Anyone own an American or European bike?
- Thread starter Popinski
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I've got an Aprilia. I know what you mean, I only like one [censored] brand, but they are what is available at the dealerships. BMWs are nice, if I were to buy a bike today I would buy the S1000RR. Beyond that it BMWs are mostly touring bikes. Now that Buell is dead and if you hate harley like me you basically have Indian which has a tiny market share and are expensive and Fischer which has American components and a Hyosung engine. If I could grab a good deal on an MV Agusta I would, but with those part prices I might never ride it.
Originally Posted By: Popinski
Too many people are buying Japanese bikes. It's like former East Germany, everyone owned a Trabant and it gets lame after a while.
Spoken by someone who drives an Accent.
Why did you buy it? Probably because it offers good value for the money. Same thing with Japanese bikes - good bang for the buck, especially if you're just starting out.
As for the Trabant, people bought it because that's what they could afford. Why call it lame?
Quote:
Triumph, BMW, Aprilia, or Ducati.
A friend just bought a BMW K1200R. It's a sweet bike, but personally I am still uneasy about maneuvering such heavy bikes. My current bike weighs just over 300 lbs, and I am still learning how to control it properly. But I don't reject the possibility of upgrading to something more substantial in the future...
Too many people are buying Japanese bikes. It's like former East Germany, everyone owned a Trabant and it gets lame after a while.
Spoken by someone who drives an Accent.
Why did you buy it? Probably because it offers good value for the money. Same thing with Japanese bikes - good bang for the buck, especially if you're just starting out.
As for the Trabant, people bought it because that's what they could afford. Why call it lame?
Quote:
Triumph, BMW, Aprilia, or Ducati.
A friend just bought a BMW K1200R. It's a sweet bike, but personally I am still uneasy about maneuvering such heavy bikes. My current bike weighs just over 300 lbs, and I am still learning how to control it properly. But I don't reject the possibility of upgrading to something more substantial in the future...
My bike is pretty lame, but it was 1400 dollars with 5400 miles and otherwise in good shape. I guess my personal experience supports QuattroPete.
I dunno, I wish I could afford something better but that is so wildly low on the list of priorities. My hat's off to those who can justify not just the cost of a nice bike, but then a premium on top of that for something "not from Japan"... and then explain that to their wife.
I dunno, I wish I could afford something better but that is so wildly low on the list of priorities. My hat's off to those who can justify not just the cost of a nice bike, but then a premium on top of that for something "not from Japan"... and then explain that to their wife.
No 25 years ago too many people were buying Japanese bikes. Honda had almost a 50 percent share of the market in the late 70's.
Those Japanese manufacturers are the reason that the modern European and American bikes are good machines. British and American bikes were not as reliable or durable until the wave of Japanese machines made them re-design their products to compete.
Those Japanese manufacturers are the reason that the modern European and American bikes are good machines. British and American bikes were not as reliable or durable until the wave of Japanese machines made them re-design their products to compete.
I've got a 2001 Triumph Speed Triple with 37,000 miles on it. I had a '74 Trident back in the 70's, and fell in love with the Triple sound. It's been a great bike.
At the present time I do not own a bike but two of my favorite road bikes that I owned were my BMW R100 and my Moto Guzzi Californian. If I could afford it I would love to have a Honda Gold Wing.
I'm now riding a 2009 Buell Lightning XB12Scg, previous a 1991 Kawisaki KLR650, and a 2006 Triumph Sprint 1050.
I'll keep the Buell forever because its like riding a 100hp bike that corners like a little bike.
But I'll have a Triumph Tiger as soon as the Buell's paid for.
Jim
Yea and HD blows!
I'll keep the Buell forever because its like riding a 100hp bike that corners like a little bike.
But I'll have a Triumph Tiger as soon as the Buell's paid for.
Jim
Yea and HD blows!
I have a 1987 BMW - I wanted to get away from the complexity and parts problems of modern bikes,something that is easy to work on,reliable,and fixable.Suits me.
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Popinski
Too many people are buying Japanese bikes. It's like former East Germany, everyone owned a Trabant and it gets lame after a while.
Spoken by someone who drives an Accent.
Why did you buy it? Probably because it offers good value for the money. Same thing with Japanese bikes - good bang for the buck, especially if you're just starting out.
As for the Trabant, people bought it because that's what they could afford. Why call it lame?
Quote:
Triumph, BMW, Aprilia, or Ducati.
A friend just bought a BMW K1200R. It's a sweet bike, but personally I am still uneasy about maneuvering such heavy bikes. My current bike weighs just over 300 lbs, and I am still learning how to control it properly. But I don't reject the possibility of upgrading to something more substantial in the future...
You only see Trabant's and other communist cars because that's all they could buy!! Not whether or not you could afford them or not. My Elantra is fuel efficient, reliable but that's not the point. The point is that you rarely see them.
In my city, everyone owns Japanese bikes. There's so many of them that they're not considered head-turners regardless on what model it is. Whenever you see that European bike, it gets people's attention.
What triggered me to post this thread is because I saw the film "Long way around". They rode around the world in 2 BMW's.. it was simply an amazing documentary.
Originally Posted By: Popinski
Too many people are buying Japanese bikes. It's like former East Germany, everyone owned a Trabant and it gets lame after a while.
Spoken by someone who drives an Accent.
Why did you buy it? Probably because it offers good value for the money. Same thing with Japanese bikes - good bang for the buck, especially if you're just starting out.
As for the Trabant, people bought it because that's what they could afford. Why call it lame?
Quote:
Triumph, BMW, Aprilia, or Ducati.
A friend just bought a BMW K1200R. It's a sweet bike, but personally I am still uneasy about maneuvering such heavy bikes. My current bike weighs just over 300 lbs, and I am still learning how to control it properly. But I don't reject the possibility of upgrading to something more substantial in the future...
You only see Trabant's and other communist cars because that's all they could buy!! Not whether or not you could afford them or not. My Elantra is fuel efficient, reliable but that's not the point. The point is that you rarely see them.
In my city, everyone owns Japanese bikes. There's so many of them that they're not considered head-turners regardless on what model it is. Whenever you see that European bike, it gets people's attention.
What triggered me to post this thread is because I saw the film "Long way around". They rode around the world in 2 BMW's.. it was simply an amazing documentary.
Originally Posted By: Popinski
You only see Trabant's and other communist cars because that's all they could buy!! Not whether or not you could afford them or not.
My point was that they had other more upscale communist cars available such as Wartburg, Lada, Volga, etc. But majority bought Trabant because it was the cheapest.
Quote:
What triggered me to post this thread is because I saw the film "Long way around". They rode around the world in 2 BMW's.. it was simply an amazing documentary.
Sounds interesting. Gonna have to check it out.
You only see Trabant's and other communist cars because that's all they could buy!! Not whether or not you could afford them or not.
My point was that they had other more upscale communist cars available such as Wartburg, Lada, Volga, etc. But majority bought Trabant because it was the cheapest.
Quote:
What triggered me to post this thread is because I saw the film "Long way around". They rode around the world in 2 BMW's.. it was simply an amazing documentary.
Sounds interesting. Gonna have to check it out.
Originally Posted By: Popinski
...In my city, everyone owns Japanese bikes...
Not likely...unless you live in a really wierd place. If you do live in a "city," I can guarantee you have Harley owners there...and probably lots of other brands you aren't aware of.
...In my city, everyone owns Japanese bikes...
Not likely...unless you live in a really wierd place. If you do live in a "city," I can guarantee you have Harley owners there...and probably lots of other brands you aren't aware of.
I loved "Long Way Round" and highly recommend it. Here is a sample:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJmVoFoTx4Y&feature=fvst
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJmVoFoTx4Y&feature=fvst
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BMW has about 3% market share and the other europians are even less. It boils down to affordability and usage. Looking at the design concept each has its own character and use. It is not like they are the same but different countries. Price point is the major contributor. Looking at 1200r BMW..yes I wanted one but when I got on it was too tall. Then you need to deal with vibration and heat and often&expensive maitenance. Wanting a bike bacause it turns head is the least for me. When you are on your machine out there you are alone for the most part and you are the one who makes the choice based on factors that relates to you only not what others think of it. Did i mention resale value. Except BMW the rest of europian are hard to sell.
Originally Posted By: bigdreama
I loved "Long Way Round" and highly recommend it. Here is a sample:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJmVoFoTx4Y&feature=fvst
Thinks for this link. I just got through watching everyone of the youtube videos on this fantastic journey. Now I've gone online and ordered the book and the 8 disc DVD set. I'm to old now but would have loved to tried an adventure like that when I was young.
I loved "Long Way Round" and highly recommend it. Here is a sample:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJmVoFoTx4Y&feature=fvst
Thinks for this link. I just got through watching everyone of the youtube videos on this fantastic journey. Now I've gone online and ordered the book and the 8 disc DVD set. I'm to old now but would have loved to tried an adventure like that when I was young.
Originally Posted By: Redline955
I've got a 2001 Triumph Speed Triple with 37,000 miles on it. I had a '74 Trident back in the 70's, and fell in love with the Triple sound. It's been a great bike.
I have a Fireball Orange 1996 Speed Triple with Triumph/Alcon six-pot front Calipers and a Sebring 3-into-1 "Off Road/Racing" exhaust. I love riding the bike, even if the ergos are a bit extreme for my 53 year-old bones. It's also nice to ride a bike that stands out a bit; in my neck of the woods almost all you see are Harleys, Gold Wings, and -to a much lesser extent- Japanese sportbikes.
I've got a 2001 Triumph Speed Triple with 37,000 miles on it. I had a '74 Trident back in the 70's, and fell in love with the Triple sound. It's been a great bike.
I have a Fireball Orange 1996 Speed Triple with Triumph/Alcon six-pot front Calipers and a Sebring 3-into-1 "Off Road/Racing" exhaust. I love riding the bike, even if the ergos are a bit extreme for my 53 year-old bones. It's also nice to ride a bike that stands out a bit; in my neck of the woods almost all you see are Harleys, Gold Wings, and -to a much lesser extent- Japanese sportbikes.
My nephew has a Triumph. I have an Aprilia. I also have a Suzuki, and a Kawasaki. My favorite bike for touring? BMW hands down. Frankly, I don't care if it's American, Italian, European, or Japanese. Some bikes do some things better than others, some have a unique attraction, kind of like the girl with too much makeup and a reputation. You know they may not be good for you, but you court them anyway. As long as I'm riding, and as long as you are riding what you want, the label doesn't matter much.
Originally Posted By: CaspianM
BMW has about 3% market share and the other europians are even less. It boils down to affordability and usage. Looking at the design concept each has its own character and use. It is not like they are the same but different countries. Price point is the major contributor. Looking at 1200r BMW..yes I wanted one but when I got on it was too tall. Then you need to deal with vibration and heat and often&expensive maitenance. Wanting a bike bacause it turns head is the least for me. When you are on your machine out there you are alone for the most part and you are the one who makes the choice based on factors that relates to you only not what others think of it. Did i mention resale value. Except BMW the rest of europian are hard to sell.
I've got the BMW K1200S. Maintenance is no big deal so far. Once my warranty is up, I'll do it all myself. The bike is an amazing piece of engineering, it performs at a very high level and unlike many in its category is comfortable enough for all day rides.
My previous bike was a 2004 Triumph Sprint ST 955i, which was an excellent bike as well. No difficulty selling that bike as triumphs have become fairly mainstream for a Euro make these days.
Before that I had an '87 Yamaha FJ1200. All of these bikes are what I would call sport tourers, but way more on the "sport" side of that continuum.
BMW has about 3% market share and the other europians are even less. It boils down to affordability and usage. Looking at the design concept each has its own character and use. It is not like they are the same but different countries. Price point is the major contributor. Looking at 1200r BMW..yes I wanted one but when I got on it was too tall. Then you need to deal with vibration and heat and often&expensive maitenance. Wanting a bike bacause it turns head is the least for me. When you are on your machine out there you are alone for the most part and you are the one who makes the choice based on factors that relates to you only not what others think of it. Did i mention resale value. Except BMW the rest of europian are hard to sell.
I've got the BMW K1200S. Maintenance is no big deal so far. Once my warranty is up, I'll do it all myself. The bike is an amazing piece of engineering, it performs at a very high level and unlike many in its category is comfortable enough for all day rides.
My previous bike was a 2004 Triumph Sprint ST 955i, which was an excellent bike as well. No difficulty selling that bike as triumphs have become fairly mainstream for a Euro make these days.
Before that I had an '87 Yamaha FJ1200. All of these bikes are what I would call sport tourers, but way more on the "sport" side of that continuum.
It's fairly easy to stand out on any motorcycle with an AK47 slung across your chest!
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