Yamaha & Kawasaki - Spring in the Air

“I love motorcycling.

Used to have a HD Road King, now I'm cycle-less. But I've been looking around with a friend - who, at least initially, was more interested in a new bike than I - and I find the hobby increasingly appealing.

Got enough going on that a new RK - at $21K - is a bit of a stretch, though I could afford it if I wanted to. But with other $$ goals, I think I'd be the wiser to seek something similar, but at much lower cost.

So far, I seem to be most attracted to the Yamaha Road Star Silverado ($10,999 MSRP) and the Kawasaki 1500 Nomad Fi ($12,399).

The Silverado, outfitted with the accessories I'd like, pencil's out to $13,905 (plus tax & Lic.)... The Kawasaki pretty much has most of what I'd like, though it might take another few hundred to dress it out the way I like... but I don't have any experience with either brand.

My first bike was a 1983 Honda Shadow 750. It was pretty small for me. After a year, I bought an HD Road King (loved this bike, would buy another in a heartbeat).

If you feel experienced enough to speak to my dilemma, feel free... I could use a different perspective. At the moment, I'm salivating over both.

Thanks!”

“What you need to get is a ZX1200R. A ninja 1200. That is a bike. 189 out of the box. Or a BMW. I have riden a few BMW bikes and they kick A$$.”

“I have an SV650S and I love... I am going to Jet it out this summer and maybe get full plastics for the front and rear.... It will be my little road racer... lots of low and mid, but little top, but who needs top end on backroads!

Get a repli-racer or get out of the way! ;-o”

“I'm so damn pissed! The guy I bought my Honda scooter from is dragging a@@ getting the damn title taken care of so I can't go out riding yet!

A buddy of mine is trading in his cheapo sportster and found an anniversary Softail ($28,000) that a woman won in a contest drawing, didn't want it and sold it to the shop. Because the title was transfered it is considered used. He's pickin' it up for $18,000.”

“Overpriced American Crap for ONLY $18,000... what a buy! YEAH RIGHT!”

“don't listen to these crotchrocket types...

have you considered a used HD? In some places (Southern Cal) many people buy them and then rarely ride, and decide to dump them... you can get a good bike at a good price.”

“It's a specail annivarsary edition and there are fewer of them made. If HD is such crap why are all the Jap companies making poor copies of them? I'm no big HD fan but they are good bikes. Will the blue book on your rice grinder be the same as the day it rolled off the lot in ten years?”

“Just my opinion!!!!

BUT, from what I have heard and seen... they are unreliable, overpriced, slow, and the people who ride them are too cool to wear the correct protective gear....

Why would anyone choose to ride without leathers and a full faced helmet? Just getting smacked with bugs is enough of an incentive to wear a full faced helmet! (because they are too damn cool)

Harley even droped out of the sportbike (Buell) races because they can't compete... Jap bikes and Italian bikes are just far more advanced technologicaly... they use lighter frames, need fewer cc's, and are far more reliable...

Oh and one more thing... they are the only people who won't wave at you because you're not on the same brand bike they are on!

So maybe I won't be able to sell my bike the next year for that much money, but who cares... it only cost $6000!”

“will ya?



Nothing worse than coming out of the backcountry on mountain roads crawling with freakin' noisy two wheelers.

Even better - keep them parked on Sundays.”

“Gojo... pardon my intrusion here, but, as you said, "coming out of the backcountry" represents a venue with which YOU identify... would you also begrudge others the enjoyment of THEIR hobbies in venues appropriate for THEM?

That soapbox is a bit radical... and selfish. There's room for everyone out there... if "freakin' noisy two wheelers" upset you so, then go where they CAN'T... I guarantee they'll do the same.”

“Donman, I've been lookin' at used HD's... found a few I'd consider, but then again, they're still a bit higher than the budget I've limited myself to, Tarp Rat's perspective notwithstanding...

I went looking around again this weekend with the same friend as before, and by the end of the day Saturday, he'd bought a '02 Suzuki Volusia. The same dealer had a tan/bronze Vulcan Nomad 1500 in the showroom, and having looked at many similar bikes, this is the one I like. It was beautiful. Classy & stylish, sleek... it had everything I was looking for except the "half-off" price tag!

If I decide to lower my budget any, I'd next consider the 1500 Intruder. That would save me about 3K.”

“The first American Made motorcycle since HD, they're made by Polaris... and they've teamed up with Arlen Ness. I was at his place in the East Bay last weekend, looked at some o' those custom HD's,a nd got a good look at the Victory's, too.

These are nice bikes! A little more than I wanted to pay, but still, reasonable, compared to HD's. I think they're gonna get serious consideration in the next few weeks.”

“I hear Titans are cheap”

“Salivating while singing karaoke is not appealing, Obi. ;-)”

“Check out Ducati Bikes Very fast, and not to expensive.”

“Just checked out the Victory Motorcycles website, pretty sweet. I'd like to own a bike someday.”

“They ARE pretty sweet, Artex... you gotta see them up close & personal, though... One really cool distinction is the rear turn signal lights... they're mounted on the top rear section of each hard saddlebag... remiknds me of a more classic period, the tailight craze of the 50's & 60's.

While at Arlen's, I picked up my first issue of "Thunder Press" in 3 years, and found it to be their 10thy Anniversary Issue. Inside, one of the articles, one which spoke to the new plethora of "American made" motorcycles, said they now number about 40... Victory was the first of them - after HD, of course - to enter the market. Others, like Indian, Excelsior-Henderson, etc., have been less significant, some have floundered, others gone bankrupt... but it seems clear, the American Spirit has found renewed inspiration, and wedged its way into and through the motorcycle industry... Watch, as the competition heats up...

Liz... I only drool when I think of YOU!”