yamahas new xsr900

[4myredhonda_imp]

I'd have to agree with Mikeoxbig and others. Even way back in the late 1960's and early 1970's, the Yamahas were Tinny and felt cheap compared to the Hondas. So did the Kawasakis and Suzukis. They all were generally lighter than the Hondas back then and faster (mostly two strokes), but the fit and finish of the Hondas just wasn't there. Honda has been sticking to a slightly different marketing strategy all along. Build quality is very high on their priority list. The others build good stuff and perform very well. They are just not a Honda. I mean can anyone that actually lived through the 1970's get excited over a genuine retro-look Yamaha, Kawasaki, or Suzuki like has happened with the CB1100?

As far as the new naked bike look, they all (including the Hondas) look like to me as if they came out of a Star Wars movie. It might be the new modern style. And, with all the advances in technology, form generally does follow function. So I'll give 'em that...and If I were 25 all over again, I might even own one. But I am not and I won't.

If Kawasaki reintroduced the Z1 900, I think it could be a sales success.

But then again, I'm not sure how much longer this "retro" thing is going to have legs. These bikes tend to attract older riders. How many more bikes will they be buying?

There still seems to be some demand for the DLX, but how many more buyers are there for this bike? Did Honda guess right by limiting production to just one year? I'm guessing yes.

If Kawasaki reintroduced the Z1 900, I think it could be a sales success.

But then again, I'm not sure how much longer this "retro" thing is going to have legs. These bikes tend to attract older riders. How many more bikes will they be buying?

There still seems to be some demand for the DLX, but how many more buyers are there for this bike? Did Honda guess right by limiting production to just one year? I'm guessing yes.
LongRanger,

You may have a point about the Z1. I got out of motorcycles about the time that it came out. Didn't get back in until 2005. The thing is the CB Hondas have a pretty long history. The Z1 only lasted a few years (1972 -1976).

What Honda has done with the CB1100 is a lot like what Harley has been doing forever, coming out with new bikes (with some modern advances) that replicate the old. I am not a Harley fan, but the marketing strategy has worked for them, mainly because that's what the Harley guys want...example: the Vrod is a technically superior bike, but doesn't sell like the antiquated air cooled twins. As I've read in several places...the Vrod is not enough Harley for the existing Harley crowd and too much Harley for the current day non-Harley guys.

I think Honda hit the nail on the head at the right time. You are probably right that the CB retro is somewhat of a fad that probably won't last because the Baby-boomers are not going to live forever.

Thanks for the good conversation.

Regards