To Misterprofessionality's point, there's a bit of homogenization in the motorcycle market here in the U.S. just like there is in the car market.
Want a regular sedan or coupe, and not a box with a big door on the back? Well, you can have a Mustang, the only non SUV/CUV left from a domestic maker. The Japanese and Korean brands still make them, and they still sell. Granted, taking Mrs. G as an example, she went from a Civic to a CRV, and says that for the practicality, she'll never go back to a sedan again. The SUV is a jack-of-all-trades.
Well, a mid to large adventure bike sort of is as well. Outfit a Transalp, VStrom, etc with luggage, and I can carry a whole office anywhere for any distance. It will also go on a trail if I want it to. The other extreme is the luxury barge. When I asked the salesman about bikes like the FJR, he offered to let me sit on a Goldwing. Yeah, not there yet, even if it will back up and creep forward out of a tight parking spot on it's own like a Tesla.
For me, this all a mental exercise. I'm now overstuffed in the garage bringing the third bike home from my office, who's autopilot is pointed at a mountain two weeks away. Plus, I'd have to drop a bike to get one, and I love my children too much to wish one of them off of the island right now. Once I get the shop set up in Mom's garage, it will be different story.
(12-09-2024, 02:02 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: [ -> ] (12-08-2024, 09:34 PM)Tev62_imp Wrote: [ -> ]They have addressed all of the criticism of the early Honda NT1100's attracted with the new 2025 launch bike. A lot of practical changes, bigger panniers that can now take a full face helmet, redesigned screen which you can adjust on the bike and an electronic suspension option. They have also added a 6-Axix IMU to give it cornering ABS & Traction.
The 6-Axis IMU is an important component in conjunction with the DCT version of the bike. It makes much more intelligent decisions on changing gears.
I spent 12 days in the Dolomites earlier this year with a group of riders. One fella was two up on his 2024 DCT NT1100. Hairpin bends up and down mountains was our lot every day. He found his DCT changed gear at the most inappropriate times and he found it more than a little stressful. He found himself using the manual finger shifts most of the time instead. The new 6-Axis input into the bikes DCT brain should mitigate some (maybe all) of the silly gear change choices the bike can make.
It has been restyled a little bit too, for the better I think. Looks well in the Ash Metallic and Blue too.
Nice looking bikes. My NC 750 DCT gear changes are almost imperceptible, even in a corner, I'll look down at the gauges and find the gear number different than it was before. I WILL use the down shift paddle before going up a hill or going down hill thru tight curves. I find the DCT trans brilliant. If they have found a way to improve it, that's amazing.
When I was sitting on a new NC in the showroom and the salesman told me that they are discontinuing the manual trans model, I was lamenting it, but he said I'd love the DCT and never miss shifting. I noticed the lever on the left side of the handlebar and pulled it till it clicked and then released it and returned it to its flat position.
"Huh, parking brake because you can't leave it in a gear. Neat."
He then said that I was the first person he'd seen who sat on the bike and figured that out without having to be told.
Another fun exchange with the salesman - he asked what I rode, and when I said CB1100, he asked a lot of questions about it. I showed him a few pics of it on my phone, and he said "Hey, I have a customer asking me to locate a clean one for him. I can get you a good price for yours!"
Mrs. G, rummaging through their clearance t-shirt rack nearby overheard and said "Save your breath, that's the one he'll never sell."
