12-22-2019, 08:18 AM
With motorcycle sales stagnant at best, it's hard to introduce any new models that don't have a guaranteed market. The 1300 and 400 four cylinders are of course more expensive to manufacture and so, harder to sell. The VFR has a small niche for the same reason, with its market shrunken by adventurer-tourers in the US. We're talking a couple hundred US sales per year.
Adventure bikes have put fire in the market the way SUVs and "Cross-overs" have made station wagons acceptable again. And mountain bikes resurrected bicycling starting in the '90s. I think the same needs to happen with scooters.
The Ruckus 50 was a great selling model but under-powered, and would be a giant hit with a 150cc or 250cc engine. (The old 250 Big Ruckus was just a styling and pricing disaster).
I think the ADV 150 scooter would be a big step in the right direction - a more robust looking scooter a guy wouldn't feel embarrassed on, even without any real off-road potential. The industry needs more new riders, and scooters may be a big part of the answer.
Adventure bikes have put fire in the market the way SUVs and "Cross-overs" have made station wagons acceptable again. And mountain bikes resurrected bicycling starting in the '90s. I think the same needs to happen with scooters.
The Ruckus 50 was a great selling model but under-powered, and would be a giant hit with a 150cc or 250cc engine. (The old 250 Big Ruckus was just a styling and pricing disaster).
I think the ADV 150 scooter would be a big step in the right direction - a more robust looking scooter a guy wouldn't feel embarrassed on, even without any real off-road potential. The industry needs more new riders, and scooters may be a big part of the answer.