[Greenie]

So does anyone have any educated guess/opinion as to what kind of Kawasaki we will be seeing in the next 2-3 years? There are quite a few retro bikes that are meeting demand...Ducati...Triumph...Kawasaki has used a few retro cues in the past...how about some kind of a revisit on the MachIII styling of the 70's similar to what Ducati did with the GT500? In my opinion that is the only clear market window that is not a modern sports bike or cruiser.

 

[Ruger]

Sure wish they would put out the KZ line of Police bikes again.

 

[Greenie]

Nice thought.

That leads me to a question...about how much did the early (1980ish) KZ1000's weigh? I would love to own a naked KZ1000 that ran right. Were they right around 500lbs I'm guessing?

Here is a nice one on ebay.

eBay: Kawasaki : KZ1000 (item 140177330867 ends Nov-15-07 18:30:00 PST)

 

[Greenie]

Also, does anyone know if Kawasaki sold the recent "retro" ZRX 1200 in "naked" form? I know you could always make it naked...just curious.

 

[Greenie]

Man I thought this thread would be on fire by now. Wrong forum?

 

[ReticentZ]

I'd really like to see a Z1400 here in the future. Suzuki has the B king, so it only seems to reason that Kawi would answer in kind.

 

[sdbrit68]

actually.........there has been a few words out, someone posted that the nomad will have available satelite radio set ups specifically designed to integrate with the bike.

and, the announcement that the new voyager is on the way, it was just not unveiled because it wasn't quite ready yet

soooooooooooooooooo.......................hope of all hopes

maybe a full dresser cruiser called a voyager, but in reality a nomad base and not another sport tour bike

 

[Bruce McCrary]

maybe a full dresser cruiser called a voyager, but in reality a nomad base and not another sport tour bike

Oh man... A full fairing with all the communications (and more!) moved there, a well designed and thought out tour pack... Something that flows with the shape of the bags and the bike... Maybe even an F.I. 2K engine?

Naah, haven't given it a thought... 8)

Bruce

 

[sdbrit68]

me either, although I would like it to have the full surround back end like the old voyager, but still an upright cruiser like the 2k and nomad. and a tour pak and fairing with speakers and a blue tooth to the cell phones, offered of course in black with mnay chrome accessories.............waiting for the voyager, and budget right now is the only thing holding me back fom a HD electraglide

there was a article in v-twin magazine recently, said the custom chopper market is hurting, because so many people are buying the comfort of the tour bikes with all the gps and accessories

please kawasaki.............dont bone this one

 

[Bruce McCrary]

The cruiser market is declining, as is the whole market. But touring bike sales are slightly up across the board. At least that's what I'm reading anyway.

The thought process is that some of the cruiser riders are aging/opting out of riding. While others are moving on to tourers. Makes sense I guess.

I hadn't heard of a Voyager come back though. That's cool.

Bruce

 

[Cranky CJ]

I'm going to shoot in the dark and say that Honda is going to buy Harley-Davidson, Suzuki and Kawasaki will merge. Yamaha buys Triumph. Indian and Victory go under. Did I miss anybody?

 

[Bruce McCrary]

I'm going to shoot in the dark and say that Honda is going to buy Harley-Davidson,

It was looked at, but determined that among other things the SEC wouldn't allow it. That corp would have to much market share afterwards for them to allow it.

Suzuki and Kawasaki will merge.

The 'stratigic alliance' a few years ago and it's untimely demise (it ended even before both companies originally anticipated) I think proved there is enough fundemental differances in the two companies ways of operation to prevent that from ever happening. Again. A buy out maybe. But the last time I knew Honda owned a samll percentage of Suzuki and they might have something to say to at least influence that deal.

Yamaha buys Triumph.

I don't think you'll ever see any of the Japanese companies doing anything with anyone outside of Japan. More likely would be any or all of the big 4 buying up some of the stronger and well organized Tiwaneese, Chineese, or Korean marques in an effort to capitalize on the labor and production benifits.

I think Triumph, as well as some of the older "Old Country" marques could see a boost from some private investors and a resurection of the BSA & Norton names the end result. The market would be the nostalgia markets and the first 'new' bike would be either a sport tourer or adventurer type bike.

Indian and Victory go under.

I dunno... Those guys at Indian apparently did a good job with Chris Craft Marine, so they know how to save a business that is dependent on discressionary income. If they do, it'll be at least 5 years.

Victory, ehhh... well... They will either save Polaris or be the final nail in that coffin. Don't get me wrong, Polaris is 'strong' at the moment, but Victory has been a huge dran corporate wise and the declining snow market over the last couple of years hasn't helped either. RZR sales are unbelievable, and everyone in Minnesota is riding that wave right now. But I think that thing will be what gets the Feds heavily involved in the side by side business. Look for several deaths and injuries followed by a knee jerk reaction by the gov't simular to what we saw with the three wheelers back in the 80's. Then a decline in overall sales in that market and a shift in design that either takes them more down the road of small tractors, or back to 'golf cart' style vehicles.

Did I miss anybody?

Yeah, but we'll get into them later. :lol:

Bruce

 

[sdbrit68]

didnt see ducati there

 

[Michael600r]

Wasn't the ZRX 1200 a retro style bike? Reminiscent of the KZ 1000 R Eddie Lawson replica.

 

[antiq]

I honestly have no idea what they may have planned for the near future but it would be nice if they'd go back to something similar to my old KZ750 but with a twin.

 

[bross]

I'd love a W650 but they just didn't sell. Jodie is buying a new Bonneville in the spring. I can't see kawi bringing out retro models. kawi is doing better than most manufacturers by at least bringing some "standard" bikes. Just good old do everything well bikes, they don't do any one thing particularly well, but overall, they just work.
MeanStreak - just works
Ninja 650R - looks like a sport bike but is really a standard
Versys - standard bike with long travel suspension, what's not to like?
new KLR

I think bikes like these are way ahead of what other brands call their "standard" bikes:
Honda 599/919
Yamaha FZ6/1
Kawi's own Z1000/750

all the above are basically 2nd generation sport bikes.

Some riders appreciate the specilization of a very niche oriented bike like a super sport or the Vulcan 900 Custom, but if you ride every day you can appreciate a "do everything" bike even though it isn't the fastest or coolest.

I like the direction Kawi is going and as I said I think they're more in tune than a lot of manufacturers.

 

[Bruce McCrary]

I like the direction Kawi is going and as I said I think they're more in tune than a lot of manufacturers.

I couldn't agree with you more.

I'll also add that I have in the past worked with Kaw at the dealership level for several years. Of all the manufacturers thay were one of the best, and easiest to do business with too. Just good people trying to do a good job, you know?

Bruce

 

[NCDave]

I don't know for sure about the industry direction, but would someone PLEASE build me a reasonably priced "standard" with a v-twin engine? I miss my VX800.

 

[bross]

I don't know for sure about the industry direction, but would someone PLEASE build me a reasonably priced "standard" with a v-twin engine? I miss my VX800.

Wee strom, Suzuki Vstrom 650? Available ABS, or Suzuki SV. Have you tried a Ninja 650? or a Versys? I thought I would always be riding a V-Twin as well, until I tried, the boxer, and also Jodie's Ninja with the parallel twin. That's when I realized, it's twin's that I love, doesn't really matter the configuration, for me anyway.

Suzuki SV650 $5999

To continue the list, although this will probably blow your reasonably priced criteria:
New BMW F800s - parallel twin again $9,400
Ducati Monster 695 $7995
Buell CityX $8895
BMW R1200R $12,600
BMW Xcountry $8,200
Triumph Bonneville $7,299

 

[NCDave]

I have a 650R and I love it. I'd love it it someone Kawi would put the 900 in a standard and include a shaft drive!

F800S is too low, and the ST is too pricy.
Duc - Bigger please!
Buell - yuck!
BMW - price
Triumph - haven't seen that one!

I'm picky, ain't I!!! I want bandit 1250 style with a nice big V-twin for under 8500. If they made the SV1000 more standard, I'd take it in a heartbeat!

Wee strom, Suzuki Vstrom 650? Available ABS, or Suzuki SV. Have you tried a Ninja 650? or a Versys? I thought I would always be riding a V-Twin as well, until I tried, the boxer, and also Jodie's Ninja with the parallel twin. That's when I realized, it's twin's that I love, doesn't really matter the configuration, for me anyway.

Suzuki SV650 $5999

To continue the list, although this will probably blow your reasonably priced criteria:
New BMW F800s - parallel twin again $9,400
Ducati Monster 695 $7995
Buell CityX $8895
BMW R1200R $12,600
BMW Xcountry $8,200
Triumph Bonneville $7,299