I have read about so many models that have been discontinued all together because its engine type couldn't meet the strict emisssion standards in Europe. I don't understand why they completely discontinue the model everywhere, instead of just not selling it where it doesn't meet the standards...the VFR 1200F and V-Max were discontinued for this very reason...
What is going on with the MC styling these days?
- Thread starter grampi
- Start date
I'm keeping mine...
Looking at some quick data, Europeans purchased over 2.47 million motorcycles (based on new registrations in 2023). With Spain, France, Italy, Germany and the UK being responsible for well over 1 million of those. The United States was about 550,000 in new registrations...
To me those numbers say it all, we don't buy enough for them to make if they are not already made for their biggest market.
To me those numbers say it all, we don't buy enough for them to make if they are not already made for their biggest market.
Styling is a matter of taste but the one modern styling feature that rules out most bikes for me is the grossly elevated pillion seat. From a functional point of view it's all wrong, it would be impossible for my Mrs to climb up there and then having weight that high up on the rear end of a bike ruins the handling. When form over function rules the design then a bike is inevitably sub optimum.
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2024
- Messages
- 36
After a brief foray into Yamaha FZ07 and FJ09, back to my roots. And yes I'm 60!
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2024
- Messages
- 171
Long live the UJM!
Nonsense...you are just looking at the wrong companies.
Agreed. We don't buy enough bikes. I have a younger cousin who doesn't even drive. He has no interest in it at all. Public transportation is all he takes. In fact, other than sticking his face in his iPhone, he has no interest in anything
My guess is that in Europe they face much denser geographies and populations. In contrast, for most of the US, things are more wide open and spread apart. But the number one reason they purchase more bikes is probably gas prices. They are a lot higher in the EU than here.
Something thing that would be interesting to know, is what size are the bike registrations in the EU compared to the US? I'd bet there are a TON of scooters being registered, which makes sense for the reasons I stated.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2024
- Messages
- 46
I was unaware of this bike and searched it....I like it better than the T100. While searching the w800 I came across another bike I was unaware of, the Yamaha SCR950. Although I have always been more into dirt, dual sports and street touring bikes, I certainly wouldn't complain with a scr950 or W800.
It is fact, young people are not interested in motorcycles as a percentage like they used to decades ago. No need for them in their air-conditioned cars with all the conveniences
and .. the population as a percentage is older too.
and .. the population as a percentage is older too.
This is a good point. My wife and I ride together. I would like to think we have a special relationship. She loves the Road King and we have rode in every condition possible. I know one of only a few would have done what we have. Im talking 5 hour thunderstorm front. Winds severe I thought I saw a funnel cloud.
Rain so hard that my wife counted approximately a dozen cars pulled off to the side of the road on I-26 coming back from the beach, we carefully rode past them all.
Solo one time, rain so hard a Semi kicked up so much water that between my legs was a couple inches of water in the seat pan. (that was a little unsettling, it was like a firehose hitting you)
Ok, the above was to give you some back ground. I would love to have a sport touring bike, larger one with a more upright position.
My wife gives me the green light and is ok with it but she says as far as she feels she will not ride that bike with me. We have sat on a number of them over the years, she is petite 5 feet tall and it scares the heck out of her being so high off the ground on the back of the bike. I do not blame her one bit, I would never have the guts to even sit on the back of a bike with someone else in control and she has been there from beaches to mountains through dozens of thunder storms. We never stopped one time under a bridge or otherwise.
I am careful, always maintain well treaded tires, have anti lock brakes and take it slower and easy in storms.
Also of course we do not intentionally ride in bad weather but if you live in South Carolina and the Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee you know afternoon storms are unavoidable many times. The day we bought our new Harley in the Mountains we pulled out of the showroom in pouring rain and wearing new rain suits. The people in the dealership had the radar on their computers to see what we would encounter on our trip from TN back to our home state of SC.
PS... you bring up another good point. Many of our travels are loaded up with luggage. Such as this. That much weight with the two up and the luggage would be a no go.
Last edited:
By me, I've noticed alot of the Sling shot vehicles are owned by younger people. I guess it's because it has some attributes of a motorcycle, without actually being one. What you see alot of is those cheap electric battery bikes. I think people buy them because they are cheaper than a real motorcycle, and don't require the same safety equipment as a real motorcycle. No lighting, no helmets, no insurance, no licence, no registration, and they ride them any way they want. On sidewalks, and on the wrong side or the road against oncoming traffic,. Red lights and stop signs mean nothing to them. They get treated as if they are a bicycle. Motorcycles that are 300 cc's and up are used for deliveries. People that live on a low budget buy what they can afford, and will get what gives them more bang for the buck. Older people who want to travel with luggage, need something geared for the task. But they come with a higher price tag. If all someone want to do is take their bike out on a nice Sunday ride and put 100 miles a month on it, cheap smaller sized used bikes are all over the place. I'm a big guy,so looking at smaller bikes never did anything for me. I've had people say I make my Road King look small. So I guess they're won't be any scooters in my future.,,,
I felt this way since the “naked” bikes started getting popular around the mid 2000s. Also not a fan of “Cafe Racers” but I understand the manufacturers are only building what the people want for the most part.
That said, lots of great looking bikes being produced these days also.
Myself I have a very wide spectrum of what I like and have owned when it comes to motorcycles, from scooters to turbo Hayabusas and everything in between, dirt bikes, rockets, adv bikes, the 80s jap bikes are awesome, goldwings, Harley’s, etc.
If it’s got two wheels it’s cool with me!
That said, lots of great looking bikes being produced these days also.
Myself I have a very wide spectrum of what I like and have owned when it comes to motorcycles, from scooters to turbo Hayabusas and everything in between, dirt bikes, rockets, adv bikes, the 80s jap bikes are awesome, goldwings, Harley’s, etc.
If it’s got two wheels it’s cool with me!
Does the EU require catalytic converters on motorcycles? I still don't know if they're mandatory in the USA.Agreed. We don't buy enough bikes. I have a younger cousin who doesn't even drive. He has no interest in it at all. Public transportation is all he takes. In fact, other than sticking his face in his iPhone, he has no interest in anything
My guess is that in Europe they face much denser geographies and populations. In contrast, for most of the US, things are more wide open and spread apart. But the number one reason they purchase more bikes is probably gas prices. They are a lot higher in the EU than here.
Something thing that would be interesting to know, is what size are the bike registrations in the EU compared to the US? I'd bet there are a TON of scooters being registered, which makes sense for the reasons I stated.
I posted in another thread, in 2024 the largest countries in the EU combined for 132,000 moped registrations. That's a fourth of the total registrations we had for motorcycles in the United states. But it's not even 10% of the registrations in europe. Overall the bikes they sell are smaller in displacement. Plenty of overpopulated east and west coast cities where motorcycles would make a lot of sense in the United States and the EU kicks our butt. Maybe it's all the entitled runny nose kids that never learned how to ride a bike in those cities.Agreed. We don't buy enough bikes. I have a younger cousin who doesn't even drive. He has no interest in it at all. Public transportation is all he takes. In fact, other than sticking his face in his iPhone, he has no interest in anything
My guess is that in Europe they face much denser geographies and populations. In contrast, for most of the US, things are more wide open and spread apart. But the number one reason they purchase more bikes is probably gas prices. They are a lot higher in the EU than here.
Something thing that would be interesting to know, is what size are the bike registrations in the EU compared to the US? I'd bet there are a TON of scooters being registered, which makes sense for the reasons I stated.
Yes, they are mandatory on motorcycles in the USA and I can only assume in the EU. At least with the larger engines.
I think the way to look at it is if by some miracle a motorcycle can meet EPA emission standards then you would not need one. I’m not sure how small the engine would need to be or if it’s even possible not to have one.
I only know about cruisers though and they all have them.
I watched a video of a UK couple riding in Thailand. The traffic in Bangkok is absolutely insane. Maybe similar to some US cities but probably worse. Motorbikes and scooters all over riding like madmen. Many with no helmets. On average 60 people die per day in motorcycle accidents in Bangkok. Need a dedicated crew just to clean up motorcycle fatalities in Bangkok.
Just about any video I've seen from riding in countries of that nature it's really interesting. Either the lack of knowledge that the human body is frail and will go splat or they have no fear of dying.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2024
- Messages
- 46
I feel the same way. Hell I even enjoy mopeds
Similar threads
