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Post by robomod on Jun 4, 2007 17:45:58 GMT -5
I'd drop $4000 for a new SR400 given all of my other new bike options. There are NO standard bikes anymore in the US. Most bikes are a sportbike, a cruiser, or some wannabe of either type.
How about other opinions?
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Post by brokenicarus on Jun 4, 2007 19:47:48 GMT -5
I dunno, there's lots of room for improvement, even though it's a great bike... I've seen some modern lighter 125's and 250's from honda and yamaha that get twice the milage in Istanbul, and the 250's seem to have the same powerband... I'd rather have those here than 30 year old technology for 4 g's. I love my SR, but it's still an old bike in a lot of ways, have the japanese SR's been updated in any way? wet clutch or newer more efficient carbs?
I figure a Japanese single has massive potential on today's market, if it gets 80 mpg...
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Post by marlon on Jun 4, 2007 20:03:30 GMT -5
I bought one for around $10,000AUD - currently around $8,000USD. Bear in mind that a triumph bonneville is around $13,000AUD, a DR650 $8000AUD and second hand SR's in reasonable nick are fetching anywhere from $2500AUD to $5000AUD.
I think it'd be a wise choice, personally. The stats don't look (or really feel) all that good on the SR, but with the change in licencing laws down here I think there'd be a market for a simple, lightweight and economical commuter. Deus Ex Machina are selling out of them as soon as they come in...
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Post by milkman on Jun 5, 2007 6:33:42 GMT -5
I agree.
If you want a classically styled bike to learn on, or something simple that isn't an import sports bike or trail bike, there really is nothing around.
For ages I wanted to get a road bike, but couldn't find the style I liked.
SR400 would have some learners sticking with their bikes longer, as there are so many ways to change the look, without changing bikes.
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rickg
Junior Member
Posts: 31
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Post by rickg on Jun 5, 2007 13:06:29 GMT -5
I have to agree that 4k for a 30 year old design is too much. That being said I love to ride and work on the sr it is simple and easy to maintain. I can buy a couple clean sr's that make me smile when I ride them for that much. The point being used bikes are too available for an enthusist to consider dropping 4k for something he can make for half that. As far as new riders I have to take some advice from my son of 15 years who wants a road bike for next birthday, The sr looks too old, not like the current sporting bikes and is not his first or second choice. As I get ready to drop my k12 off for a major service and valve adjust I really appriciate the old sr
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Post by milkman on Jun 6, 2007 0:22:55 GMT -5
How technically advanced is a Harley Davidson for near 30,000 AUD?
Sure, you get fuel injection etc, but even older Harley's are still selling for that. I realise you're paying for the name, image etc etc but point is, Harley's have always had a traditional look, and a lot of riders want that.
This is partly the reason Triumph are now the no1 European brand in Australia, and a lot of riders wanting a "standard" bike, are going for Bonneville's and thruxtons, or spending 15k on a speedmaster instead of 30k on a Dyna Glide
In short - emotion has a lot to do with bike buying. Which is why we all muck around with a 30 yr old horse, and have other old steads in our sheds waiting for attention, or bikes we couldn't bring ourselves to sell.
It would all come down to marketing - older riders wanting to get back into it on something more like the bikes when they were younger, a practical bike for the city that still has some presence, the whole retro craze etc etc.
I agree I'd like more for the money, but I think they would have a market
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Post by brokenicarus on Jun 6, 2007 17:12:38 GMT -5
but why not get improvements as well? A single cyl bike with modern technology could easily get 80 mpg, that could still bank on the 'retro' mentality. Just because an SR'll sell doesn't mean it should not be stepped up in it's technology. But i don't know, I'd love it if the SR had a fuel injector, but that means a computer, and that means taking it to the shop instead of doing it myself, so I suppose that's a tradeoff... if it is released again, PLEASE make the wheels lighter  |
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Post by G Man on Jun 6, 2007 17:35:26 GMT -5
I would buy one in a heartbeat and wouldn't think twice about it.  |
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