Honda Jury Review



This post has been edited by Sgtar15: May 7th 2009 8:34 AM

Did it commit a crime?

It will be interesting to see how that sells.

The Jap bike custom chopper hasn't done well at all in the traditional Harley dominated chopper market. In fact, the old vintage English bikes once accepted in the Harley circuits couldn't penetrate the chopper market either.

I've read and wondered that the Harley introduction of the V-rod combined with the last 15 years of Japanese V-Twin cruisers might open market perception.

The $13K price is certainly a way to open the market but then to achieve that price having to use plastic chrome though accepted on cruisers is very much held in disdain on choppers.

Like I said, this one will be interesting.

Tj

I've always wondered why when Honda or Yamaha or whoever it is in Japan makes a V-twin cruiser of some sort, they always seem to make their name as inconspicuous as possible. First time I saw a Yamaha something or other V-twin cruiser sitting in a parking lot, I had to look it over for 5-10 minutes to find the 'Yamaha' on one of the engine castings.

I don't think they treat their touring bikes the same way, do they? Certainly not the splat bikes - There's no mistaking a Suzuki or Honda there.

As to the factory "custom" chopper thing - I'm guessing it's not going to do well in this market. Pretty much for the same reasons the Mopar factory "hot rods" (like the prowler) didn't fair well. The main hot rod market was for builders, tinkerers, and custom collectors. Cars built on an assembly line in Detroit didn't fit the model.

I don't believe that the majority of folks that want a 'custom chopper' are going to want to get a standard factory bike just because it's called "custom" - Yamaha, Honda, Harley, whatever.

I stopped by the Honda dealer yesterday. They said they can not keep them in stock. They sold 3 the day they came in. So, I didn't even get to see one in person.

But that's just my opinion.

Oh gezz,, another Harley want-ta-be…

Not a cruiser or chopper fan generally. But I would rather buy that for 13k and know it has a good engine. I can always get more chrome. If i liked chrome, which I don't.

'Nuff said.

BUT it still aint a Harley and from what I've seen (and heard when I test drove one) it sounds lousy (like a wilder beast farting thru a kazoo). No matter what, it's still a cheap imitation but if it flicks your BIC, then who am I to say anything... How many ond vintage Honda's, Yamaha's, Suzuki's and Kawasaki's do you see on the road? Pretty much zero. If you want a real cruzier, make it a Harley and what's really nice? IT'S AMERICAN MADE!
My ride: 2005 custom FLSTCI (Heritage)......

This post has been edited by progun: May 21st 2009 6:21 AM

I see PLENTY of old jap bikes on the road.

Ever hear of the CB750?

You really think so?
Then you probably don't want me to show you how many parts on it are made in China.


Lots of others too. I even saw a showroom condition Kawi 750 triple last year, and I thought that ALL of those got crashed.

Not to mention all of the old Brit bikes still out there, and Beemer's, and Guzzi's, and.......
Too bad that Harley riders can't see past a name. The rest of us would rather ride than wrench.

The reason you don't see as many vintage Honda's, Suzuki's, Yamaha's, and Kawasaki's on the road is PEOPLE RIDE THEM. They don't sit in the garage and leak oil. They ride the crap out of them until the wheels fall off and get rid of them or junk them. Of course your "vintage" Harley only has 20,000 miles on it. Where the Honda had 20K put on it in the first couple years.

This begs the same old question. If Harley made an airplane, would you fly in it? Any company that puts a hole in the crank case to keep the chain lubed.........

American made? You have got to be kidding me. I believe the only thing that is still considered made in America is the engine block. That is because they made millions of them and still have them in stock. From the Showa forks to the Stanley tail light, made in Japan. Unless you bought the V-Rod which is a Porsche engine. Victory (Polaris) has more parts that are made in America than Harley has since the early '70s.

My 2002 Honda 919 has over 20,000 miles. Repair cost $0. Knowing your bike won't leave you stranded? Priceless. By the way, When Harley makes a liquid cooled bike I want I will buy one. Maybe. The Buell is getting closer, but still ugly as a bucket of buttholes.

My Harley aint no garage queen. It's got over 50K and never any trouble and the days of leaking AMF Harley's are long gone. I've seen PLENTY of Jap bikes sittin on the side of the road through out all my road trips, Stopped and fixed them up for the riders. True lots of chrome and accessory parts are made in China..Touche, however my hog has been to New Zealand twice, Austrailia coast to coast once, Japan three time , Alaska and 4 trips to Sturgis and not a lick of trouble and plenty of people drooling all over it. they don;t say wow a Honda, Kawasaki, etc but they sure know a Harley when they see one! As a M/C mechanic and former stable racer for Yoshimura Honda (while I was stationed in Japan from 1969 to 1982 and owned two 750-4's, two kawa 350 & 450 MACH III and KZ1000 and numerous others) I have nothing against Jap bikes I just like to jerk the ricer riders chain. I've owned about 12 Jap bikes and as has been stated they gave me zero trouble but neither has my HOG or any of the HOGS I ride with. Before you knock Harley's, try one. They aint like they used to be and by the way they don't lube thru a hole in the crankcase anymore. The evolution engine did away with that. As for water cooled, take a look at the Vrod...guess what, water cooled and a Porsche designed engine. All in all, I've had my fill of Jap bikes and will take my HOG and BMC Screamin Demon (Which I built) any day. I still say "buy American" Just my opinion.....

This post has been edited by progun: May 22nd 2009 6:23 AM

Sure have and probably owned and raced them before you were 5 years old! great bikes though.....

V-Rod - Liquid cooled and engine designed by Porsche.
The street rod verson. (Mine)


The new Buel. KTM engine - liquid cooled. It doesn't look as bad as the old ones and this engine is prety decent. The lengthened the wheelbase so that should have helped the bike. The previous models were dangerous. Lack of acceleration and extremely short wheelbase made them wheelie when you would shift too hard.

FWIW, I'll never own another Harley product as long as I live.

When the American manufacturers get off their collective butts and build a REAL sportbike, I'll be all over it.
Buell comes the closest, but it's still not close enough (not to mention how god awful ugly it is).

I've seen a couple that appeared to have decent chassis designs, but then they screw them up by stuffing a POS sportster motor in them.


It still looks like puke. It's an 1125 ROTAX motor (KTM may use them, but they don't build them). And until they get rid of the crap belt drive, or design a way to change gearing w/o breaking the bank and taking all day, I won't give it a second look.

I agree. It does look a lot better now than it ever has.




Sorry, I got my KTM and Rotax mixed up. Love the Rotax. I have a Renegade "X" and that V-2 (800cc) makes some very good power.