Comments on: Motorcycle Design Creeps Out of Control

By: Tony H.

Tony H. — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 16:17:00 +0000

Good Article.
Hated the reuse of the name Fazer…. The only Fazer is the 1986-87(1998 Japan) FZX 750 Muscle bike… Whatever Yamaha was thinking to me it is a shameful re-use of the name. The new CBR-250 is targeting Asian markets no? Will it even make it here? In Japan you could say there is a predecessor the MC22 CBR-250RR… which never sold in NA… because there are no cc limits for new riders here I assume. The NA CBR250 became the 300 no?
Does project creep apply to liter bikes? I can’t get over a $20 000 liter bike… I love motorcycles and am tied to sport bikes but the price just is NOT fun. I think I’m the target market early 40s… but I’m totally out.. the fun factor is zero! (Who cares about 6 modes of traction control/BS power settings/and forks that can feel a pee drive under the wheel, make it fun and affordable!)
Tony.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 14:56:24 +0000

my first bike in europe was a ’99 Fazer600, and it really reset my margins for street motorcycling with that insanely smooth engine. In fact, it set me on the course for extreme sportbikes. Truly a great motorcycle.
The Rune I thought was more of a design exercise than anything else, where Honda just made the engineers go along (much to their chagrin i’m sure). I liked the fact that they built it even though I didn’t like the bike all that much. I just don’t get why somebody would want to ride a bike with an extra long wheelbase or one with poor handling just for looks. I can only imagine the performance must suck most of the fun out of it, but maybe that’s just me.

An excellent read, as per usual. 🙂

By: derider

derider — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 01:37:11 +0000

makes you think of 1000+ cc adventure bikes with a whole bunch of electronics while what you need to go on an actual adventure is a light, uncomplicated bike

By: Robert Bradley

Robert Bradley — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 01:45:45 +0000

I rode and sold Yamaha FZ-6 and always thought it was the nicest middleweight bike that was made. Silky smooth but powerful engine ran with no fuss EVER, great transmission and I loved the styling. In the end a little small for me but for sure the best middle weight bike I had ever ridden. The last version was a shadow of the FZ with THE most uncomfortable seat ever. Cost cut to the bone I saw short cuts I have never seen Yamaha do before plus the engine to me had less power and torque and vibrated more. A major step backward in my opinion.

By: V-Strom Ry

V-Strom Ry — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 20:40:25 +0000

Funny thing, I’ve got a Fazer 8, which is essentially a sleeved-down FZ-1 with a few other minor changes. I’ve really enjoyed it, probably because my expectations were lower. Fuel capacity seems reasonable, in the 200-300 km range, depending on how hard I ride it. Sure gets hot between the legs in hot weather, though.

But yes, buying on the specs is a mistake many of us have made, at least once. Sometimes it works out, sometimes not. I bought a V-Strom 1000, slightly used, in 2003, based on its specs and reviews. It turned out to be exactly what I expected. Rode it for 11 years. But my first new bike, a Kawi ZX-6E which I had been attracted to for years before buying a leftover ’96 in ’97, was a similar experience – turned out it had little power down low, and was far from comfortable for me.

By: Joel

Joel — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 13:27:56 +0000

As usual, you provided an excellent read Michael.

Your point about a machine having too much performance and thus intimidating the rider is a good one. In the early 2000’s I had a KTM 300 2 stroke, which I rode in the woods. It was light, well suspended and powerful. One could stick it in 3rd gear and ride all day. So a couple years ago I decided I wanted the experience again and bought a KTM 530 four stroke. I have struggled with it trying to ride the same trails. It feels like I’m trying to wrestle a superbike around a go cart track sometimes.

By: TK4

TK4 — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 11:22:33 +0000

” A camel is a horse designed by committee “.

I appreciate your efforts Michael to not lose sight of the original intent, then getting sidetracked by conflicting demands – marketing, sales, serviceability, even the (sometimes lost) opportunity for after-purchase accessories all pull in different directions.
One may not have much time for the cruiser market, but they (especially H-D) seem to have figured that part out. And lots of people still buy them.
What people tell you they want, and REALLY want can be two entirely different things. Witness the return of the retro-hipster and naked bikes – did any of the deep thinkers see this coming ?
Keep the faith, and please keep the tales a-coming !

By: Jason Pinhay

Jason Pinhay — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 11:06:00 +0000

great article. So true about the manufacturers missing the point, or putting too much stuff into a bike.