02-17-2015, 09:51 PM
IMO the Kawi would not sell well in this market, because although it has the look us old farts like, Americans look at the bottom line (horsepower) and the Kawi lacks it in spades. According to dyno charts I have seen and as stated by Kawasaki itself, the W800 has only 47 horsepower. It may be a perfectly good ride, and all the power one realistically needs, but it's 10 horsepower down on the Triumph Bonneville which everyone complains about being underpowered, and nearly 40 horsepower down on the CB 1100. Over here people question if the CB has enough horsepower and there are laments on this board about the lack of power of the CB. I remember well when it was introduced here in 2012 the " why doesn't it have 100 horsepower? and the comments on why the "83 1100F had 105 horsepower, why would Honda put out a bike 40 years later with 30 less horsepower?"
Read the comments section from Motorcycle Daily when the bike was introduced
http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2013/05/2...de-review/
You may think the new Bonneville looks " clownish" but that is because you are more knowledgable than the average citizen or motorcyclist even. I can't begin to tell you when I had my Bonnie how many hundreds of people came up and said " beautiful old Bonnie, what year is it?" And the absolute look of astonishment on their faces when I would tell them it was brand new. The same thing with a CB 1100. I would never confuse it for a 69-83 Honda 4 ( because I am more knowledgable than the average) but I have only had 2 people out of maybe 50 that have approached me that said " is that the new CB?" Most assume it is a restored early edition, with the same comments I got from the Bonnie " nice old Honda, what year is it?".
My favorite comment wasn't made to me but to forum member RandyB when someone approached him and said " What year is it?" to which Randy replied "2013" and the guy says " no, I know what year it is.... what year is your bike?"
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Read the comments section from Motorcycle Daily when the bike was introduced
http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2013/05/2...de-review/
You may think the new Bonneville looks " clownish" but that is because you are more knowledgable than the average citizen or motorcyclist even. I can't begin to tell you when I had my Bonnie how many hundreds of people came up and said " beautiful old Bonnie, what year is it?" And the absolute look of astonishment on their faces when I would tell them it was brand new. The same thing with a CB 1100. I would never confuse it for a 69-83 Honda 4 ( because I am more knowledgable than the average) but I have only had 2 people out of maybe 50 that have approached me that said " is that the new CB?" Most assume it is a restored early edition, with the same comments I got from the Bonnie " nice old Honda, what year is it?".
My favorite comment wasn't made to me but to forum member RandyB when someone approached him and said " What year is it?" to which Randy replied "2013" and the guy says " no, I know what year it is.... what year is your bike?"
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