm sure others can suggest some decent models that looked good but didn't translate into showroom sales. I'm sure every manuafacture has offered up a reasonable scoot that they thought would kick butt in the sales area but ended up being overshadowed by another manufacturers slightly faster/cheaper/more-chromed offering. There could be enough you could break it down by decade .. or make it a single page article in a series over a bunch of mag issues. :D

[Ivor biggin]

Lately I have been checking through the online Auto Trader for a new bike. New to me that is as like others on this forum a real new bike is not in the cards. I had a couple of models chosen but then someone sent me a private message, you know who you are, and expanded my choice. Now the selection processes is a lot more complicated even though more interesting.
There are some great deals out there and I would imagine just as many lemons so I think that a couple of articles devoted to used bikes could be interesting. Maybe some junior motojournalist who hasn`t yet been invited to the sunny Mediterranean to test the latest metal could hone his skills writing about bikes that a lot of us actually buy.
IB

[Uwe W.]

How about an article about the bikes that didn't or don't sell well in Canada. I'm thinking of some older bikes like the Yamaha Vision 550 or the Honda Hawk650gt (I have one) that didn't sell well but became a cult bike. How about the Honda 1000 Hurricane? or the Yamaha TDM series? or the Transalp? There's lots to pick from. I'm sure others can suggest some decent models that looked good but didn't translate into showroom sales.

Interesting idea, but why would someone want to read about something that wasn't very popular in it's day? Are you suggesting that bikes are like a wine that improves with age? Which of the models that you suggested are you saying has achieved a cult status?


Ivor Bigone chimed in with: Maybe some junior motojournalist who hasn`t yet been invited to the sunny Mediterranean to test the latest metal could hone his skills writing about bikes that a lot of us actually buy.

Hmmmm. A used bike buyer's guide is what you're after? What's the cut-off period for age in such a comparison? Or would it be divided in price ranges? Incidentally, what price range are you looking in? I've good a perfectly good Hayabusa for sale! :D

[Ivor biggin]

I've good a perfectly good Hayabusa for sale! :D[/QUOTE]

My list of prospects is getting longer but I`m afraid the Fat One is not on there.:p
The forum represents a good cross section of riders but I sense a strong bias towards older bikes here and most would like to see something in C.C. addressing this. When my copy of C.C. arrives I always open to the Showcase first before reading all the columns then, finally, the cookie cutter road tests.
A pole would be interesting just to see who of us is changing rides in the near future and who would buy new or used.
IB.

[sportbikecalgary]

Well, 'we' wouldn't want to duplicate what Motorcyclist is already doing with their 'Smart Money' Section where they profile older bikes, make note of their pros and cons, and suggest what their worth. They've been doing it for years and it's an interesting read.

What my thoughts were on... after reading what's new and the adjective creator has run it's task in describing the latest greatest, it would be good to read about something different... but still motorcycle related. You have to agree that when the new bikes are released, every N.A. bike mag looks and reads the same. Sure there's a twist to each editor or contributers article, but it's the same crap over and over. Buy one mag and you're up to date on the others. For those of us that aren't motivated by the latest-greatest there has to be something else to keep our interest.

The special interest articles about unique locales and promoting travel within Canada, makes for good reading. How about more of those let's say... 'interesting' Canadian motorcycling folks (where's a Mendolson Joe test of the Honda Rukus??) and how motorcycles are in their lives. Has anyone thought about tracking down Brian Adams or Chad Kroger or Avril Lavigne or Biff Naked and checked out their bike collections? How about an article on the 10 provincial premiers and their experiences? 10:1 says Danny Williams is a wheelie fanatic with a caged-up stunt bike in his garage. Obviously an article about Neal Peart is an easy starter, but he's not in need of the publicity.

But I digress... Cycle Canada broke the mould a bit in their recent mag where they profiled the restored TZ750. Deemed unattainable by the masses and how old? 25 years? Granted, it was an iconic bike... but it was a race bike and not available for the street. The article was a nice switch from the usual xeroxed story of how the latest 600 is fantastic and when compared to the 675.. well it's fantastic as well. I can't make a decison so here's a bunch of accolades, I'll take one in red, sort of thing. I swear most magazine articles were written in the mid-eighties and current editors (not implicating CC folks with this...) can pick out an old one, word-swap in the latest number letter combination, a few quick changes about something techincal and voila... off it goes to print.

But I ramble during my Saturday morning coffee.... So what I was suggesting was not an article about what wasn't popular, but more along the lines of what was popular, but for some reason didn't sell. My Honda Hawk650gt is a prime example. I didn't buy mine until 1998. It was releasd at the same time as the first Honda 600 Hurricane. In '89 it was $350 (~10%) more than the Hurricane and was slow in comparision. It did have an aluminium frame and single sided swingarm along disc brakes front and rear. The liquid cooled 650 motor put out 58 hp and 43ft/lb's of torque. This was in a bike that was just over 200kg (410 lbs) wet. It makes a (insert superlative here) package.
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/buyersguide/motorcycles/HondaNT650HawkGT2.jpg
It didn't sell very well in North America as the Hurricane out performed it. However, in Europe it sold very well. Honda offered a couple versions: one with the aluminuim frame and one with a steel frame. Very much like the RZ350 cup that Yamaha had in the 80's, a racing series was developed around the hawk. Two Brothers Exhaust empire started when they made their first mass market exhaust for it. Every time I roll mine out of the garage and go for a ride around town, I get offers on it. The 'kids' on the new japanese rockets are amazed it's almost 20 years old

So... it came over with high hopes from Europe, Honda spent a bunch of money making it Canada-compliant, but didn't sell well. I'm not sure what others you can toss into the same line of thinking but that's for you editor/contributer types to mull over during your monday morning meetings.

[TimP]

I'm not sure how well this example sold, but if you're looking for a small, tossable streetbike, how about a CB-1? I was drawn to a couple of examples several years ago when they were old enough to appear as pre-owned, but new enough to be rather pristine, and I was quite taken by them. Never bit, however, and never actually rode one, but something about them just seemed right.

[John]

...SRX?


John.

[RickO]

Interesting idea, but why would someone want to read about something that wasn't very popular in it's day? Are you suggesting that bikes are like a wine that improves with age? Which of the models that you suggested are you saying has achieved a cult status?.....
....... A used bike buyer's guide is what you're after? What's the cut-off period for age in such a comparison? Or would it be divided in price ranges?
Yes to both.

There are a number of bikes out there that were sales flops that look way better today.

I've tried both the 650 Hawk and the Transalp on demo rides, as well as the 1000 Hurricane. I don't know about cult status, but all were excellent machines.

Think any small displacement bike in the size-compensating North American bike market:


Honda CB400F
Yamaha FZR400
Honda NS400
CB1


How about all the big standards that everyone said they wanted and then didn't buy:

750 Zephyr
XV920
1100 Zephyr
CB1000


Then there are the Dakar-inspired models:

Super Tenere
TDM 850


Price range would probably be the same one I search on Autotrader.ca: 0-$5000

When I worked as a motorcycle instructor, students would often ask me what kind of bike to buy as a starter bike. I would suggest they buy a cheap used bike to learn on for a couple of years -- one they wouldn't cry about too much if they had a minor tip-over or two. A used bike bought with cash can carry liability and health insurance coverage only, avoiding the hyper expensive collision coverage for new riders.

Yes, there should be a good used bike buyers guide, with notes from someone with Costa's expertise about serviceability and parts availability. It would be a refreshing change from the usual new bike "riding impression".

[Ivor biggin]

:o
The forum represents a good cross section of riders but I sense a strong bias towards older bikes here and most would like to see something in C.C. addressing this.[/QUOTE]

Why don`t I just shut the F%@k up and let C.C. get on with it? The April edition has a Rickman Cafe Racer, a nice showcase bike and a feature by Cathcart on a true American classic. What more could I ask for. I just hope that the Long Ago page is a keeper.
IB.

[Sidecar Bob]

How about the Pacific Coast? When they were first introduced they were so hard to sell that Honda Canada was reputed to require that dealers took one PC for every so many other Hondas they bought. I even read a story about a dealer in Montreal (I think) that had one they couldn't get rid of so they left it with the keys in the ignition in front of a biker bar in hopes that it would be stolen, but several weeks later it was still there.

A couple of years ago I got the idea that one of them would make a good winter bike - enough frame to mount a sidecar, but everything was enclosed so it would be less suceptable to road salt. Do you think I could find one for sale? Well, actually I did find a couple, but their prices were higher than similar vintage GoldWings!!!!

[KZDon]

For some odd reason there have been half a dozen PC800s for sale in these parts. All of the sellers seem to think they're rare (they are) and collectible (not really) and have been asking selling prices close to their original MSRPs. I think there's still one at a used car dealer in Elmvale. It's been up for sale for two seasons now.

[Malks]

PC800's might not have sold well up here, but they must have done better in the States because they continued to sell them there for several years after Honda Canada discontinued them here. A friend of mine was seriously thinking of one and found quite a few newer models advertised in the US.

I also liked the PC800; however, the non-removable luggage was a deal breaker. And yes, I do remove the side bags from my ST from time to time.

[Dirtybill]

Ducati/Cagiva 900 Elefant?

A friend has one that he bought in Minnesota. With some upgrades, mainly electrical, the bike is a winner. Good suspension, torquey dependable motor and it sounds like only a Duck can!!

[arnottski1]

I couldn't agree more. The showcase is the first place I go and would read a total showcase edition happily.

[Dirtybill]

Someone mentioned the TDM. I owned one for 5 years and believe it or not, nothing went wrong with it. Didn't even burn out a bulb!! I look back at the reviews of it in Canadian and American magazines now and laugh. The journalists spent more time writing about what kind of bike it was supposed to be instead of just enjoying it. Meanwhile in Europe and other places they were grafting on FZR front ends and Over Racing made a different frame for it and went racing successfully with it. The TDM is still sold in England. Now is 900cc with FI, radial tires etc. I was pleading with the Yamaha Rep to bring in the TRX but he said Yamaha figured it would have to retail for too much money here. Too bad.

[Sidecar Bob]

I think one of the reasons it didn't sell well here is that no-one wants to own a bike called "TeDiuM"

From what I understand, they were quite a decent machine, but the choice of name was unfortunate.

[Ivor biggin]

Over Racing made a different frame for it and went racing successfully with it.

I saw some pictures of the Over TDM in some bike mag a couple of years ago and I think that if Yamaha had produced it they would have had a winner.
I suppose it all comes down to what you think is cool.
IB.

[YellowDuck]

Anyone remember the Suziki GSX-G? Shaft drive standard with an air-cooled GSXR-1100 motor in it. 1991-1994. They should have sold a million of them. But it was a TOTAL flop.

Except for the final drive, the Bandit was conceptually very similar, but for some reason enjoyed great success.

[iggstrsupertenere]

Planning to bring my supertenere with me to Canada this summer, anyone knows if there's parts available and if the bike would be admisable in Canada?

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/4117/bergen.jpg (http://img691.imageshack.us/i/bergen.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[CDN-ZZR]

Planning to bring my supertenere with me to Canada this summer, anyone knows if there's parts available and if the bike would be admisable in Canada?

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/4117/bergen.jpg (http://img691.imageshack.us/i/bergen.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
Yes, they are admissible in Canada my buddy has one here in London. Parts are at your local bike store.

[iggstrsupertenere]

Yes, they are admissible in Canada my buddy has one here in London. Parts are at your local bike store.



Thanks for your reply, good news, actually i'm planning to bring one for my buddy as well so we can go for a dualsport ride across the country this summer, so no need to bring any?

[doramider7]

:o
The forum represents a good cross section of riders but I sense a strong bias towards older bikes here and most would like to see something in C.C. addressing this.

Why don`t I just shut the F%@k up and let C.C. get on with it? The April edition has a Rickman Cafe Racer, a nice showcase bike and a feature by Cathcart on a true American classic. What more could I ask for. I just hope that the Long Ago page is a keeper.
IB.[/QUOTE]

How about the Pacific Coast? When they were first introduced they were so hard to sell that Honda Canada was reputed to require that dealers took one PC for every so many other Hondas they bought. I even read a story about a dealer in Montreal (I think) that had one they couldn't get rid of so they left it with the keys in the ignition in front of a biker bar in hopes that it would be stolen, but several weeks later it was still there.

A couple of years ago I got the idea that one of them would make a good winter bike - enough frame to mount a sidecar, but everything was enclosed so it would be less suceptable to road salt. Do you think I could find one for sale? Well, actually I did find a couple, but their prices were higher than similar vintage GoldWings!!!!


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