Thank you for your comments. The response for this video is so overwhelming that I can't keep up. I'm sorry if I didn't get to your comment, I tried my best. Thank you for your input, I really appreciate it.
They're not getting too big it's just times have changed just like cars motorcycles should change too especially since we like to take long trips on motorcycles too just like we do with cars
Great video. Same thoughts here. But i have wondered, what if a smaller bike had all the electronic bells and whistles, or maybe just a few of the electronics that we're actually going to use. Would companies sell something like that if they can get a good margin? Or would the customer finally compare price to displacement (ignoring electronics) and decide its too expensive for a small bike? Food for thought
Honestly, it can be summed up largely as an ego thing. The status symbol, the bigger - the better. People are totally missing the point. Motorcycling is about freedom, the wind and the sense of brotherhood between riders. It's a journey, not a competition to show off your bank account. You want to show off? Show me your skills as a rider instead. Don't get fooled by consumerism. Ride what works best for you and your needs and make sure you have fun doing it. I took a 1300 km trip with my dad on our bikes, both of which don't have a hundred horsepower COMBINED, and we had a blast. Ride for the ride.
Yes, yes, yes and yes. Just swapped a very large cruiser for a Honda cb500f - I've had more fun in the last 2 weeks on the Honda than the last 2 yrs on the cruiser. Don't get me wrong, the cruiser was great and all but running the 500 takes the weight off your shoulders somehow.
I don't agree. If you want a V-twin and want to be able to get out of trouble on an interstate, you need something that will do 100 mph comfortably. That means big displacement. My Kawi Vulcan 900 would go about 85 comfortably. I had to upgrade to a 1700 Vulcan Vaq. It had nothing to do with ego, or my small wiener. I would gladly ride a smaller bike but my unfairinged- open- to- the- wind days are over....
i recently heard something that really stuck with me "dont buy an extra adventure bike, if you have a motorcycle you already HAVE an adventure bike" what they wanted to say was, that you shouldnt let others dictate where you take your bike or what it could or couldnt do ive seen people tour through europe on 50cc scooters with heavy baggage everythings possible and thats the great thing about motorbikes i think. they are so versatile and can do almost anything if you really set your mind to it! im currently saving up to buy me a small 125cc bike and you can bet your butt i will take this baby anywhere i can
@@seriousandy6656 'That means big displacement' - nope : Suzuki sv650 v-twin - top speed 130+mph. 0 to 60 in 4 seconds. (and the Suzuki 'S' type and some earlier versions have partial fairing and a screen so you're not out in the wind) I've had many reasons over my 40yrs of biking where I 'had' to change my bike too lol :)
Honestly size doesn't matter bigger means that u can go farther on a motorcycle touring motorcycles are perfect for taking long Cross country trips so yes bigger is better
Indeed, you gotta special order or go to a commercial dealer that does a lot of fleet sales. Or do what I do; keep driving my '96 F150 XL, 300 I6, 5 speed manual, regular cab, long bed. 🤙
@Grumpy MC I could be wrong but i just configured a Dodge ram 1500 with 4x4 crew cab and a long box for under 40k. They might not have the exact truck on the lot, but here's the link to the configuration. tinyurl.com/yauq3erz
Yeah, same deal there too! I remember when extended and crew cabs were a novelty and not the norm. Not only that but you can get them decked out equal to or better then some luxury sedans.
R Herman I just posted something similar. You can't even buy a real half ton anymore. They are bulked up and out and are the size of what used to be a 3500 farm truck.
I’m glad Royal infield is putting out a basic Bike. I’m tired of all the high-tech they are putting on motorcycles. I miss the bikes in the 1970s and 80s. By the way great video!
I'm even more glad that there is a fellow that takes the Enfield and turns it into magic. Look up the Royal Enfield Musket 998. The damn thing looks and sounds like the distant past but with perfect weight and balance. Its only downside is the fact that it's not cheap and you have to wait for 6 months to get one. The plus side is that every engine is hand made by one guy and you might not ever see another one on the road.
@@ripmax333 modern gear doesn't weigh much. I cycle tour (no motor) and the max weight on the bike is 20lbs. That's food as well, I ride unsupported. Dehydrated food, so I do get water when I need to, about a gallon at a time adding 8lbs temporarily. Helinox chair 1lb Large 12' hammock 20oz silpoly tarp to cover the hammock 10oz mini butane stove 4oz butane tank ~1lb power bank ~1lb titanium cooking pot ~4oz max there's some other stuff, but just pointing out you can really cut that weight down and possibly even have more luxury than you've thought. Modern fabrics are impressive
@mld if you haven't dropped a bike, you're not trying hard enough. Anyone who actually does off road WILL drop their bike on a regular basis. I'm guessing you always stick to safe and easy pavement, in which case stop calling it an "adventure" bike.
I'm a deliriously happy RE Interceptor owner. Brooke's smile on the Ravishing Red one made my day. I wish I also improved how mine looks when I get on it.
Indian here, you guys in America really go crazy with the displacement. The most "popular" premium ish motorcycle here is Royal Enfield's Bullet, which is just like the Polish Harley you described, 350cc and surprisingly similar in terms of styling. I drive a 150cc motorcycle one of the ones considered "sportier" (college student, so this was the best I could do) and I've driven litre bikes too, I still maintain that 600cc is enough to get you into all sorts of trouble. While I do appreciate the novelty of larger displacements, I think one must draw a line to this. Thanks for the amazing content, I enjoy it very much.
Yea I agree with everything you said. Here in California, your bike needs to go at least 85 mph comfortably. Even though our speed limit is 65, most people go around 80.
@@kadengolda2373 Oh! That's surprising, the median speed for a motorcycle here is around 60kmph, with the 100ccs barely managing 100kmph. Although I do have to say that even India is making the turn to larger motorcycles, especially with the introduction of brands like KTM, other brands are adding more powerful motorcycles to their lineup too, it feels as if 350ccs will become the new 150cc.
Thanks for the comment. Here in Toronto the speed limit is 100kph but everyone drives 120 and unless you're going crazy the Police usually leave you alone. They set the speed limit knowing that some people will break it. Other places like Nebraska have a 75 mile per hour speed limit which translates to 121kph. Over there, people generally drive at least 130kph. That's why those American touring bikes are so huge, for power and stability on the highway.
@@DifferentSpokesTV Makes sense, although around here, anyone going 80-100 is usually pulled over by the cops. Considering the state of our roads, and the insane amount of traffic, I guess this was a reasonable compromise. Thanks for the reply mate! I'm honoured.
I'm 56 and bought my first bike last year, a Moto Guzzi V7 Stone. I love the classic style and comfort of it, and the features it offered. I had my eye on a Sportster, but I just couldn't justify spending $12k when I could get so much more for my money with something else. $12k for the Sportster or $7500 for the Guzzi? I went with the Guzzi!
same here (im in my mid twenties) all the tech makes people disconnected from the raw driving thats why all that shit with the self driving cars can thrive, because people dont feel their vehicles anymore so they dont wanna drive anymore at least thats my theory i love cars and i love bikes and when i drive/ride i want to feel the vehicle shift underneath me, have it in my grip but apparently thats not en vogue in current year
@@MelindaColden You are right. My friend came last week with an old Audi80 made in 84. I drove this car and could not believe that this was the standard. Hard work but you have felt every bumb in the street. Cool. The Car and motorecycle industrie need always news to have arguments to sell better than the competition. No real feeling. Also the sound is artificial to make believe the brand sound. I keep it also simple because aft3r a while I have forgotten all the fancy functions i really don't need.
an excellent well thought out video. I went from a Harley heritage to a 650 VStrom and knew I'd done the right thing. I'm now on my second one having ridden all over Europe.
A v-strom 650xt got me into the showroom recently. I wanted a smaller more nimble bike. Had a Honda ST1100. Totally agree with everything you say in this vid.
I love my 1200 Sportster Roadster, and always find it a little amusing when other riders across all brands comment that it is a little bike. I grew up riding a 185 dirt bike and still like the smaller bikes. Just fun!
Thanks for the comments. In North America people do a lot of highway riding and that's why they get the giant bikes. If you're not on the highway a lot they tend to be overkill.
Different Spokes TV It’s true that we ride long miles, especially in Texas, I can ride for ten hours from my house before I hit New Mexico. But I don’t mind my big bikes for an afternoon ride either and that’s sure better than trying to ride a 600 to LA
You should be ashamed to be riding a 'girls bike'. That engine is much too small. Come on grow up! You are not obese enough. You should be eating more hamburgers and fries and then buy yourself a bigger bike and then a bigger coffin. I can remember when a Harley Sportster 888 was a huge bike, and a Triumph 650 was a big bike; but then people were not as obese as they are now. People have forgotten what it's like to ride a motorcycle instead of an SUV on two wheels.
@@marcr8968 you're right of course, but with the Golden Corral closing locations, and removing the buffets from the ones that remain open, I don't know how I am going to keep those carbs coming... 😄
Your being very kind saying that the average weight of an American has risen 20 pounds over 40 years. I think maybe you got it backwards. Try 40 pounds in 20 years.
20 years ago I spent a tourist season in the south of France then delivered a boat across the Atlantic and cleared in to US in Washington. The girls in France were slim taught and terrific in Washington the girls were like the roads “wide”.
100forks, your 1000% correct in your statement. My thought's were identical to yours when he said 20lbs overweight. No doubt about it: we've gotten to be "one fat-ass nation" Hell, I've seen numerous couple's on Goldwing's or Harley Hog's with no air space between the driver's back & the passenger's belly! And then there's gear to carry or a trailer to pull. That's when you should just get a truck. It would then be called "haulin ass". U.S.A.
Great video and ecoes my sentiments. I have ridden a Moto Guzzi Breva 750 for 16 years and am waiting for V85 pure road bike, maybe classic styles but a new Breva would be nice. No wonder Enfield is going great. Good value elemental bikes.
I rarely comment on any YT videos, but I just wanted to tell you that I liked yours very much. I realised that I was slowly falling for this "big bike" trap. Suddenly my own bike feels great again! :)
GeneralChangOfDanang Mine is nearly 20 years old, and the quality is mediocre when compared to a Triumph or a Japanese bike, but It’s very simple, and like to tinker. In recent years the quality has improved.
@@GeneralChangFromDanang Please, I'd advise you not to, my friends RE has spent more time at the shop than on road. Although they're pretty skeletal bikes, with not much tech, they're very iffy in the reliability segment
@@GeneralChangFromDanang they have discontinued the 500 this year as of the pandemic. But the 650 is smooth and a lot of fun to ride they come with 3 year warranty. Ever since i tried one I want it over the triumph due to fun factor vs dollar value.
They are getting expensive, then they wonder why motorcycling is losing audience when I tell people the prices of the bikes I want they turn their heads like hell no I would rather buy a car for that money mind you the bikes I want is a challenger, chief dark horse, lowrider s , RG, ftr rally but it's w.e
@ my little F800S is 12 years old and cost £1500(UK). A friend of mine said something similar regarding the price of his Ford Focus. Then he seen me accelerating. His face was priceless when I told him it was actually quite a slow, middle of the road bike.
Gotta have some perspective. I bought a new Bonneville T120 last summer for $10,000. A new Boneville T120 in 1968 was $1,500 which would be $15,000 in todays dollars adjusted for inflation. You do know, don't you, that the new Boneville, besides being less expensive than it was back in the day is also a bit faster...oh, and it brakes better too. To list all the ways a new Bonnie is better than an old one would take a few more pages.
In the USA man a Deluxe is like what $20k..don't know but in OZ you're looking at list price near $30k. Sportsters here about $18k. Young dudes aren't spending that especially with the cost of housing. But there's a market for used HDs as fools buy them and keep them for like a year and sell them cause they don't ride them. My first cruiser in 97 was a 750 shadow....great bike 2nd hand with cobra pipes and green and white paint. Real decent bike and affordable.
Great video, as usual. One extra point, power put out from a 650cc in 1984 was maybe 2/3 of same displacement today. Really no need to go up in displacement for better performance!!! Of course, no need for higher prices neither.
Exactly. Take a 2020 XL883 and pit it against a 2020 Street Twin. No contest. The Triumph will smoke the Harley every time. That liquid cooled, modern 900 cc mill crushes the obsolete, air cooled mill of the Sportster. Harley desperately needs a new, modern engine for the Sportster. It’s shameful.
Thank you! I'm so glad that you've said out loud what was on my mind for years. And it's not just me- all my riding buddies agree on that too- new bikes are getting more and more ridiculous (heavy, clumsy, powerful and complex). Most of us have started with mopeds- easy to fix (even for a teenager without proper technical knowledge) and handle, and apparently that experience pushed us to get bigger wheels. Now, you've mentioned Royal Enfield new twin- it's the quintessence of what motorcycle was all about. It's as simple as it can be, costs just right and will get you anywhere if you'll give it right preparation. With windshield and sidebags it can be a cruiser, with replaced suspention and enduro tyres it's gonna be an expedition bike... Or cafe racer! Or bobber! Whatever you like. Whatever you were dreaming about when riding your first moped :))
Bravo! Great video and well written narration. Love the comment about five minutes of fiddling with ride modes for that 3 mile stretch of gravel. Bikes are bigger and taller, too. I don't know about other riders but I haven't added an inch to my inseam since college. Fewer and fewer bikes are compatible with riders under 6+ feet!
Just sold my 12 year old Triumph Scrambler 900 and with the cash bought a 2019 ex demo 411cc Royal Enfield Himalayan with 350miles on the clock. Had £1k left over! Loving the Himalayan, such a fun bike on and off road and cheap. They are going to clean up.
@Joubert x She has made a few really long trips on hers. Most of my commute is highway speed, so that one wouldn't work for me. If I planned to go off road, that would be a great choice for sure
they are gettin bigger to make room for all the electrics that we never used to need, to go for a ride.... then, when we had to do it all ourselves!!! am I giving away my age here?
Yep...and I agreee.....my lattest Evo Dyna is an exception because it is mostly stock....but in over 50 years of riding, most has been on Harley choppers with wiring limited to ignition and lights...period.
Great video and so true! I have been riding for 40 years and have had bikes that weighed over 600 lbs, But now, at 68 with arthritis, I have downsized and enjoying it way more! I love my new Honda CB300R, so flickable and light and it has made me smile more as a ride in my golden years!
Such a great concept. I've owned streetbikes for four decades now. The 500 cc twin Honda I started on,was considered a large motorcycle in the 1970's. Now I have a bunch of bikes,a Sportster,a Honda 750 Aero,a 500 Vulcan and a 650 cc single cylinder Suzuki Boulevard which only weighs 383 pounds. The Boulevard is my favorite to ride. Pure fun. So light and narrow. So simple. Loaded with torque.
I ride a Honda Shadow 750. That thing only has 45 bhp and has no trouble keeping up with traffic, and this is with a 300 lb man on it. More power would make it easier to pick up speed at highway speeds, but that bike really has no trouble leaving most cars in the dust, and this would be a small bike... but is it really?
The Communist I have to shake my head every time I describe my 865cc Triumph as mid range. My wife and I and plenty of gear can cruise all day at speeds over the legal limit, with plenty in reserve. No need for an extra 800cc, and nowhere we could use it.
Or any bike with close to 100 crankshaft HP as behind "underpowered". It's more than enough to propel my 600 lb R1200RT and me as fast as I'll ever need to go. I need 150, or 200 HP in a bike like I need another hike in my head.
ontario's insurance is ridiculous. i tried to insure an 85 fj100 and they wanted $6k/yr for bare minimum liability. you have to buy the entire year, you cant insure for the 5-6 months it comfortable to ride. now i live in the states. i ride a 900 vulcan c. i am over-insured with extra coverage on everything. it' costs me $423/year.
ESPECIALLY true for novices. Keep that first bike under 1000cc, or pay through the nose. Not nice for those older rookies among us who are most interested in a big bagger for light touring.
I agree 100 %, I went from a roadking to a stripped down sportster, although I did opt for the 1200 over the 900. At 58 I just ain’t ready for a old man rollin sofa yet.
I'm going the other way... had a 2016 Iron 883 since new and have loved it... it's been a lot of fun on UK roads. now am looking to move to perhaps a twin cam road king... i think i want my harleys to be sofas on wheels... ill get a light bike like a KTM 690 Duke or an MT07 for thrashing about. both ends of the biking spectrum covered ;)
Thank you for saying what I've been thinking for a long time. I'm 6'3" 190 lbs and I love my 500cc Vulcan, carburetors and no fuel gauge and all. I've had it for eleven years and I never intend to get anything bigger, even though when I bought it the salesman swore I would be back inside the year wanting something twice the size.
I live in greece The most common is the 125 cc For driver license reason The idial consider a 250cc For young drivers And 500 cc for medium every day\ on off use
Indian have just rearranged their showroom setup in Australia. Their prices are such a bad joke its hard to justify the floor space for the sales numbers. After riding a Harley and a FJR for years Im ready to move down to a 650cc just to give my wallet and my legs a rest.
Look at a 2nd hand bike with almost zero km, my 2014 VFR 800 was 4yrs old with 4000km, the mech doing the roadworthy couldn't believe it had 4k on it. He thought it was brand new... I paid $9k. Most fun riding I've had in ages..
Tabubil also Australian I have been looking at maybe buying my first Harley Road king Special here they sell for $36000 then add add on your stage 1 kit backrest, windscreen etc etc and you are well over $40000 you gotta be joking that’s crazy money, on the other hand you can buy a 2018 model very low ks and some other stooge has put all the extras on for around $27000 which is still big money.
Tabubil, I'm the same, rode an FJR which I loved, but I've either gotten to old or the bike got to heavy and I had to get ride of my FJR broke my heart, now thanks to arthritis I cant ride anymore anyways
Tabubil - I had large capacity bikes for last 15 yrs, cos that's what you did, move up through the models and cc's till you're hitting liter plus bikes, then you've made it, you're a proper biker with big bike cred - right lol ? I just did a straight trade for my 12 yr old Yamaha vxs1300 cruiser for a 2yr old Honda cb500f. Half the width, half the weight. Cheaper insurance, road tax (am in UK) cheaper running costs, spares etc. Have rediscovered my love of biking again, I haven't been off the Honda since I got it. It hasn't the torque of the cruiser but it's no slouch either, I can brake a bit later, throw it into corners, lean more without fear of the footboards touching down. It's just a relief not to be having to plan your cornering a half mile before you reach it and not having the 600+lb mass of the bike dominate your thinking. If I fall off it, the cost to repair the Honda would probably be a 1/4 of what the cruiser would cost. I don't tour and my every day riding top speed is usually around 60/70mph. Honestly, the Honda's a 2 cylinder simple, paired town bike - no bells, no whistles - I wish I'd done this a decade ago.
@@stevelynch5843 I know what you mean. Two broken feet in a high rise accident as a teenager have left me with wicked arthritis attacks as I grow older.
That's why when I trade my tiger will get 650 Enfield unless Norton (TVS) continue with the 650 Atlas wow that's a thought one will have to consider both both are 650cc both british name badges both Indian companies.
One of the best all round bikes I have ever owned was the 350 cc two-stroke Yamaha I had in the '70s. Not fast by today's standards, and certainly not fuel efficient or low emissions, but just a great all purpose, light easy to handle motorcycle and just a hoot to ride.
@@loggi7605 Dude, any bike that spins the rear wheel in place when you pull the throttle too hard is too much for a beginner to handle. There's a reason why people in Europe are restricted to 47 bhp when they start riding. You don't need a wheelie-happy bike as your first bike, you need something to learn on that won't throw you off the road if you blip the throttle halfway through a turn.
Loggi any bike that pops wheelies if you roll the throttle a bit too much is not a beginner bike in my book. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an amazing machine, just not one for beginners in my opinion
I remember in 1969 seeing the first CB750 at a Honda dealership. It was a monster. And 59 hp? Good Golly Miss Molly! Now when I see one somewhere it looks like a toy compared to most modern bikes. I saw an old Royal Enfield Intercepter 750 (no, not the new Indian one) recently and it looked so small and light and simple. I have people ask me if my CB500X (46 hp, 440 lb) is a scooter. Actually I'd rather be riding a scooter than some of the new bikes I see.
I have been riding for over 40 years and, like most riders, started on a small bike. As the years progressed I bought into trading 'up' and getting larger and larger bikes. Two years ago I had open heart surgery and I soon realized the large cruiser was too big for me. I down sized to a much smaller bike and my enjoyment of riding reminded me of when I first started. You are correct. Bikes have gotten too big,, too complex, and way too expensive. Some manufacturers are producing excellent smaller rides as is pointed out in your video. Enjoyed the video.
I grew up in a Harley bagger household. I just bought a Honda NC700X four months ago. I have been loving it. Commuting to work every day and hitting state forests on the weekends. Middle-weight adventure is a compromise, doing no one aspect of motorcycling perfectly, but doing all of them well enough to love.
This was the most thoughtful commentary/video about high tech monster size motorcycles I have watched in a long time.I guess someone finally had to put motorcycling in perspective, because we all have become unwittingly equipment junkies proudly buying and catering to unnecessarily over engineered machinery.
I ride motorcycles to feel raw. Meaning, me, an engine, wheels and the most direct input with the road. All those electronics crap makes me feel that I am not driving the bike but the computer. What's the point? I am not sure what to get next, wanted a triumph Scrambler, but I am leaning more and more towards the RE interceptor. Or the Yamaha XSR700, both have no TC. Which is really all I want. Decent performance in a simple stylish package.
I like your videos and your analytic take on the motorcycle industri and our minds. I too feel how I constantly gravitate towards the heavy big bikes with all the bells an whistles, and have owned a few myself so I know how comfortable they can be for some scenarios. But at the end of the day, the most fun I had on a motorcycle and the most alive I have felt was on the simpler, more bare bone ones. Your video made me find back to that feeling so thank you!
It has been a while, but when I started motorcycling in the early 70s in the border region of the Netherlands and Belgium ... Back then 50cc-150cc was a light machine, 250cc-350cc a medium and a 500cc bike really heavy and a 750cc the ultimate heavy machine. Ah, then came the 4 cylinder Kawa 900 and the rest is told in your video. Very recognizable! Thanks!
@@DifferentSpokesTV I stopped at my local Kawasaki shop last Wednesday, the salesman said Kawasaki is going to announce their new motorcycle models sometime after July 1st but couldn't give me an exact date. He was speculating the 650 to be a 700 but that was his guess. The Z650 with a larger rear sprocket and different tires might fill in for the old 650.
My 2013 5 speed klr with a 16 toothfront sprocket works just fine for me what I really hope to see in the states is the zx25r that might just convince me to open the wallet all the fun of a proper 4 cyl sportbike without the ludicrous speed that is generally associated with the larger sportbikes
Thanks for the plug on the mid weight ADV bikes. I’ve loved my Honda VTwin 1100 Shadow Sabre for years, but I yearned for more speed and power with a lighter platform... enter the Vstrom 650, more speeding tickets than I can afford. It’s smooth , fast, and I no longer care about the looks I get. I just want to make very single ride (long or short) and adventure! That approach is doable and way more fun! Peace be to journey!
And make use of modern materials, and make it lightweight. I feel we are hauling around a lot of scrapiron these days, new bikes weigh the same as for 40 years ago.
Always appreciate learning how the rest of the world lives, I know that's not exactly what this videos about, but the first few minutes was as enlightening and interesting as the rest. Thanks for sharing this part if your life.
Well here is the thing. The US is huge. People like to travel cross country and not have to worry about anything. Most people would never dream of a cross country trip on anything smaller than a 600cc sport bike or 650cc cruiser. Also with higher interstate speeds a small cc bike is going to struggle. Luggage and carrying ability plays a big factor.
If you want cheap transportation. The enfield is nit a bike you can load up and take on a long trip on. If you could load an enfield up and get you ole lady on the back it wouldn’t have to power to get out of the driveway. My wife wouldn’t get on the back if one to go to the grocery store.
...loved this one and all your other videos. It is different and I truly enjoy watching them. Most of the other channels follow the same pattern...this I like!...Thank You! :)
7:56 uh.. I'd like to remind you that Suzuki still make their DR and Honda their XR650L. No ABS either.. Otherwise I wholeheartedly agree with every point you're making here! Why drive a tractor if you can enjoy something nimbler, lighter, easier?!
I think quite many of modern features like tc and big lcd screen won't actually cost that much to add to the bike. Due to euro 5 demands you already have to have ride-by-wire throttle to manage the emissions and sensors for the abs so adding couple lines of code to computer isn't that expensive. And lcd and some gyroscope and accelaration sensor cant be that expensive either since 100€ mobilephones have them all. Huge motors are bit stupid on most of the bikes. Especially when they don't even make any power and companies try to sell them with meaningless torque numbers. for example 1000cc inline 4 cruising on 6th gear around with 5000 rpm producing 100Nm of torque is going to absolutely murder new Rocket 3 220Nm cruising with 2000 rpm at the same speed since there is more power available on that gear and speed + lot less weight. But still test riders praise the amazing acceleration at highway speeds without changing gears, even when it's not that good when you actually measure it or just do simple math to figure out the same thing. But for sportbikes huge motors are the best thing ever :D I absolutely love my 1290 Superduke, set the tc to lowest setting and turn of the wheelie control and it's the best thing ever on track. You are constantly overwhelmed by the bike but electronics still keep things relatively safe :D
Unless you’re running a 45 degree air cooled V twin. Then you need every available cc just to keep up with a liquid cooled twin that’s half the displacement and fifty percent lighter. I love my Sportster but Jesus Christ it’s shameful that a new Street Twin will smoke my ass with 300 less cc than me.
I'd say true but if you're looking at a V-Twin cruiser, 1000-1200cc isn't excess because it needs to haul a much larger bike, and it's not performance oriented. That's coming from someone who's content with a 700cc, 51bhp adventure bike.
Totally with you on this one. When I was a teenager a Norton Commando 850 was a huge bike. Look at one now and it looks like a moped. Crazy. Bikes and cars are now full of junk that just breaks after a few years but does nothing to improve the ability of the bike or car itself. I quite fancy having a go on a Royal Enfield 650 or Himalayan.
000 001 I hope so, dropping prices drastically and keeping the quality the same. Plus have dealerships that want to sell no matter who you are, be friendly, give the buyer the interest rate that was quoted from the bank and not double it so they can profit by stealing from the customer, fair and honest. Get rid of ridiculous warranty programs. It’s unbelievable how many people would be on a HD if the dealerships weren’t ripping people off and treating certain people like they don’t exist, be people friendly. It’s been like that for years, idk how many people I’ve talked to that have said they were ready to purchase before they walked in the door, but they were so uncomfortable just being inside a HD dealership that it changed their mind for them. Everyone that walks in there is a person and should be treated as an equal. Idk why HD doesn’t just get rid of the middleman/franchise dealerships and open their own small dealerships , it would bring cost down immensely. Imo these are the things that need to be addressed immediately before the dealerships put HD out of business, the dealerships are the number one problem. 👍🏻👍🏻
@@akaredcrossbow There are just so many stories of people going to HD, only to walk out to another dealership and get a better experience and price. There's also the issue of branding. The younger generations don't vibe to the biker gang image of HD.
@@akaredcrossbow They don't care about those who can't afford their bikes, John who is a surgeon or David the dentist and Joe who owns a local restaurant... that kind of people matters for HD not some poor broke ass motherfuckers working at Walmart or any other shitty place dreaming about their HD.
thank you for speaking from also my heart. i too can´t believe only so few manufacturers see it this way. ride safe and thanks a lot for speaking this out !
You are absolutely right! I've been riding big displacement sport touring bikes for a couple of decades. Big, fast, comfortable and all that. My son recently picked an SV650. I spent a morning on it. It was the most fun I've had on a bike in a LONG time!
Harley shouldn't have killed the Dyna. Would've been a great platform for a middle weight cruiser. Would also be nice if Harley slashed their prices to something more reasonable
Well, I beg to differ. A Dyna is pretty heavy and certainly not a middle weight with it's 290.0 kg (639.3 pounds)...So after 11 years I sold my '00 FXD Dyna Super Glide. It was becoming too heavy for me after 40 years of motorcycling. I went back to a Sportster and I love it.
In western Pennsylvania all of the dealers seem to have sold out of their Low Riders, the entry level Big Twin. The company has explained the decision to fold the Dyna line into the Softail line as an engineering one to take advantage of the new engine. Motorcycle magazine road tests are bearing this out as the new bikes are better performers in most areas than the older models.
Harley is reasonably competitive with other manufacturers with its pricing. They all could be a little cheaper though. I rode sportsters for years, thought a Dyna was my next logical progression, but then rode the new softail and dyna back to back. Yeah, softail way better. Never should have rode one. Ended up with a new Fat Bob S, was suprisingly cheaper than the 2 year old used Dyna Low Rider S.
At least here in the West, part of the blame (looking at you Harley Davidson) was marketing to the older market. That now need a walker and not a 1000 pound bike, they all but ignored trying to get new riders.
I'm 55, I've had 39 street motorcycles over the years and am currently on a Yamaha V Star 1300 tourer. When I was young this would have been considered huge. Now I hear people pushing it as a good starter bike. 🙄 It really is a good bike, but I've been longing for an actual motorcycle lately. Something like the Honda CB's or Kawaski KZ's from the late 70s or early 80s. I think I will end up on a used CB1100ex or maybe even a Royal Enfield INT. Those were simpler, better, days...they really were.
Those old CBs and kzs are gonna need suspension upgrades. We had a CB 750 1977 in decent shape. The bike handled like shit compared to newer bikes with better suspensions. Every one gets romantic about the old bikes and cars but when u ride or drive them the reality of their limitations is evident.
Hi Jim, bought a 1980 GS750 a couple months ago. After I rebuilt all 3 calipers, I ride it all over. My 2 Honda CB1100's have taken a back seat to this giant 750. Love it, and it has a fuel gauge and gear indicator, and this was in 1980!
Went from my Tiger explorer 1300 to a T700. I could not even turn around on a track in the woods... Now, its not easy with the T700, but I can easily control her or pick her up in case of need. And she has so much Dakar Spirit!!!
Great video and subject, thank you! My vote for a new bike would be for a WR 450 R. As there isn't one, I'm headed toward a T7 like you. Currently riding an old DR 350 SE, great dual sport bike but not fast or stable enough for the pieces of tarmac that one is inevitably obligated to spend time on! Cheers!
You perfectly summed up why i bought the new SV 650 three years ago. Good looking, simple, no bells and whistles, no assists except ABS, unexpensive. Still ride it everyday.
I think Harley should minimally redesign the Sportster, add a better factory suspension such as an adjustable mono shock, better front forks and add a 6th gear to the transmission and it would be their best selling motorcycle for the cost in my opinion. Also I believe that if Indian would have priced their product lower and more affordable rather than trying to be just like Harley, they would have already surpassed them by providing a properly priced motorcycle loaded with features that you do not have to spend a boat load of money on after you buy it just to get what they should have delivered in the first place. Just my opinion though.
SlipShift no, not trolling. I honestly think the brand and their corporate culture have run its course. This is the unredeemable old automotive culture that is holding back breakthroughs in mobility. Tesla has taken them on, in how products are designed, manufactured, sold, insured, serviced, and recycled. Other smaller players keep trying, and keep getting squashed by them. What you see in auto is not too different from Harley. They suckled on the engorged teats of Ronald Regan, as they put out subpar product and got fat and slow. Like their riders. I just think they need to die and go away. The brand and the corporation and their technology and products have nothing incremental left to contribute.
@@hershchat Sorry but I do not fully agree with your point of view, except about the Reagan remark but I am from Canada so it had no effect on me personally. The problem is not that of Harley itself but those that are leading the company, in my opinion. I own a Harley, though many Harley riders would say that I do not because it is a Sportster, try being 53 years old and like riding on a Sportster, you take a lot of grief and ribbing but I like it and that is why I bought it because I do not care what others think. My preferred ride is a cruiser as my speed days are behind me as I would like to make it to retirement. I want a reliable motorcycle that has the power for both city and highway cruising that makes me smile and enjoy my ride when I am on it. I never understood why anyone that is looking to ride a cruiser is looking for all of this extra power and torque for 0 to 60 take offs. I bought a cruiser to take my time, lay back, enjoy the ride and the elements around you while riding safe. If your looking for speed, power and light weight, you may have selected the wrong ride. Not saying they can not do that but to me that was not their intention when designed. You can not deny that American Motor Cycle companies make the best looking cruisers on the market, there will always be a market for this style of bike especially for those of us that are aging and still just enjoying cruising on a motorcycle. Something other companies just can not seem to get quite right for some reason. However I am not brand loyal and glad Indian is around and thinking that for my next bike I will be leaning towards Indian. As to your point about Haley needing to go away, I think they need more competition to give them a kick in the butt. This is good for all motorcycle riders when it comes to best value for dollar. However is Indian going to provide what we need? I think it will definitely help as there are other alternatives now but at this point Indian Motorcycles are in the same price range as their Harley equivalent though you are getting more for your money in the regards to included new technology with your purchase. However does that still warrant the price they are charging for a motorcycle that costs as much as a car or whatever? I see no difference here from what Harley is currently doing and think it was a huge mistake by Indian. The Indian Motorcycles need to be packed with modern tech and suspensions and come in at a significantly lower price that the Harley equivalent counter part. That is how they grow their brand and get Harley to start competing and innovating as they should have been doing when Reagan bailed them out the first time. Do you think Indian would be providing all this to the consumer if Harley was no longer around and out of business? Maybe, maybe not as there would be no other competition in the market. We need more companies like Indian & Harley that can provide multiple lines for all riders wants and needs. This pushes Indian and any other brand to compete for business which in the end is best for the consumer. I know you probably do not care about my opinion and that is fine, you do not have to but you provided a chance for me to express myself as a consumer who cares and prefers to purchase the best product for what I am looking for in a motorcycle. Sorry that went longer than intended. Happy Riding on what ever you chose is the ride for you.
I agree on most of your points. I currently ride a monster v-twin Indian, but spent the last thirty years on smaller, simple, vintage bikes. The great news is that there are still small bikes being manufactured. Beyond that, you can still buy a vintage bike and have that small, great handling, fun bike for very little money. Bigger, more powerful will always be what the manufacturers are chasing, and people will keep buying them. However, those Enfields look like the most fun!
I share your enthusiasm for all things motorcycle! Additionally, I also emigrated to North America as a child with my parents. Although, it was in the early 70’s, and from a Latin American country. My mother helped feed my earliest motorcycle appetite by helping me acquire a 60 cc Japanese mini bike. I continued to feed my need for speed, ending up with the first mono shock 125 dirt bike in my block, by the time I reached high school. I’ve owned a 69 Norton P11, Yamaha 650 twin, and an XS-1100. By 1986 I was married with two kids, and culminated my lifelong dream of owning a Harley, by purchasing a 1979 Low-Rider. I loved that bike, although it suffered with breaker issues that would leave me by the side of the road. Like the Norton, it shared some character flaws. But, it had character, and lots of it at that. I’ve owned a 1975 sportster, a 1992 custom hardtail with a 89 cubic inch stroker evo motor, sporting a set of Rivera Fueling 4-valve heads, two Dell Orto 42 mm carburetors with 3/4 turn throttle. It idled on one carburetor, and it brought in the second carburetor in by linkage alone. The cam was so radical, that at the time the strongest lifters were factory Harley units, and would only last 500 miles. I owned a 1972 Harley FXE, a 1990 FXRS. By 2004 I went totally crazy over a Nicky Hayden autographed Honda RC51, I loved that bike. But, I decided to get back on a Harley, and wound up finding an awesome pristine 1998 FLHST, who knew Nicky would end up prematurely losing his life at 35 in Italy at the hands of a distracted auto driver, while riding a bicycle. I’ve owned a 2011 Dyna Wide Glide, a 2015 FLTRXS Road Glide, and a 2019 Softail Slim. I’m currently open to purchasing my next adventure. I worked with a few folks from my last employer’s office in Poland,
I thought about it, but where I live there aren’t any RE dealers and I worry about getting parts and service. Might be a pain. I hope RE opens up more dealers all around.
On paper, I love the Himalayan, except for the lack of power (not a problem off road though). I also have reservations about Indian quality control, but I'd take a chance on that. If Yamaha would build me a Himalayan and give it 35 hp instead of 25 I'd be riding one now. Until then I'll keep my totally reliable 46 hp CB500X that I bought new for $4900.
Correct. I would have bought the Himalayan but at 6'4'' they are far too small for me. Annoyingly the motoring press call for a Himalayan with a bigger engine when all I want is a taller and longer frame.
same here I've been into bikes for 50 yrs & the older I get the smaller the bikes are , I'm now in love with a stripped down & up tuned xt 660 , just such a fun thing to ride
Yep, spot on. Sold a big ish tourer, bought a Royal Enfield classic 500. Took it off road, green lane sort of thing, been as far as lockdown will allow, 700 miles on the clock so far, and loving getting back to a lightweight do anything bike, they didn't cost a fortune.
Sweden has been going in the same direction. I’m 39 and took my licence last year was a bit chocked how much stuff it is on bikes nowdays. My ambition was always to have an uncomplicaded vehicle which is nice to ride. I want to feel the elements riding.
Got myself the Interceptor 650 this year in February, absolutely love the bike. What you say about mid size bikes in India is completely true, it turns heads and they are the monsters in the street here! Well put video! Keep the rubber side down, the shiny side up and may the spoke be with you!
![Which Motorcycle Manufacturer is Best? [Laboratory Test]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/9GAUo8eUXeU/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you for your comments. The response for this video is so overwhelming that I can't keep up. I'm sorry if I didn't get to your comment, I tried my best. Thank you for your input, I really appreciate it.
They're not getting too big it's just times have changed just like cars motorcycles should change too especially since we like to take long trips on motorcycles too just like we do with cars
I liked this video so much that I've added Russian subs. Hope youtube gonna add them some day, so I could share it with my friends
Great video. Same thoughts here. But i have wondered, what if a smaller bike had all the electronic bells and whistles, or maybe just a few of the electronics that we're actually going to use. Would companies sell something like that if they can get a good margin? Or would the customer finally compare price to displacement (ignoring electronics) and decide its too expensive for a small bike? Food for thought
....you forgot "and UGLY" .... :-(
Well done on a very thoughtful video. Simplicity in a bike has always got me home.
Honestly, it can be summed up largely as an ego thing. The status symbol, the bigger - the better. People are totally missing the point. Motorcycling is about freedom, the wind and the sense of brotherhood between riders. It's a journey, not a competition to show off your bank account. You want to show off? Show me your skills as a rider instead.
Don't get fooled by consumerism. Ride what works best for you and your needs and make sure you have fun doing it. I took a 1300 km trip with my dad on our bikes, both of which don't have a hundred horsepower COMBINED, and we had a blast.
Ride for the ride.
Yes, yes, yes and yes. Just swapped a very large cruiser for a Honda cb500f - I've had more fun in the last 2 weeks on the Honda than the last 2 yrs on the cruiser. Don't get me wrong, the cruiser was great and all but running the 500 takes the weight off your shoulders somehow.
I don't agree. If you want a V-twin and want to be able to get out of trouble on an interstate, you need something that will do 100 mph comfortably. That means big displacement. My Kawi Vulcan 900 would go about 85 comfortably. I had to upgrade to a 1700 Vulcan Vaq. It had nothing to do with ego, or my small wiener.
I would gladly ride a smaller bike but my unfairinged- open- to- the- wind days are over....
i recently heard something that really stuck with me
"dont buy an extra adventure bike, if you have a motorcycle you already HAVE an adventure bike"
what they wanted to say was, that you shouldnt let others dictate where you take your bike or what it could or couldnt do
ive seen people tour through europe on 50cc scooters with heavy baggage
everythings possible and thats the great thing about motorbikes i think. they are so versatile and can do almost anything if you really set your mind to it!
im currently saving up to buy me a small 125cc bike and you can bet your butt i will take this baby anywhere i can
@@seriousandy6656 'That means big displacement' - nope : Suzuki sv650 v-twin - top speed 130+mph. 0 to 60 in 4 seconds. (and the Suzuki 'S' type and some earlier versions have partial fairing and a screen so you're not out in the wind) I've had many reasons over my 40yrs of biking where I 'had' to change my bike too lol :)
Honestly size doesn't matter bigger means that u can go farther on a motorcycle touring motorcycles are perfect for taking long Cross country trips so yes bigger is better
Try finding a basic pickup truck.
Indeed, you gotta special order or go to a commercial dealer that does a lot of fleet sales. Or do what I do; keep driving my '96 F150 XL, 300 I6, 5 speed manual, regular cab, long bed. 🤙
@Grumpy MC I could be wrong but i just configured a Dodge ram 1500 with 4x4 crew cab and a long box for under 40k. They might not have the exact truck on the lot, but here's the link to the configuration. tinyurl.com/yauq3erz
Yeah, same deal there too! I remember when extended and crew cabs were a novelty and not the norm. Not only that but you can get them decked out equal to or better then some luxury sedans.
R Herman
I just posted something similar.
You can't even buy a real half ton anymore.
They are bulked up and out and are the size of what used to be a 3500 farm truck.
@Grumpy MC WHHHAAAAAAAATTTT????????///////////// Odin the mighty, I've just spilled my morning coffee
I’m glad Royal infield is putting out a basic Bike. I’m tired of all the high-tech they are putting on motorcycles. I miss the bikes in the 1970s and 80s. By the way great video!
I'm even more glad that there is a fellow that takes the Enfield and turns it into magic. Look up the Royal Enfield Musket 998. The damn thing looks and sounds like the distant past but with perfect weight and balance. Its only downside is the fact that it's not cheap and you have to wait for 6 months to get one. The plus side is that every engine is hand made by one guy and you might not ever see another one on the road.
Definitely mate. Bikes are supposed to be simple, not two wheeled cars.
agree. If I hadnt bought my Triumph 4 years ago , I would buy the Royal enfield .
i got a GT650 myself last month. glad i did but a Harley
Thanks! Judging by the number of comments a lot of people agree.
The biggest adventure you will have on a large, heavy, "adventure bike", is trying to pick it up after you've dropped it! Great video. Henry
It's an effort to pick up these things, but doable. Get in the gym and make it easier for yourself.
mld on offroad you will drop it, its not a matter of skill or if but when and how.
LJ Garrison yeah right, with full panniers and an extra 100+kg of luggage.
@@ripmax333 modern gear doesn't weigh much. I cycle tour (no motor) and the max weight on the bike is 20lbs. That's food as well, I ride unsupported. Dehydrated food, so I do get water when I need to, about a gallon at a time adding 8lbs temporarily.
Helinox chair 1lb
Large 12' hammock 20oz
silpoly tarp to cover the hammock 10oz
mini butane stove 4oz
butane tank ~1lb
power bank ~1lb
titanium cooking pot ~4oz max
there's some other stuff, but just pointing out you can really cut that weight down and possibly even have more luxury than you've thought. Modern fabrics are impressive
@mld if you haven't dropped a bike, you're not trying hard enough. Anyone who actually does off road WILL drop their bike on a regular basis. I'm guessing you always stick to safe and easy pavement, in which case stop calling it an "adventure" bike.
I'm a deliriously happy RE Interceptor owner. Brooke's smile on the Ravishing Red one made my day. I wish I also improved how mine looks when I get on it.
Thank you so much for the nice comment! Those Royal Enfields are such great bikes!! :)
Indian here, you guys in America really go crazy with the displacement.
The most "popular" premium ish motorcycle here is Royal Enfield's Bullet, which is just like the Polish Harley you described, 350cc and surprisingly similar in terms of styling.
I drive a 150cc motorcycle one of the ones considered "sportier" (college student, so this was the best I could do) and I've driven litre bikes too, I still maintain that 600cc is enough to get you into all sorts of trouble.
While I do appreciate the novelty of larger displacements, I think one must draw a line to this.
Thanks for the amazing content, I enjoy it very much.
Yea I agree with everything you said. Here in California, your bike needs to go at least 85 mph comfortably. Even though our speed limit is 65, most people go around 80.
@@kadengolda2373 Oh! That's surprising, the median speed for a motorcycle here is around 60kmph, with the 100ccs barely managing 100kmph. Although I do have to say that even India is making the turn to larger motorcycles, especially with the introduction of brands like KTM, other brands are adding more powerful motorcycles to their lineup too, it feels as if 350ccs will become the new 150cc.
Thanks for the comment. Here in Toronto the speed limit is 100kph but everyone drives 120 and unless you're going crazy the Police usually leave you alone. They set the speed limit knowing that some people will break it. Other places like Nebraska have a 75 mile per hour speed limit which translates to 121kph. Over there, people generally drive at least 130kph. That's why those American touring bikes are so huge, for power and stability on the highway.
@@DifferentSpokesTV Makes sense, although around here, anyone going 80-100 is usually pulled over by the cops. Considering the state of our roads, and the insane amount of traffic, I guess this was a reasonable compromise.
Thanks for the reply mate! I'm honoured.
Dear Death thanks for giving us news about motorcycling n India!
I'm 56 and bought my first bike last year, a Moto Guzzi V7 Stone. I love the classic style and comfort of it, and the features it offered. I had my eye on a Sportster, but I just couldn't justify spending $12k when I could get so much more for my money with something else. $12k for the Sportster or $7500 for the Guzzi? I went with the Guzzi!
A dealer who sells Guzzi ? ? ?
I am 21 years old and I am fed up with the computers on two wheels and I look forward to buy simple and retro bike
same here (im in my mid twenties)
all the tech makes people disconnected from the raw driving
thats why all that shit with the self driving cars can thrive, because people dont feel their vehicles anymore so they dont wanna drive anymore
at least thats my theory
i love cars and i love bikes and when i drive/ride i want to feel the vehicle shift underneath me, have it in my grip
but apparently thats not en vogue in current year
SR500's rule
@@MelindaColden You are right. My friend came last week with an old Audi80 made in 84. I drove this car and could not believe that this was the standard. Hard work but you have felt every bumb in the street. Cool. The Car and motorecycle industrie need always news to have arguments to sell better than the competition. No real feeling. Also the sound is artificial to make believe the brand sound. I keep it also simple because aft3r a while I have forgotten all the fancy functions i really don't need.
That’s why I got a sportster 883 no bells no whistles just engine two wheels and a throttle
@@dpiffin1990 and maybe a light 🤣
an excellent well thought out video. I went from a Harley heritage to a 650 VStrom and knew I'd done the right thing. I'm now on my second one having ridden all over Europe.
Best video on the state of motorcycling industry today :)
A v-strom 650xt got me into the showroom recently. I wanted a smaller more nimble bike. Had a Honda ST1100. Totally agree with everything you say in this vid.
I love my 1200 Sportster Roadster, and always find it a little amusing when other riders across all brands comment that it is a little bike. I grew up riding a 185 dirt bike and still like the smaller bikes. Just fun!
Thanks for the comments. In North America people do a lot of highway riding and that's why they get the giant bikes. If you're not on the highway a lot they tend to be overkill.
Different Spokes TV
It’s true that we ride long miles, especially in Texas, I can ride for ten hours from my house before I hit New Mexico.
But I don’t mind my big bikes for an afternoon ride either and that’s sure better than trying to ride a 600 to LA
You should be ashamed to be riding a 'girls bike'. That engine is much too small. Come on grow up! You are not obese enough. You should be eating more hamburgers and fries and then buy yourself a bigger bike and then a bigger coffin. I can remember when a Harley Sportster 888 was a huge bike, and a Triumph 650 was a big bike; but then people were not as obese as they are now. People have forgotten what it's like to ride a motorcycle instead of an SUV on two wheels.
@@marcr8968 you're right of course, but with the Golden Corral closing locations, and removing the buffets from the ones that remain open, I don't know how I am going to keep those carbs coming... 😄
@@Heavywall70
Texas is a small country town in the great state of Queensland
Your being very kind saying that the average weight of an American has risen 20 pounds
over 40 years. I think maybe you got it backwards. Try 40 pounds in 20 years.
20 years ago I spent a tourist season in the south of France then delivered a boat across the Atlantic and cleared in to US in Washington. The girls in France were slim taught and terrific in Washington the girls were like the roads “wide”.
"Take my wife, please" lol
-Henny Youngman
Only 40lbs 😂😂
The average American has gained 40 pounds in two years so it is a wash.
100forks, your 1000% correct in your statement. My thought's were identical to yours when he said 20lbs overweight. No doubt about it: we've gotten to be "one fat-ass nation" Hell, I've seen numerous couple's on Goldwing's or Harley Hog's with no air space between the driver's back & the passenger's belly! And then there's gear to carry or a trailer to pull. That's when you should just get a truck. It would then be called "haulin ass". U.S.A.
Great video and ecoes my sentiments. I have ridden a Moto Guzzi Breva 750 for 16 years and am waiting for V85 pure road bike, maybe classic styles but a new Breva would be nice. No wonder Enfield is going great. Good value elemental bikes.
I rarely comment on any YT videos, but I just wanted to tell you that I liked yours very much. I realised that I was slowly falling for this "big bike" trap. Suddenly my own bike feels great again! :)
My Royal Enfield Bullet has made riding a pleasure again.
Has their quality gotten any better? I'm tempted to get a Classic 500 but I hear too many horror stories.
GeneralChangOfDanang Mine is nearly 20 years old, and the quality is mediocre when compared to a Triumph or a Japanese bike, but It’s very simple, and like to tinker. In recent years the quality has improved.
@@GeneralChangFromDanang Please, I'd advise you not to, my friends RE has spent more time at the shop than on road. Although they're pretty skeletal bikes, with not much tech, they're very iffy in the reliability segment
These Indian made enfields are useless POS.
@@GeneralChangFromDanang they have discontinued the 500 this year as of the pandemic. But the 650 is smooth and a lot of fun to ride they come with 3 year warranty. Ever since i tried one I want it over the triumph due to fun factor vs dollar value.
They are getting expensive, then they wonder why motorcycling is losing audience when I tell people the prices of the bikes I want they turn their heads like hell no I would rather buy a car for that money
mind you the bikes I want is a challenger, chief dark horse, lowrider s , RG, ftr rally but it's w.e
@ my little F800S is 12 years old and cost £1500(UK). A friend of mine said something similar regarding the price of his Ford Focus. Then he seen me accelerating. His face was priceless when I told him it was actually quite a slow, middle of the road bike.
If you drive at 150 miles an hour , you’ll never become an old fart...
Gotta have some perspective. I bought a new Bonneville T120 last summer for $10,000. A new Boneville T120 in 1968 was $1,500 which would be $15,000 in todays dollars adjusted for inflation. You do know, don't you, that the new Boneville, besides being less expensive than it was back in the day is also a bit faster...oh, and it brakes better too. To list all the ways a new Bonnie is better than an old one would take a few more pages.
Buy used, except for Challenger it’s a buyer’s market out there. I found my dream RK that way.
In the USA man a Deluxe is like what $20k..don't know but in OZ you're looking at list price near $30k.
Sportsters here about $18k. Young dudes aren't spending that especially with the cost of housing. But there's a market for used HDs as fools buy them and keep them for like a year and sell them cause they don't ride them.
My first cruiser in 97 was a 750 shadow....great bike 2nd hand with cobra pipes and green and white paint. Real decent bike and affordable.
Great video, as usual.
One extra point, power put out from a 650cc in 1984 was maybe 2/3 of same displacement today.
Really no need to go up in displacement for better performance!!!
Of course, no need for higher prices neither.
Really? the wages people want to be paid are not the same as 1984 either.
Exactly. Take a 2020 XL883 and pit it against a 2020 Street Twin. No contest. The Triumph will smoke the Harley every time. That liquid cooled, modern 900 cc mill crushes the obsolete, air cooled mill of the Sportster. Harley desperately needs a new, modern engine for the Sportster. It’s shameful.
Thanks! I think I hit on something that a lot of folks were thinking with this one.
Thank you! I'm so glad that you've said out loud what was on my mind for years. And it's not just me- all my riding buddies agree on that too- new bikes are getting more and more ridiculous (heavy, clumsy, powerful and complex). Most of us have started with mopeds- easy to fix (even for a teenager without proper technical knowledge) and handle, and apparently that experience pushed us to get bigger wheels. Now, you've mentioned Royal Enfield new twin- it's the quintessence of what motorcycle was all about. It's as simple as it can be, costs just right and will get you anywhere if you'll give it right preparation. With windshield and sidebags it can be a cruiser, with replaced suspention and enduro tyres it's gonna be an expedition bike... Or cafe racer! Or bobber! Whatever you like. Whatever you were dreaming about when riding your first moped :))
Bravo! Great video and well written narration. Love the comment about five minutes of fiddling with ride modes for that 3 mile stretch of gravel.
Bikes are bigger and taller, too. I don't know about other riders but I haven't added an inch to my inseam since college. Fewer and fewer bikes are compatible with riders under 6+ feet!
Just sold my 12 year old Triumph Scrambler 900 and with the cash bought a 2019 ex demo 411cc Royal Enfield Himalayan with 350miles on the clock. Had £1k left over! Loving the Himalayan, such a fun bike on and off road and cheap. They are going to clean up.
Make such a lot of sense well done old chap I may take a leaf out of your book.
I love how the Himalayan has no fairing that needs the protection of massive crash cage. Just a simple engine guard and you're set.
@Joubert x She has made a few really long trips on hers. Most of my commute is highway speed, so that one wouldn't work for me. If I planned to go off road, that would be a great choice for sure
The bike I regret selling the most was my Z250, not too fast but riding 10/10th felt fast, and comfortable used to weekend to the city 300km away.
they are gettin bigger to make room for all the electrics that we never used to need, to go for a ride.... then, when we had to do it all ourselves!!!
am I giving away my age here?
Yep...and I agreee.....my lattest Evo Dyna is an exception because it is mostly stock....but in over 50 years of riding, most has been on Harley choppers with wiring limited to ignition and lights...period.
Great video and so true! I have been riding for 40 years and have had bikes that weighed over 600 lbs, But now, at 68 with arthritis, I have downsized and enjoying it way more! I love my new Honda CB300R, so flickable and light and it has made me smile more as a ride in my golden years!
Such a great concept. I've owned streetbikes for four decades now. The 500 cc twin Honda I started on,was considered a large motorcycle in the 1970's. Now I have a bunch of bikes,a Sportster,a Honda 750 Aero,a 500 Vulcan and a 650 cc single cylinder Suzuki Boulevard which only weighs 383 pounds. The Boulevard is my favorite to ride. Pure fun. So light and narrow. So simple. Loaded with torque.
It makes me laugh when people call a 650cc with 80 bhp, small
I ride a Honda Shadow 750. That thing only has 45 bhp and has no trouble keeping up with traffic, and this is with a 300 lb man on it. More power would make it easier to pick up speed at highway speeds, but that bike really has no trouble leaving most cars in the dust, and this would be a small bike... but is it really?
@@joemann7971 It's not a small bike.
The Communist I have to shake my head every time I describe my 865cc Triumph as mid range. My wife and I and plenty of gear can cruise all day at speeds over the legal limit, with plenty in reserve. No need for an extra 800cc, and nowhere we could use it.
Or any bike with close to 100 crankshaft HP as behind "underpowered". It's more than enough to propel my 600 lb R1200RT and me as fast as I'll ever need to go. I need 150, or 200 HP in a bike like I need another hike in my head.
Communist lives don't matter
Don’t forget insurance. In Ontario you pay based on displacement for the most part. Middleweight bikes are inherently cheaper
ontario's insurance is ridiculous. i tried to insure an 85 fj100 and they wanted $6k/yr for bare minimum liability. you have to buy the entire year, you cant insure for the 5-6 months it comfortable to ride. now i live in the states. i ride a 900 vulcan c. i am over-insured with extra coverage on everything. it' costs me $423/year.
Ironically, my GSXr750 has triple the insurance cost of my CB1100. They’re the same year...
ESPECIALLY true for novices. Keep that first bike under 1000cc, or pay through the nose. Not nice for those older rookies among us who are most interested in a big bagger for light touring.
Yes, that might be a future video topic. Ontario is bending us over a barrel.
@@cheezyridr 6k CAD per year for bike insurance? Madness!
I agree 100 %, I went from a roadking to a stripped down sportster, although I did opt for the 1200 over the 900. At 58 I just ain’t ready for a old man rollin sofa yet.
You'd definitely not want to have to pick one up by yourself if you "tip over". I'm 79 and a 300 lb machine is about it for me.
I've been enjoying an 883XL since 2004 and I am about to turn 55. Not regretting single mile!
I'm going the other way... had a 2016 Iron 883 since new and have loved it... it's been a lot of fun on UK roads. now am looking to move to perhaps a twin cam road king... i think i want my harleys to be sofas on wheels... ill get a light bike like a KTM 690 Duke or an MT07 for thrashing about. both ends of the biking spectrum covered ;)
you are spot on this this clip; I recently downsized and I am enjoying my rides more. Great!
Having lovely time even in lockdown ? , hum . We Should learn from seniors like you
Thank you for saying what I've been thinking for a long time. I'm 6'3" 190 lbs and I love my 500cc Vulcan, carburetors and no fuel gauge and all. I've had it for eleven years and I never intend to get anything bigger, even though when I bought it the salesman swore I would be back inside the year wanting something twice the size.
This is so true, in many countries, a 150cc is a normal bike. A 300cc is considered big bike.
You may also find that smaller displacement bikes are cheaper to produce to fit the bottom of the pyramid demographic
as a 1700cc mt01 and twincam 1450 this makes me cry.... i do not even think of my bikes as big. a v8, well yes
I live in greece
The most common is the 125 cc
For driver license reason
The idial consider a 250cc
For young drivers
And 500 cc for medium every day\ on off use
@@efirizaki5656 I rented a 700 Honda Trans Alp on Skopelos last year. It was the biggest bike on the island.
Indian have just rearranged their showroom setup in Australia. Their prices are such a bad joke its hard to justify the floor space for the sales numbers. After riding a Harley and a FJR for years Im ready to move down to a 650cc just to give my wallet and my legs a rest.
Look at a 2nd hand bike with almost zero km, my 2014 VFR 800 was 4yrs old with 4000km, the mech doing the roadworthy couldn't believe it had 4k on it. He thought it was brand new...
I paid $9k.
Most fun riding I've had in ages..
Tabubil also Australian I have been looking at maybe buying my first Harley Road king Special here they sell for $36000 then add add on your stage 1 kit backrest, windscreen etc etc and you are well over $40000 you gotta be joking that’s crazy money, on the other hand you can buy a 2018 model very low ks and some other stooge has put all the extras on for around $27000 which is still big money.
Tabubil, I'm the same, rode an FJR which I loved, but I've either gotten to old or the bike got to heavy and I had to get ride of my FJR broke my heart, now thanks to arthritis I cant ride anymore anyways
Tabubil - I had large capacity bikes for last 15 yrs, cos that's what you did, move up through the models and cc's till you're hitting liter plus bikes, then you've made it, you're a proper biker with big bike cred - right lol ?
I just did a straight trade for my 12 yr old Yamaha vxs1300 cruiser for a 2yr old Honda cb500f. Half the width, half the weight. Cheaper insurance, road tax (am in UK) cheaper running costs, spares etc.
Have rediscovered my love of biking again, I haven't been off the Honda since I got it. It hasn't the torque of the cruiser but it's no slouch either, I can brake a bit later, throw it into corners, lean more without fear of the footboards touching down. It's just a relief not to be having to plan your cornering a half mile before you reach it and not having the 600+lb mass of the bike dominate your thinking.
If I fall off it, the cost to repair the Honda would probably be a 1/4 of what the cruiser would cost. I don't tour and my every day riding top speed is usually around 60/70mph.
Honestly, the Honda's a 2 cylinder simple, paired town bike - no bells, no whistles - I wish I'd done this a decade ago.
@@stevelynch5843 I know what you mean. Two broken feet in a high rise accident as a teenager have left me with wicked arthritis attacks as I grow older.
The Price of Motorcycles, is too Damn High!
That's why when I trade my tiger will get 650 Enfield unless Norton (TVS) continue with the 650 Atlas wow that's a thought one will have to consider both both are 650cc both british name badges both Indian companies.
I don't know...it all depends on what you want and how savvy a shopper you are.
@@colincoleman2536 I will just continue to repair and ride old Harleys....and not worry about parts availability or depreciation...
You can a bike for less than $3000 brand new ... Buy what you need instead of what you want.
Ah, I see you're a man of culture as well ))
6:15 "... like squeezing "one" out in an outhouse at minus 30". Pride is earned in the most unexpected places :D
One of the best all round bikes I have ever owned was the 350 cc two-stroke Yamaha I had in the '70s. Not fast by today's standards, and certainly not fuel efficient or low emissions, but just a great all purpose, light easy to handle motorcycle and just a hoot to ride.
You can tell they are out of their minds when you see TH-camrs recommending people start riding on mt 07’s, CBR600’s and R6’s
Exactly
The 07 is way slower than both of the other two bikes. I don't think it's too much for a new rider.
@@loggi7605 Dude, any bike that spins the rear wheel in place when you pull the throttle too hard is too much for a beginner to handle.
There's a reason why people in Europe are restricted to 47 bhp when they start riding. You don't need a wheelie-happy bike as your first bike, you need something to learn on that won't throw you off the road if you blip the throttle halfway through a turn.
@@BassOutcast and something that doesn't cost a arm and a leg to repair when someone drops a bike. 🤣
Loggi any bike that pops wheelies if you roll the throttle a bit too much is not a beginner bike in my book. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an amazing machine, just not one for beginners in my opinion
I couldn’t agree more. Let’s get back to basics
Even in the USA the 750 used to be the big bike and even when I started riding 30 years ago that was true. Now people look at a 750 like it's tiny.
I remember in 1969 seeing the first CB750 at a Honda dealership. It was a monster. And 59 hp? Good Golly Miss Molly! Now when I see one somewhere it looks like a toy compared to most modern bikes. I saw an old Royal Enfield Intercepter 750 (no, not the new Indian one) recently and it looked so small and light and simple. I have people ask me if my CB500X (46 hp, 440 lb) is a scooter. Actually I'd rather be riding a scooter than some of the new bikes I see.
I have been riding for over 40 years and, like most riders, started on a small bike. As the years progressed I bought into trading 'up' and getting larger and larger bikes. Two years ago I had open heart surgery and I soon realized the large cruiser was too big for me. I down sized to a much smaller bike and my enjoyment of riding reminded me of when I first started. You are correct. Bikes have gotten too big,, too complex, and way too expensive. Some manufacturers are producing excellent smaller rides as is pointed out in your video. Enjoyed the video.
I grew up in a Harley bagger household. I just bought a Honda NC700X four months ago. I have been loving it. Commuting to work every day and hitting state forests on the weekends. Middle-weight adventure is a compromise, doing no one aspect of motorcycling perfectly, but doing all of them well enough to love.
That's why I ride a 2012 V-Strom 650 that I've had since new and still love it!
A wise man once said "speak softly but carry a big stick"
You knocked this one right out of the parks!
Couldn’t agree with you more, great video and view points
Much appreciated. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
This was the most thoughtful commentary/video about high tech monster size motorcycles I have watched in a long time.I guess someone finally had to put motorcycling in perspective, because we all have become unwittingly equipment junkies proudly buying and catering to unnecessarily over engineered machinery.
They did the same thing with pickup trucks. The old half ton/1500/150 extended cab truck is now the full ton/3500/350 farm truck - for $60,000.
Thank you for putting this out, definitely a breath of fresh air in this world of excess.
I love the Royal Enfield Twins. I think a Himeleya with the 650 twin would be fantastic.
They are working on it.
I ride motorcycles to feel raw. Meaning, me, an engine, wheels and the most direct input with the road. All those electronics crap makes me feel that I am not driving the bike but the computer. What's the point? I am not sure what to get next, wanted a triumph Scrambler, but I am leaning more and more towards the RE interceptor. Or the Yamaha XSR700, both have no TC. Which is really all I want. Decent performance in a simple stylish package.
They’re all great. I think the XSR is a better performer than the RE but the interceptor feels so cool to ride. Closest thing to a 60’s Bonneville.
Xsr for me. Modern but at the same time, simple. Easy to service your self, bombproof engine an no gizmos 👍
I'll stick with my 1978 SR500 thanks.
Redicolus prices terrible price for insurance
I like your videos and your analytic take on the motorcycle industri and our minds. I too feel how I constantly gravitate towards the heavy big bikes with all the bells an whistles, and have owned a few myself so I know how comfortable they can be for some scenarios. But at the end of the day, the most fun I had on a motorcycle and the most alive I have felt was on the simpler, more bare bone ones.
Your video made me find back to that feeling so thank you!
It has been a while, but when I started motorcycling in the early 70s in the border region of the Netherlands and Belgium ...
Back then 50cc-150cc was a light machine, 250cc-350cc a medium and a 500cc bike really heavy and a 750cc the ultimate heavy machine. Ah, then came the 4 cylinder Kawa 900 and the rest is told in your video. Very recognizable! Thanks!
What would get me in the showroom?
A KLR with 6 gears.
Agree.
I hear rumours that Kawasaki is working on a T7 fighter. Should be fun.
@@DifferentSpokesTV I stopped at my local Kawasaki shop last Wednesday, the salesman said Kawasaki is going to announce their new motorcycle models sometime after July 1st but couldn't give me an exact date. He was speculating the 650 to be a 700 but that was his guess. The Z650 with a larger rear sprocket and different tires might fill in for the old 650.
No, a Suzuki DR650SE!
Wait, they're still selling them in some countries...
My 2013 5 speed klr with a 16 toothfront sprocket works just fine for me what I really hope to see in the states is the zx25r that might just convince me to open the wallet all the fun of a proper 4 cyl sportbike without the ludicrous speed that is generally associated with the larger sportbikes
I just left a lifetime of Harley’s now on a Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro. The biggest reason weight.
My next bike!
Davey Singkofer II and also Triumphs are the best bikes I ride Bonneville T120
Just me and the elements. That's what I love about my HD Sportster 1200.
... and the cops.
Thanks for the plug on the mid weight ADV bikes. I’ve loved my Honda VTwin 1100 Shadow Sabre for years, but I yearned for more speed and power with a lighter platform... enter the Vstrom 650, more speeding tickets than I can afford. It’s smooth , fast, and I no longer care about the looks I get. I just want to make very single ride (long or short) and adventure! That approach is doable and way more fun! Peace be to journey!
Well done. Well said. I own a 76 BMW R90S and a 69 Honda PC50 -- both are ideal.
The new honda Trail cub is selling like hotcakes in thailand and japan, can't wait to see it here. big CC does not mean anything IMO
I love the looks of the new BMW R18 - but it's to big, to heavy, to expensive.
If they would make a smaler version, I would buy it.
The BMW R50 to me was just the perfect bike. They should make them again.
Yamaha XT500 2020 Edition -> I'd go for it!
XT 500 Yes!
I'm There Brother.
Best Wishes! M.H.
And make use of modern materials, and make it lightweight. I feel we are hauling around a lot of scrapiron these days, new bikes weigh the same as for 40 years ago.
Always appreciate learning how the rest of the world lives, I know that's not exactly what this videos about, but the first few minutes was as enlightening and interesting as the rest. Thanks for sharing this part if your life.
You are spot on. I have a shadow 750 with no bells and whistles. Loaded it down last week and went camping, didn't miss a beat.
Well here is the thing. The US is huge. People like to travel cross country and not have to worry about anything. Most people would never dream of a cross country trip on anything smaller than a 600cc sport bike or 650cc cruiser. Also with higher interstate speeds a small cc bike is going to struggle. Luggage and carrying ability plays a big factor.
Have you seen itchy boots, she's gone across several countries!
Anthony Ciantar or steph jeovons around the world with a 250cc CRF250L
You're not wrong, it's definitely more comfortable, but that was the point, if you wanna do it like that you could as well go on a car.
@@anthonyciantar6015 , i have seen itchy, shes a petite woman.
Not a 6'6 300lb man
Travelled Australia on a 350. No problem!
I want a bare bones simple perfectly engineered bike with soul
Moto Guzzi V7 series
Then get a Ural
You can build your own. It's very doable
Then get a dyna
Get an underbone
The Royal Enfield bikes are very appealing, in a retro nastalgia kind of way.
@Shaun Elliott oh yeah, old-school with some(not much) modern refinement.
If you want cheap transportation. The enfield is nit a bike you can load up and take on a long trip on. If you could load an enfield up and get you ole lady on the back it wouldn’t have to power to get out of the driveway. My wife wouldn’t get on the back if one to go to the grocery store.
...loved this one and all your other videos. It is different and I truly enjoy watching them. Most of the other channels follow the same pattern...this I like!...Thank You! :)
Outstanding commentary on the industry. You absolutely get it. Keep up the great work!
7:56 uh.. I'd like to remind you that Suzuki still make their DR and Honda their XR650L. No ABS either.. Otherwise I wholeheartedly agree with every point you're making here! Why drive a tractor if you can enjoy something nimbler, lighter, easier?!
I think quite many of modern features like tc and big lcd screen won't actually cost that much to add to the bike. Due to euro 5 demands you already have to have ride-by-wire throttle to manage the emissions and sensors for the abs so adding couple lines of code to computer isn't that expensive. And lcd and some gyroscope and accelaration sensor cant be that expensive either since 100€ mobilephones have them all.
Huge motors are bit stupid on most of the bikes. Especially when they don't even make any power and companies try to sell them with meaningless torque numbers. for example 1000cc inline 4 cruising on 6th gear around with 5000 rpm producing 100Nm of torque is going to absolutely murder new Rocket 3 220Nm cruising with 2000 rpm at the same speed since there is more power available on that gear and speed + lot less weight. But still test riders praise the amazing acceleration at highway speeds without changing gears, even when it's not that good when you actually measure it or just do simple math to figure out the same thing.
But for sportbikes huge motors are the best thing ever :D I absolutely love my 1290 Superduke, set the tc to lowest setting and turn of the wheelie control and it's the best thing ever on track. You are constantly overwhelmed by the bike but electronics still keep things relatively safe :D
Wow, interesting to see you here on this type of channel? Any plan to press a bike into scrap?
The sweet spot is 400 to 850 cc, imo
Amem...!!!
Yep. Anything over a liter on the road seems absurd let alone off road. 1,200 GS? Are you kidding me, try dropping that 4 times on a trail.
those touring bikes need more power though. 400 to 850 cc is good for a small to middle weight cruiser.
Unless you’re running a 45 degree air cooled V twin. Then you need every available cc just to keep up with a liquid cooled twin that’s half the displacement and fifty percent lighter. I love my Sportster but Jesus Christ it’s shameful that a new Street Twin will smoke my ass with 300 less cc than me.
I'd say true but if you're looking at a V-Twin cruiser, 1000-1200cc isn't excess because it needs to haul a much larger bike, and it's not performance oriented.
That's coming from someone who's content with a 700cc, 51bhp adventure bike.
Totally with you on this one. When I was a teenager a Norton Commando 850 was a huge bike. Look at one now and it looks like a moped. Crazy. Bikes and cars are now full of junk that just breaks after a few years but does nothing to improve the ability of the bike or car itself. I quite fancy having a go on a Royal Enfield 650 or Himalayan.
Tiger cub anyone? A light weight learner to start the brand loyalty?
Spot on piece of observation DS. Well done.
This is why Honda’s new Hunter Cub will sell like hotcakes.
At $4000 it's still to expensive (for what it is).
they made this bike in 1960 called it honda 90 trail bike
It’s amazing how HD can sell a $6,000-$8,000 motorcycle for $15,999-$18,999🤦🏻♂️
Those days are numbered! HD is in a steep decline.
000 001 I hope so, dropping prices drastically and keeping the quality the same. Plus have dealerships that want to sell no matter who you are, be friendly, give the buyer the interest rate that was quoted from the bank and not double it so they can profit by stealing from the customer, fair and honest. Get rid of ridiculous warranty programs. It’s unbelievable how many people would be on a HD if the dealerships weren’t ripping people off and treating certain people like they don’t exist, be people friendly. It’s been like that for years, idk how many people I’ve talked to that have said they were ready to purchase before they walked in the door, but they were so uncomfortable just being inside a HD dealership that it changed their mind for them. Everyone that walks in there is a person and should be treated as an equal. Idk why HD doesn’t just get rid of the middleman/franchise dealerships and open their own small dealerships , it would bring cost down immensely. Imo these are the things that need to be addressed immediately before the dealerships put HD out of business, the dealerships are the number one problem.
👍🏻👍🏻
@@akaredcrossbow There are just so many stories of people going to HD, only to walk out to another dealership and get a better experience and price. There's also the issue of branding. The younger generations don't vibe to the biker gang image of HD.
@@akaredcrossbow They don't care about those who can't afford their bikes, John who is a surgeon or David the dentist and Joe who owns a local restaurant... that kind of people matters for HD not some poor broke ass motherfuckers working at Walmart or any other shitty place dreaming about their HD.
in Australia a sportster is $18k aud and a base fatboy is $35k aud. Unaffordable.
and I wonder why I have been stuck in the 600 - 800 class category for 30 years - makes sense somehow
thank you for speaking from also my heart.
i too can´t believe only so few manufacturers see it this way.
ride safe and thanks a lot for speaking this out !
You are absolutely right! I've been riding big displacement sport touring bikes for a couple of decades. Big, fast, comfortable and all that. My son recently picked an SV650. I spent a morning on it. It was the most fun I've had on a bike in a LONG time!
Harley shouldn't have killed the Dyna. Would've been a great platform for a middle weight cruiser.
Would also be nice if Harley slashed their prices to something more reasonable
Harley will probably be bankrupt and sold off if the trend with their sales keeps going down like it has for years.
Well, I beg to differ. A Dyna is pretty heavy and certainly not a middle weight with it's 290.0 kg (639.3 pounds)...So after 11 years I sold my '00 FXD Dyna Super Glide. It was becoming too heavy for me after 40 years of motorcycling. I went back to a Sportster and I love it.
The FXBB and the FXST are lighter and handle way better than any Dyna could. They're Harley Davidson's best Middleweight cruiser.
In western Pennsylvania all of the dealers seem to have sold out of their Low Riders, the entry level Big Twin. The company has explained the decision to fold the Dyna line into the Softail line as an engineering one to take advantage of the new engine. Motorcycle magazine road tests are bearing this out as the new bikes are better performers in most areas than the older models.
Harley is reasonably competitive with other manufacturers with its pricing. They all could be a little cheaper though. I rode sportsters for years, thought a Dyna was my next logical progression, but then rode the new softail and dyna back to back. Yeah, softail way better. Never should have rode one. Ended up with a new Fat Bob S, was suprisingly cheaper than the 2 year old used Dyna Low Rider S.
At least here in the West, part of the blame (looking at you Harley Davidson) was marketing to the older market. That now need a walker and not a 1000 pound bike, they all but ignored trying to get new riders.
I'm 55, I've had 39 street motorcycles over the years and am currently on a Yamaha V Star 1300 tourer. When I was young this would have been considered huge. Now I hear people pushing it as a good starter bike. 🙄
It really is a good bike, but I've been longing for an actual motorcycle lately. Something like the Honda CB's or Kawaski KZ's from the late 70s or early 80s. I think I will end up on a used CB1100ex or maybe even a Royal Enfield INT. Those were simpler, better, days...they really were.
Those old CBs and kzs are gonna need suspension upgrades. We had a CB 750 1977 in decent shape. The bike handled like shit compared to newer bikes with better suspensions. Every one gets romantic about the old bikes and cars but when u ride or drive them the reality of their limitations is evident.
Hi Jim, bought a 1980 GS750 a couple months ago. After I rebuilt all 3 calipers, I ride it all over. My 2 Honda CB1100's have taken a back seat to this giant 750. Love it, and it has a fuel gauge and gear indicator, and this was in 1980!
Went from my Tiger explorer 1300 to a T700. I could not even turn around on a track in the woods... Now, its not easy with the T700, but I can easily control her or pick her up in case of need. And she has so much Dakar Spirit!!!
Great video and subject, thank you! My vote for a new bike would be for a WR 450 R. As there isn't one, I'm headed toward a T7 like you. Currently riding an old DR 350 SE, great dual sport bike but not fast or stable enough for the pieces of tarmac that one is inevitably obligated to spend time on! Cheers!
i´m in love with the Yamaha SR 400 :-)
I'd leave a better comment but I need to go dust off my 800lb Roadking first..
All that polishing leaves no time for TH-cam comments.
Well done ... One of the most nimble bikes I have ever rode was a 550 Yahama ... Also took a
185 dirt bike in on a trade , great fun ...
You perfectly summed up why i bought the new SV 650 three years ago. Good looking, simple, no bells and whistles, no assists except ABS, unexpensive. Still ride it everyday.
I think Harley should minimally redesign the Sportster, add a better factory suspension such as an adjustable mono shock, better front forks and add a 6th gear to the transmission and it would be their best selling motorcycle for the cost in my opinion. Also I believe that if Indian would have priced their product lower and more affordable rather than trying to be just like Harley, they would have already surpassed them by providing a properly priced motorcycle loaded with features that you do not have to spend a boat load of money on after you buy it just to get what they should have delivered in the first place. Just my opinion though.
I think Indian likes to make a profit, not lose money.
SlipShift Harley just needs to die and go away.
@@hershchat Troll!!!!! :)
SlipShift no, not trolling. I honestly think the brand and their corporate culture have run its course. This is the unredeemable old automotive culture that is holding back breakthroughs in mobility. Tesla has taken them on, in how products are designed, manufactured, sold, insured, serviced, and recycled. Other smaller players keep trying, and keep getting squashed by them.
What you see in auto is not too different from Harley. They suckled on the engorged teats of Ronald Regan, as they put out subpar product and got fat and slow. Like their riders.
I just think they need to die and go away. The brand and the corporation and their technology and products have nothing incremental left to contribute.
@@hershchat Sorry but I do not fully agree with your point of view, except about the Reagan remark but I am from Canada so it had no effect on me personally. The problem is not that of Harley itself but those that are leading the company, in my opinion.
I own a Harley, though many Harley riders would say that I do not because it is a Sportster, try being 53 years old and like riding on a Sportster, you take a lot of grief and ribbing but I like it and that is why I bought it because I do not care what others think. My preferred ride is a cruiser as my speed days are behind me as I would like to make it to retirement. I want a reliable motorcycle that has the power for both city and highway cruising that makes me smile and enjoy my ride when I am on it. I never understood why anyone that is looking to ride a cruiser is looking for all of this extra power and torque for 0 to 60 take offs. I bought a cruiser to take my time, lay back, enjoy the ride and the elements around you while riding safe. If your looking for speed, power and light weight, you may have selected the wrong ride. Not saying they can not do that but to me that was not their intention when designed.
You can not deny that American Motor Cycle companies make the best looking cruisers on the market, there will always be a market for this style of bike especially for those of us that are aging and still just enjoying cruising on a motorcycle. Something other companies just can not seem to get quite right for some reason.
However I am not brand loyal and glad Indian is around and thinking that for my next bike I will be leaning towards Indian.
As to your point about Haley needing to go away, I think they need more competition to give them a kick in the butt. This is good for all motorcycle riders when it comes to best value for dollar. However is Indian going to provide what we need? I think it will definitely help as there are other alternatives now but at this point Indian Motorcycles are in the same price range as their Harley equivalent though you are getting more for your money in the regards to included new technology with your purchase. However does that still warrant the price they are charging for a motorcycle that costs as much as a car or whatever? I see no difference here from what Harley is currently doing and think it was a huge mistake by Indian. The Indian Motorcycles need to be packed with modern tech and suspensions and come in at a significantly lower price that the Harley equivalent counter part. That is how they grow their brand and get Harley to start competing and innovating as they should have been doing when Reagan bailed them out the first time. Do you think Indian would be providing all this to the consumer if Harley was no longer around and out of business? Maybe, maybe not as there would be no other competition in the market. We need more companies like Indian & Harley that can provide multiple lines for all riders wants and needs.
This pushes Indian and any other brand to compete for business which in the end is best for the consumer.
I know you probably do not care about my opinion and that is fine, you do not have to but you provided a chance for me to express myself as a consumer who cares and prefers to purchase the best product for what I am looking for in a motorcycle.
Sorry that went longer than intended. Happy Riding on what ever you chose is the ride for you.
Me, looking to buy a Triumph Rocket 3: I feel personally attacked.
no1bandfan I love the rocket 3gt buy what you like man
Say what they will,,, for those who crave a high mileage day, bigger is better
no1bandfan Buy it, really you do.
PFFT! You gotta buy that bike, man! If that is the bike that moved you and you have the Shekels - Buy the bike. Who cares what anyone thinks!
no1bandfan - "personally attacked" ? Nothing personal here. You are not the Rocket 3 and the Rocket 3 is not you.
I would love to have a modern RD350/ RZ350 Liquid cooled modernized with fuel injection and 17" wheels etc . THAT WOULD GET ME IN THE SHOWROOM.
I agree on most of your points. I currently ride a monster v-twin Indian, but spent the last thirty years on smaller, simple, vintage bikes. The great news is that there are still small bikes being manufactured. Beyond that, you can still buy a vintage bike and have that small, great handling, fun bike for very little money. Bigger, more powerful will always be what the manufacturers are chasing, and people will keep buying them. However, those Enfields look like the most fun!
I share your enthusiasm for all things motorcycle! Additionally, I also emigrated to North America as a child with my parents. Although, it was in the early 70’s, and from a Latin American country. My mother helped feed my earliest motorcycle appetite by helping me acquire a 60 cc Japanese mini bike. I continued to feed my need for speed, ending up with the first mono shock 125 dirt bike in my block, by the time I reached high school. I’ve owned a 69 Norton P11, Yamaha 650 twin, and an XS-1100. By 1986 I was married with two kids, and culminated my lifelong dream of owning a Harley, by purchasing a 1979 Low-Rider. I loved that bike, although it suffered with breaker issues that would leave me by the side of the road. Like the Norton, it shared some character flaws. But, it had character, and lots of it at that. I’ve owned a 1975 sportster, a 1992 custom hardtail with a 89 cubic inch stroker evo motor, sporting a set of Rivera Fueling 4-valve heads, two Dell Orto 42 mm carburetors with 3/4 turn throttle. It idled on one carburetor, and it brought in the second carburetor in by linkage alone. The cam was so radical, that at the time the strongest lifters were factory Harley units, and would only last 500 miles. I owned a 1972 Harley FXE, a 1990 FXRS. By 2004 I went totally crazy over a Nicky Hayden autographed Honda RC51, I loved that bike. But, I decided to get back on a Harley, and wound up finding an awesome pristine 1998 FLHST, who knew Nicky would end up prematurely losing his life at 35 in Italy at the hands of a distracted auto driver, while riding a bicycle. I’ve owned a 2011 Dyna Wide Glide, a 2015 FLTRXS Road Glide, and a 2019 Softail Slim. I’m currently open to purchasing my next adventure. I worked with a few folks from my last employer’s office in Poland,
Love your videos. Greetings from Germany.
Danke! I have relatives in Germany.
Really wish there were some more options for a bagger like bike around 900CC or so. Vulcan is about it.
There are some older japanese ones
Though it is an excellent bike tbh. My old man started riding on one at the ripe age of 51 and he's been having a blast these past few years.
Triumph speedmaster comes in about 850cc also the Honda shadow 750cc
Did you ever consider buying possibly the cheapest Adv on earth with absolutely no bells and whistles- Himalayan ?
I thought about it, but where I live there aren’t any RE dealers and I worry about getting parts and service. Might be a pain. I hope RE opens up more dealers all around.
Or some older, reliable machines, like a Transalp or a cheap and easy to ride and run Dominator
On paper, I love the Himalayan, except for the lack of power (not a problem off road though). I also have reservations about Indian quality control, but I'd take a chance on that. If Yamaha would build me a Himalayan and give it 35 hp instead of 25 I'd be riding one now. Until then I'll keep my totally reliable 46 hp CB500X that I bought new for $4900.
Correct. I would have bought the Himalayan but at 6'4'' they are far too small for me. Annoyingly the motoring press call for a Himalayan with a bigger engine when all I want is a taller and longer frame.
They took the minimalist theme too far. Iron rims, really??
same here I've been into bikes for 50 yrs & the older I get the smaller the bikes are , I'm now in love with a stripped down & up tuned xt 660 , just such a fun thing to ride
Yep, spot on. Sold a big ish tourer, bought a Royal Enfield classic 500. Took it off road, green lane sort of thing, been as far as lockdown will allow, 700 miles on the clock so far, and loving getting back to a lightweight do anything bike, they didn't cost a fortune.
I love that part about growing up in Poland in the 80's; have the same background
Thank! The world has definitely changed.
Yeah, I'll stick with my BMW Nine T/5
Too big. Too expensive. Less fun. IMO
Sweden has been going in the same direction. I’m 39 and took my licence last year was a bit chocked how much stuff it is on bikes nowdays. My ambition was always to have an uncomplicaded vehicle which is nice to ride. I want to feel the elements riding.
Got myself the Interceptor 650 this year in February, absolutely love the bike. What you say about mid size bikes in India is completely true, it turns heads and they are the monsters in the street here! Well put video! Keep the rubber side down, the shiny side up and may the spoke be with you!