No 2015

[Cormanus]

I agree the market for these bikes must be small these days. It makes me feel like I am out of touch as the standard motorcycle has always appealed to me. I have test ridden Polaris cruisers and found them to be very comfortable but they are just not the type of bikes I grew up with. Trying to fight off old age I guess.

Since bikes began to become more specialized around the mid 80s, I lost interest. A standard bike can be a commuter, a highway cruiser, a canyon carver or whatever you want. And it seats two comfortably. I much prefer an all-purpose motorcycle to one designed for a particular kind of riding. Standards are the only type of bike I've ever owned since I bought my first KZ in 1980. In the rest of the world, where bikes are used as regular transportation, the standard bike is alive and well.

I think it's not you or me that is out of touch, but the North American motorcycle consumer.

Since bikes began to become more specialized around the mid 80s, I lost interest. A standard bike can be a commuter, a highway cruiser, a canyon carver or whatever you want. And it seats two comfortably. I much prefer an all-purpose motorcycle to one designed for a particular kind of riding. Standards are the only type of bike I've ever owned since I bought my first KZ in 1980. In the rest of the world, where bikes are used as regular transportation, the standard bike is alive and well.

I think it's not you or me that is out of touch, but the North American motorcycle consumer.
I think you're right. Anyone looking to look good on a bike is not looking at the standard bike, because it might be to blend, multi purpose, every day chore commuting like bike, versus flashy, muscle, adventurous, edgy, pirate, hipster, rich, big custom type bikes. Those of us who ride standards understand that once you're done impressing yourself and others, a standard bike makes total sense on all level, that it be price point, versatility, reliability, or else. We ride to ride, not just to look good, or put on a persona. We're not just weekend warriors. Look at the riders out there. Ducatists wear full leather racing suits, Adventure riders wear rugged adventure gears, even for their 15 minute commute, and Harley riders (I've been one of them, and will again), look like either a pirate, or part of a biker gang. We're not old geezers, we are common sense, down to earth, everyday riders, often on a budget, who wear comfortable, reasonable clothes such as a leather jacket & jeans, and more often than not wear a helmet. We ride because we love to ride, way beyond the image, or the life style. Though being a biker is a life style.

Since bikes began to become more specialized around the mid 80s, I lost interest. A standard bike can be a commuter, a highway cruiser, a canyon carver or whatever you want. And it seats two comfortably. I much prefer an all-purpose motorcycle to one designed for a particular kind of riding. Standards are the only type of bike I've ever owned since I bought my first KZ in 1980. In the rest of the world, where bikes are used as regular transportation, the standard bike is alive and well.

I think it's not you or me that is out of touch, but the North American motorcycle consumer.
I think you're right. Anyone looking to look good on a bike is not looking at the standard bike, because it might be to blend, multi purpose, every day chore commuting like bike, versus flashy, muscle, adventurous, edgy, pirate, hipster, rich, big custom type bikes. Those of us who ride standards understand that once you're done impressing yourself and others, a standard bike makes total sense on all level, that it be price point, versatility, reliability, or else. We ride to ride, not just to look good, or put on a persona. We're not just weekend warriors. Look at the riders out there. Ducatists wear full leather racing suits, Adventure riders wear rugged adventure gears, even for their 15 minute commute, and Harley riders (I've been one of them, and will again), look like either a pirate, or part of a biker gang. We're not old geezers, we are common sense, down to earth, everyday riders, often on a budget, who wear comfortable, reasonable clothes such as a leather jacket & jeans, and more often than not wear a helmet. We ride because we love to ride, way beyond the image, or the life style. Though being a biker is a life style.
It would seem the value of a solid, do everything motorcycle would be a common sense no brainer. When you have to argue the common sense value of standard motorcycle, then, in a practical sense, you've already lost the argument. Can't fix stupid.

Two things: first one of life's more curious paradoxes is that 'common sense' sadly is seldom common.

Secondly, I've a suspicion the market for the solid, do everything motorcycle is smaller than we think:[ul] [li]some people can afford to have a number of bikes[/li] [li]some have bikes as hobbies only for recreation and so can afford to have just one that meets their recreational needs[/li] [li]others plain don't like UJMs and can manage general duties on other types of bikes[/li] [li]the number of options in the market means there will be less of any one kind of bike than wold be the case in a narrower market.
[/li][/ul]
After all that heavy thought I need a beer.