New CB 350

[Cormanus]

Often in South East Asia you see families of 4 or 5 all aboard a single scooter.

Yeah, it is very interesting the level of trust exhibited by the passengers and of the other drivers around the vehicle.

Yeah, it is very interesting the level of trust exhibited by the passengers and of the other drivers around the vehicle.
Trust doesn't enter into it. Since they cant afford anything else Its the only way they have to get around. Its astonishing what people will do to get on with the day to day.

Well ... with respect, trust does enter into it. So does responsibility. Sure, people do what they have to and can do to meet their needs, but the family members who get on the scooter do so because they trust the rider to ride the thing in a way that makes it (relatively) safe. They also trust other road users to be aware of their circumstances and behave accordingly. And generally they do. What looks like mayhem to those of us from developed countries actually works well because of both trust and responsibility. In my opinion that brings with it benefits that have been lost in the nanny state where the general response is to stop people doing something rather than requiring them to continue doing it with regard to others.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Often in South East Asia you see families of 4 or 5 all aboard a single scooter.

Yeah, it is very interesting the level of trust exhibited by the passengers and of the other drivers around the vehicle.

Yeah, it is very interesting the level of trust exhibited by the passengers and of the other drivers around the vehicle.
Trust doesn't enter into it. Since they cant afford anything else Its the only way they have to get around. Its astonishing what people will do to get on with the day to day.

Well ... with respect, trust does enter into it. So does responsibility. Sure, people do what they have to and can do to meet their needs, but the family members who get on the scooter do so because they trust the rider to ride the thing in a way that makes it (relatively) safe. They also trust other road users to be aware of their circumstances and behave accordingly. And generally they do. What looks like mayhem to those of us from developed countries actually works well because of both trust and responsibility. In my opinion that brings with it benefits that have been lost in the nanny state where the general response is to stop people doing something rather than requiring them to continue doing it with regard to others.

Well ... with respect, trust does enter into it. So does responsibility. Sure, people do what they have to and can do to meet their needs, but the family members who get on the scooter do so because they trust the rider to ride the thing in a way that makes it (relatively) safe. They also trust other road users to be aware of their circumstances and behave accordingly. And generally they do. What looks like mayhem to those of us from developed countries actually works well because of both trust and responsibility. In my opinion that brings with it benefits that have been lost in the nanny state where the general response is to stop people doing something rather than requiring them to continue doing it with regard to others.


By the way, that suspension is holding better than would have otherwise expected. I dread what an emergency stop would look like:

<<emergency stop>>

>>passengers topple off<<

>>offending other driver is given the hairy eye<<

>>passengers brush off, check for broke body parts<<

>>the rolling fruits and vegetables are picked off the road<<

>>some grumble a few foreign language f-bombs<<

<<then everyone hops back on>>

:huh:

 

[Roper_imp]

Can't imagine it's any more dangerous than motoring down the interstate at 75 mph and the tractor trailer rig in front of you loses a retread and flings big chucks of tire all over the road. Or the dood in the lifted pickup driving aggressively because he feels taller than everyone else on the road. Or the soccer mom in the Suburban who's on her cell phone and changes lanes without checking her mirrors. Or...

Almost all of my "near misses" have come from the idiocy of other drivers. Only one has come from my own idiocy

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Can't imagine it's any more dangerous than motoring down the interstate at 75 mph and the tractor trailer rig in front of you loses a retread and flings big chucks of tire all over the road. Or the dood in the lifted pickup driving aggressively because he feels taller than everyone else on the road. Or the soccer mom in the Suburban who's on her cell phone and changes lanes without checking her mirrors. Or...

Almost all of my "near misses" have come from the idiocy of other drivers. Only one has come from my own idiocy

All realistic daily freeway scenarios.

I almost had my neck sliced open on the truck retread example. Fortunately continuous shoulder checks and a spritely CB750S allowed me to move lanes quickly enough to avoid airborne rubber 'n' steel and swerving cars.

 

[satchit]

Is it true that in India they put knobby tires on their bikes to pull a plow in the fields....

I don't think I've seen that in India. I do know a lot of farmers used to replace the engine on the bullet with a diesel engine used for irrigation. Apparently, the engine also lasted way longer due to the better ventilation. RE finally came out with their own diesel bullet soon.
Vintage Bike Sooraj Diesel price, specs, mileage, colours, photos and reviews

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Is it true that in India they put knobby tires on their bikes to pull a plow in the fields....

I don't think I've seen that in India. I do know a lot of farmers used to replace the engine on the bullet with a diesel engine used for irrigation. Apparently, the engine also lasted way longer due to the better ventilation. RE finally came out with their own diesel bullet soon.
Vintage Bike Sooraj Diesel price, specs, mileage, colours, photos and reviews

That was interesting satchit. Thanks for the share.

 

[alprider]

fine driving video

but indian has a very fine stylish solution for the navi integration

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

fine driving video

but indian has a very fine stylish solution for the navi integration

That was fun to observe. Thanks alprider.

 

[Roper_imp]

It was cool to see so many other motorcycles on the road. Where I live, I only see other bikes on the road on Saturdays, and they're usually Harleys.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

It was cool to see so many other motorcycles on the road. Where I live, I only see other bikes on the road on Saturdays, and they're usually Harleys.

Sorry man. Hopefully the riders are reasonable.

 

[Roper_imp]

The riders are good people. There's just a tendency in my part of the country to treat motorcycles as toys. They only come out on the weekends and during perfect weather. That's a lot of money for a toy you only use about 30 days per year.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

The riders are good people. There's just a tendency in my part of the country to treat motorcycles as toys. They only come out on the weekends and during perfect weather. That's a lot of money for a toy you only use about 30 days per year.

Pretty much the same north of the border, especially in regards to the heavy chrome showcase pieces.

 

[j3gq_imp]

Back to the purpose of the OP. Is there any evidence that the CB 350 will be sold outside India, or is India the test market and there is no way to know where she will ultimately be sold ?

 

[pekingduck]

Back to the purpose of the OP. Is there any evidence that the CB 350 will be sold outside India, or is India the test market and there is no way to know where she will ultimately be sold ?

I think right now, nothing is publicly known. Right now, it is Honda's first "big" bike made in India, designed specifically to go head-to-head against the home-based Royal Enfields. A lot depends on how well they do there - if there is enough production capacity for other markets.

Honda in Japan still co-ordinates with all their manufacturing plants and all the world-wide distributors and has final say what goes where. If American Honda wanted to have them here, they would have to place orders years in advance, which doesn't mean they will definitely get all they want. Sometimes, some unwanted, low-volume models are thrust upon distributors as a part of the deal (DN-01?).

I hope we get it, and soon.