Kawasaki KZ-1000 Enthusiast
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Looks like a KZ1000ST with a different seat. Americans seemed to like these seats as they are presumably very comfortable over long distance.
I think they look hideous and would never put one on a bike. It’s a lovely looking bike as standard and based on the MKII but with shaft drive.
It should have the 1015cc engine rather than the later 998cc engine from the J model.
I think they look hideous and would never put one on a bike. It’s a lovely looking bike as standard and based on the MKII but with shaft drive.
It should have the 1015cc engine rather than the later 998cc engine from the J model.
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Seats like that force you into a position. I guess it works for some people, but me and my boys need to move around, if you know what I mean. So, no Americans don't seem to like those seats, some do, I think it detracts from what is a very nice understated bike. You can't see them when you are sitting on them, but yes, the consensus is that they are rather hideous. Anyways, at least we drive on the right side of the road! 
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Ok, I’ll rephrase that; the seats seem to be the preference of some Americans.
Here in the UK, we get a lot of old bikes from the USA as they tend to last better in the drier climate of much of the USA, than they do over here.
The only time seats like this are seen, is on American imports and a significant proportion of the bikes brought over here. Those seats were never sold over here in Europe, us Europeans seeming to prefer the 2/4 seat (also pretty hideous).
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Here in the UK, we get a lot of old bikes from the USA as they tend to last better in the drier climate of much of the USA, than they do over here.
The only time seats like this are seen, is on American imports and a significant proportion of the bikes brought over here. Those seats were never sold over here in Europe, us Europeans seeming to prefer the 2/4 seat (also pretty hideous).
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When I was parts manager of various bike shops, I tried to steer people away from these seats. I never stocked them, so if they ordered them, it was on a "non returnable" basis. Many of the people complained the seats weren't as comfortable as they looked. It's like looking at a sofa, or comfortable chair, some of the most unassuming ones are the most comfortable, you have to try them out first. There is no accounting for taste, especially when companies like Corbin make these monstrosities, and people assume because of the good name, they were comfortable. The seat in the picture you posted is really strange. I've never seen one like it. It seems like it would force the passenger closer to you. Looks like you loose 6" inches of seat real estate on it, maybe more.
I've always liked the plain old UJM long saddle seats, where you could slide back, or tie a back pack onto it. The seats on new biked don't impress me much, and the tiny pads they put on for passengers, well, they wouldn't work well if "babies got back"* see pic below, or so as the expression goes.
I didn't know that bikes were being imported from the U.K.. I know that a lot of M.G. Midgets especially the '73 MKIII models (round rear wheel arch) were, as I have been approached a few times. In the U.S., a lot of cars unavailable here have reached "vintage" status and are becoming available ( allowed to be imported). Interesting to see that vintage vehicles will live on in other countries and be saved. I think it's a win-win situation.
No helmets, or any safety gear. You'd better not accelerate too fast, or stop to quick. I think she's actually sitting on the rear fender, or parts of her. Respect for the Honda though.
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I've always liked the plain old UJM long saddle seats, where you could slide back, or tie a back pack onto it. The seats on new biked don't impress me much, and the tiny pads they put on for passengers, well, they wouldn't work well if "babies got back"* see pic below, or so as the expression goes.
I didn't know that bikes were being imported from the U.K.. I know that a lot of M.G. Midgets especially the '73 MKIII models (round rear wheel arch) were, as I have been approached a few times. In the U.S., a lot of cars unavailable here have reached "vintage" status and are becoming available ( allowed to be imported). Interesting to see that vintage vehicles will live on in other countries and be saved. I think it's a win-win situation.
No helmets, or any safety gear. You'd better not accelerate too fast, or stop to quick. I think she's actually sitting on the rear fender, or parts of her. Respect for the Honda though.
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I don’t think the USA get many bikes from the UK, but here in the UK, we get huge numbers of old bikes from the USA.
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I hope you get them for a decent price. I spent 2 1/2 months in England. Motorcycles are far more necessary and utilitarian in the U.K., especially with the price of fuel, and you have some excellent roads to ride on.
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I’m not so sure about either of your points.
Businesses import container loads of bikes from USA so they must be buying them considerably cheaper than they sell them for.
Also, decent motorcycles are almost all ridden by middle age plus men and kept in heated garages for sunny day use. There are people who commute into London on them, primarily due to the Ultra low emissions charge, congestion charge and poor but expensive public transport systems.
Some youngsters ride scooters but most wait until they are 17 and go straight to cars.
Businesses import container loads of bikes from USA so they must be buying them considerably cheaper than they sell them for.
Also, decent motorcycles are almost all ridden by middle age plus men and kept in heated garages for sunny day use. There are people who commute into London on them, primarily due to the Ultra low emissions charge, congestion charge and poor but expensive public transport systems.
Some youngsters ride scooters but most wait until they are 17 and go straight to cars.
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The businesses buy them wholesale from scrap yards (doesn't mean they are scrap), or huge dealers with too many used bikes. I agree with everything you're saying. People in the states tend to use bikes more as for play things than primary means on transportation. I used my bike, with a sidecar for 6 years as my primary means of conveyance. It's good that you get your bikes for a good price. I ride for fun these days myself, and sometimes, I can get to where I need to go much quicker on a motorcycle. You guys a a lot more for fuel than we do. I thought the prices weren't that bad in the U.K. till I realized the price shown was per Liter, not Gallon, as shown on U.S. fuel pumps. Ouch!!
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Ha Ha!!
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