Heres the real deal. Kawi dropped the ball. If as reported the bike will be 1,500 less than the Thruxton, then they should have taken that $ and upgraded the suspension, h.p. and style. Imagine the interest in a bike that costs the same as the Thruxton, but could be used in a all around fashion, instead of what most the mags are saying, "It's a nice city bike".
1. The tank is too small, should be better proportioned to flow with the rest of the bike.
2. If Aprilia and Ducati can get thier bikes threw E.P.A. Kawasaki shouldn't have a problem.
3. Yes we like retro bikes, That handle, and have real world power.
No, they didn't need to give it 150 h.p. or Ohlin suspension, but they could have bumped the compression a tad, say 80-85 h.p. would be just about perfect. A decent suspension and maybe a four gallon tank to meet the demensions of the rest of the bike, also seamed tanks are just hidious. Some of you computer geeks could probably put my ideas into a pic. It has to be better than what we are getting now.
Think of the improvements most guys can make to thier bikes for 1,500, and that's at retail. Most of the guys I know that ride early bikes have upgraded them, with suspension and h.p. products. I know a guy with an SRX6 with ninja suspension and he gives the litre bikes a fit in the canyons.
Kawasaki had a chance to kick Triumphs butt, and totaly missed the mark. Yes a bunch of these will sell and become an underground classic, but it could have been a sensation, like the H-D 1200 was huge in Europe, not so much here because of price to h.p. views in America.
Kawasaki brings this bike with a more proportioned tank, real suspension, and 80+ h.p. and you have a real bike for a wider array of riders, add bags and a decent windscreen and you have a great all around bike for those that can't afford multiple bikes to fill thier needs..... Listen to riders or continue to keep playing catch up with the others... In business, sales are everything, filling little niches, is good for collectors, but not the company as a whole. Come out with that kind of bike, and I'll sell my Aprilia, Harley and my Yamaha and drop all the $ on that. Not this wimpy wannabe excuse for a standard.
Posted: 10/10/2011 at 16:36
