Time For New Middleweight - What Manufactaurer Will Make It?

The time is ripe for a new middleweight bike. Something just like the Bikes we have right now.

The question is:

Which Manufacturer is going to leas the charge and introduce a stunning new
550 -thru- 800 cc middleweight to capture the Market now wide open for a Bike to become a Daily Rider for the masses who NEED it to escape the big hit they are taking in Fuel costs?

I have looked at the Magazines and seen a few MotorScooters that are available in the Overseas Markets, but nothing aimed at the US to fill the ever-widening gap for a comfortable middleweight that you can ride and expect to get more than 35 miles per gallon.

I'm talking a sturdy middleweight that don't look like a plastic wrapped bullet and will appeal to the NEW Rider or the RETURNING Rider Market.

It's got to be coming.
It can't be far off, now!

 

Don't know if you get all these over in the US, but Suzuki do the GSR600, Yamaha have the FZ6, and Kawa do the ER6 (not sure if Honda has a new nekkid 600??).

All naked middleweight "budget" bikes - right on the money I would have thought ????

 

I am thinking with the gas issue, and insurance coming through the roof, the 400 cc class might make a comeback. There are getting to be lots of 600 and 650cc bikes. The versys and baby strom are on my short list right now.

 

H0nda have brought out a new Hornet 6, bit naff looking for me though.

 

Somebody is going to have to get into the act and provide a middleweight that will be a sales leader and appeal to the Market of sticker-shocked gasoline buyers who are looking for a fun ride around without breaking their wallets.

I was thinking about something along the lines of a Maxim 650/750 with Fuel Injection and a 6-speed exchange.

I guess the days of air-cooled bikes are done. I noticed that the offering mentioned above is a liquid cooled 24 valve plant.

I think the makers need to simplify and deliver a quick little light to middleweight fun machine for under $7,000.00 to market and get out of the way as they bound out of the showrooms.

Something will come along.
I doubt the Star Line is going to be the answer.
Those bikes are just too big!

 

The FZ6 and FZ1 to me look like sportbikes, only goofy...

I'm a fan of the Honda 599 / 919... but not as a nice Standard Middleweight bike... just as a cool naked sportbike (it's #1 in that class IMO).

If I was out looking now I'd probably just go for a Supermoto... Maybe the concept CB750 will come out though??

 

I test rode a DRZ 400 supermotard and almost shat my pants it was so much fun. WooT!

 

Re: Time For New Middleweight - What Manufactaurer Will Make

Well I was gonna say that the Kawasaki 650R fits that bill, but I didn't see the "plastic wrapped bullet" comment. But it IS comfortable and I average 50 miles per gallon on mine. I've always loved the Ninja styling of sportbikes so it was a no brainer for me to get one. They do make a nekkid version for you NON-americans :lol: in the ER-6. I think the headlight assembly's on most nekkid bikes look HORRIBLE! Can't beat an old fashioned round & chrome headlight. If Yamaha made something like the XJR1300 in a middleweight size I'd seriously take a look at it.

 

Good time for Yamaha to step up...or Honda...
Kawi and Suzuki each have a 500 offering atm..

 

Re: Time For New Middleweight - What Manufactaurer Will Make

As much as I hate to admit it because I am a bigger Yamaha fan, it will probably be Honda. It's not that I don't like Honda, just partial to Yamaha. I am just going on the long, very popular history that they had with the Nighthawk bikes. Especially the later Nighthawk 750's; stripped down, naked, classic style, good fuel econemy, and low price and reliability. IMHO newer revamps of this style such as the 919 while a great bike on it's own, are too crotch-rocket-ish. Again, this is just my opinion. When talking a new standard middleweight, I would really like to see something ergonomically similar to the old XJ's, XS's, NightHawks, etc. If Honda puts that simple combination back together (or someone else) it could be a very popular, allbeit boring and not very sporting, bike for the motoring masses looking for cheap, reliable, fuel effecient transportation.

 

I'd like to see a big single myself like the srx,,,,or for a twin the old Yamaha 900TDM would be good also,,,,,yamaha has had a few models but dropped them fast,,,,the inline 4 is basically already here,,,I like fewer pistons for the economy an counter balance for smoothness ,,,,Dan

 

Maybe Honda or Yamaha, but I don't know that I really see it happening. Kawasaki has the 500 VUlcan which really looks like a great commuter already, and I'm not sure the market is big enough yet for the 400cc-500cc category to grow much again.

 

Re: Time For New Middleweight - What Manufactaurer Will Make

650 Bandit

 

daily rider for the masses....those honda and suzuki 400 and 600 cc scooters
but the prices are out of sight
maybe our friends in china that make those "wildfire" things
http://tinyurl.com/4mwbjx

 

The headlight bucket looks as big as the engine!

Brake-Light Warranty** I presume?



**First time the brake light comes on the Warranty is VOID!

 

i talked to a fella that was selling the wildfire kiddy quads from his shed in the backyard, after he realized i wasn't serious he told me their throw-aways, parts are nonexistant
but a police chief i met has a 600cc honda scooter and he loves it, three bags of groceries under the seat with room to spare, says it goes like a scalded cat,
i guess thats good

 

Re: Time For New Middleweight - What Manufactaurer Will Make

Time for Yamaha to bring back the TDM 850.

Do they still sell them in Europe?

The problem right now with Yamaha is that the only street bikes they sell here are cruisers or sportbikes.

ken k

 

Suzuki has their GSX650F (bandit 650), Bandit 1250s
Yamaha has the FZ6, FZ1
kawasaki has Verseys

looks like honda is the only one missing a middle weight commuter/touring motorcycle; tho some might argue that the VFR is their middle weight commuter/tourer. It seems to me, all they have now is a lot of cruisers, few crotch rockets and a couple of sport touring motorcycles, leaving a huge gap. If anyone is gonna come out with a new middle weight, most likely its HONDA. Hopefully it will be in a form of a modern CB bike like the one shown in Cycle World.

 

Yes please, all the manufactures seem to be in 2 directions Huge Crusier or Sportbike. They really need to find a happy medium with a stance thats not laying on the tank or with toes trying to touch the front wheel. I bought my Griso because it's the most comfortable bike that's not trying to be a Harley. Or attempting to please the Thong Racers. I was a bit dubious about it being Italian and all but so far so good with 1500miles on it. My VFR800 has been sitting now i'm just not all that excited about leaning over that tank anymore. I think i'm getting old saying that now ....

 

I am a big fan of the in-line 4's. Can't quite relate to the V-Twin. Although the V-Max V-Quad is interesting.

Since I got my Maxim, and let my brother ride it, he has been hankering for a new bike. So, this past weekend we went out and looked at a bunch of bikes.

He has always been a Harley fan. So, we went to look at them. He rode a new Sportster 1200 and asked for a quote. The dealer came back with 9800. We went away and came back later and offered 9500. The sales manager told the salesman no and never even bothered to come out and say hi or explain why not.

We then went to look at Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki. And, much to my chagrin, I actually liked a v-twin. The Suzuki M-50 Boulevard. It was shaft drive, liquid cooled and fuel injected. It drove real nice and had decent power.

So.... that would be my suggestion. Now if it was an in-line 4 or v-quad...

Oh yeah, my brother bought a 2007 Honda VTX1100 Shadow (sabre I think) and he got it for $6100.