Newer motorcycles?

[34nineteen]

Is it just me, or are most of the newer motorcycles being released just "meh"? The tech, performance and other aspects of the newer bikes is pretty amazing, but I find it hard to get excited about them.

Out of all the newer bikes out there, only a couple I find interesting... interesting enough to own... and more than half of these are 10+ years old.

BMW R9T
XL1200CX
XR1200
Buells, of course.
SV650 (1st gen naked)
Ducati Monster (air cooled)
CBR1100XX

Even the EBR's really don't float my boat.

Did my tastes just change as I got older, or are newer motorcycles just "meh"?

 

[Endopotential]

You're just getting old and grumpy! :sorrow:
Time for some singletrack to cheer you up.

I just got a KTM Duke 790 and loving it. About 10hp more; 10ftlb less torque. Supposedly only 20lbs less than an XB9, but feels a whole lot lighter and handles beautifully.
They did something to the ignition timing to make a parallel twin feel just like a V-twin.
I know, the preying mantis headlights are a turnoff for some. But I like them, just like the bug eyed look of our Buells.

The new 890 is even better.
https://www.cycleworld.com/story/motorcycle-racing/2020-ktm-890-duke-r-first-ride-review/

Or how about a tangent for weekend discussion... What are the really bad bikes out there?
Every magazine review for any new bike is always breathless about how awesome everything is. I know they don't want to bash the hands that feed them, but still.
You guys really know a lot about motorcycles, with a huge breadth of wisdom and experience. What were the big misses over the years?

 

[34nineteen]

You're just getting old and grumpy! :sorrow:
Time for some singletrack to cheer you up.

This is so true. I gave my singlespeed a thorough cleaning last weekend. It is just crazy hot here right now to be out of shape and on the trail.

My next ride will likely have the new Steps E9000 motor.

If you wanna de-rail this to mountain bikes, we can do that too. Its not like its the first time!

 

[34nineteen]

I was looking at CBR's on the Honda webpage to see what they are like, after young scooter commented about getting one. On paper, I was pretty wow-ed by the performance and features, but I couldn't see ever owning one. Nothing wrong with the bike, as it seemed pretty awesome and is probably amazing in every aspect, but there was no "emotional connection".

At least I'm not as old as ShAARPughn.

 

[outthere]

New Honda CBR would be my choice for a track only bike if I were 28 not 68. I'm with you though. I'm more of a vintage guy both cars and motorcycles. They have good looks and soul. Now stuff not so much The Duel Sports are fugly.

 

[Cooter]

I feel the same AARP about new cars and even trucks too. New trucks are a joke, spec sheets that read well past what any owner of a light duty truck needs, but pathetic skeletons of the workhorses they used to be. Glossy ads of men in hard hats doing manly things with yellow machinery in the background, UGH. So, you're taking that shiny black $70,000 Denali to dump concrete blocks in the back huh? Puuleeeze.

There isn't any new vehicle I can afford, that I would want to own

I'm seriously considering a late model Husky 501 for dirt and getting So-Mo wheels for small tracks Maybe a Tiger 800 for more ADV stuff? But I hate looking through windshields and Stella just keeps proving she's way too good at that.

So, great question Aaron. If you had to spend up to $20,000 to have one brand new motorcycle that you had to live with everyday...?

 

[njloco]

I was thinking about an EBR and decided on my Suzuki B-King last year as it was only sold for one year in this country which was 2008, handles very good and plenty fast for me, very good for sport cruising.

I would like to get a super moto, and though I'm not into doing wheelie's they look like a lot of fun but I'm not interested in buying new.

 

[outthere]

SM are great if your roads are trash and can stick to back roads. They will make your teeth fall out droning along at the same RPM for miles.

 

[njloco]

Well I still have all of my teeth so if I end up getting one I'll make sure to look for a relatively smooth running engine.

 

[34nineteen]

So, great question Aaron. If you had to spend up to $20,000 to have one brand new motorcycle that you had to live with everyday...?

If I HAD to spend $20k on a NEW bike, it would either be a BMW R9T or a Harley Sport Glide. I think I would enjoy owning the R9T more, but the Sport Glide would probably be a better choice for everyday use for me.

My biggest issue is, at $20k it stops becoming a toy and is something more serious than that. I think I would have more fun on a $5k bike than a $20k bike. I don't see myself dropping that much on a motorcycle anytime soon.

I do agree about new trucks being too nice to be "trucks". However, I do like where new trucks are going these days as luxo-haulers and rivalling cars in luxury and ride quality. If I needed a truck to haul concrete blocks with, the used market is full of them. Everytime you see a clapped out work truck, remember that at one point, that was someone's point of pride, and they may have even struggled to make payments on it.

njloco- B-king huh? I may have to take a closer look at those.

 

[Cooter]

Exactly. At $20K+ for a 'toy' it's no longer a toy to me, because I have to worry about it. Thats not fun. I'd rather have 2-3 sub $10K bikes to choose from in my garage at all times and rotate out for different ones all the time I think we all agree on that point, LOL.

I rent new trucks a lot to work out of town so I get to sample them all. They are getting fancier, they aren't getting better Trucks were a 'need' thing, not a 'want' thing. Even as late as the early 90's, before trucks were marketed as fashionable by profit-driven MFG's you got vinyl seats, manual trans, floor mats, and crank windows. Cheap, dependable, and simple. A car is transportation, make it fancy-shmancy if you want. A truck is a tool, and should last like one.

I'm not saying lose the A/C or power windows, but they are sacrificing thick, quality metal and proven technology for a power tailgate? really? How did the same person that can't lift a tailgate up, even load the bed?
A rear view mirror thats another camera? The mirror. Like reflective glass isn't good enough? What ever goes wrong with reflective glass? What problem are they solving? The dash AND center screen already turn into a back up cameras, why the rearview mirror as well? At least now, it ruins your night vision and you no longer can shift your head for a quick perspective view.
All the buttons/switches that have exactly the same feel? Or WORSE, the touchscreen nonsense? How do you keep your eyes on the road if you cant feel the switch to know whether you're turning up the heat or switching to 4WD? With gloves on? It does get cold in places.
Then adding insult by programming layers of menus to just DIM that damn flashlight in your face.

I'm just a little opinionated:eagerness:

 

[34nineteen]

Exactly. At $20K+ for a 'toy' it's no longer a toy to me, because I have to worry about it. Thats not fun. I'd rather have 2-3 sub $10K bikes to choose from in my garage at all times and rotate out for different ones all the time I think we all agree on that point, LOL.

I rent new trucks a lot to work out of town so I get to sample them all. They are getting fancier, they aren't getting better Trucks were a 'need' thing, not a 'want' thing. Even as late as the early 90's, before trucks were marketed as fashionable by profit-driven MFG's you got vinyl seats, manual trans, floor mats, and crank windows. Cheap, dependable, and simple. A car is transportation, make it fancy-shmancy if you want. A truck is a tool, and should last like one.

I'm not saying lose the A/C or power windows, but they are sacrificing thick, quality metal and proven technology for a power tailgate? really? How did the same person that can't lift a tailgate up, even load the bed?
A rear view mirror thats another camera? The mirror. Like reflective glass isn't good enough? What ever goes wrong with reflective glass? What problem are they solving? The dash AND center screen already turn into a back up cameras, why the rearview mirror as well? At least now, it ruins your night vision and you no longer can shift your head for a quick perspective view.
All the buttons/switches that have exactly the same feel? Or WORSE, the touchscreen nonsense? How do you keep your eyes on the road if you cant feel the switch to know whether you're turning up the heat or switching to 4WD? With gloves on? It does get cold in places.
Then adding insult by programming layers of menus to just DIM that damn flashlight in your face.

I'm just a little opinionated:eagerness:

I agree with all of this. Which is why I like my little Nissan Frontier. Just enough fluff to make things easier/safer, but manual enough so I am still in control (or at least think I am).

The rear view mirror doubling as a back up camera display is a neat little trick, though.

 

[Cooter]

I don't mind the back up cameras (except that people now NEVER use their neck!), I mean the whole mirror is a permanent-on camera screen. The back up cams are different. I REALLY hope it doesn't catch on.

A Frontier is a great truck! and you keep yours clean:applause:

 

[njloco]

The B king does not handle as well as an EBR, in other words it's not a track bike but for cruising and general running around its a smooth operator and pretty fast, the brakes are excellent for a heavy bike and if you decide to get crazy, you can install a turbo which will put it at about 330hp, just remember it was restricted to under 200mph due to it wanting to go air born.

 

[Outlaw]

I love my 2018 Ram Power Wagon. Leather heated and cooled seats, cargo and tailgate cams, lockers ,winch and 6.4 Hemi. Soo much goodness.

 

[Cooter]

Last of the good ones:love_heart:^^^^ Don't forget the solid axles!

 

[Sdrxb12s]

A rear view mirror thats*another*camera? The mirror. Like reflective glass isn't good enough? What ever goes wrong with reflective glass?""
I agree 100% with you but they do make it really easy to hook up a trailer by yourself first try lol. I think the biggest problem is
1. People rely way to much on technology ( in my opinion the reason for so many accidents)
2. The vehicle designs are using all the cameras and sensors to get past safety feature requirements because you cant see a damb thing out the back because it looks like your in a 50ft tunnel trying to see your way to the end.( Drove a new car for a day it was rediculous)
I just find the newer thing get the worse it gets. My old 96 dakota I could see 100% all the way around the vehicle, now I'm in a 09 silverado and it's about 75% but no camera are needed. A couple concave mirrors and away you go.
3. Well dont even get me started on 2020 dodge suspension system lol

 

[Outlaw]

Yes, solid axles are my fav too

 

[Cooter]

A rear view mirror thats*another*camera? The mirror. Like reflective glass isn't good enough? What ever goes wrong with reflective glass?""
I agree 100% with you but they do make it really easy to hook up a trailer by yourself first try lol

Its not a back up camera. They have those too. They are separate and in the dash, with back up lines and trailer hooking up stuff.

It is a rear view mirror, but instead of it just being a mirror, its a screen shaped like a mirror. So much harder to see detail, bright at night, and you cant glance around to widen your view. That engineer should have his stylus taken away.

 

[rb70383]

All my bikes have solid axles....

I like my 05 Ram, last year before the EPA got ahold of diesels.