I hope Honda is paying attention. Kawasaki has 10!!! bikes in the "sport or supersport" catagories for 09. That's not even including the new supermoto KLX250SF and the Concours. I love my viffer but if Honda doesn't do something about their line up soon, they are gonna lose another loyal customer. Check out the line up HERE. Kawasaki Motorcycles, ATV, Jet Ski Watercraft, Utility Vehicles, Recreational Utility Vehicles

Honda closed their US sportbike plant. They only make goldwings here now. Big "if's" in Honda's US market in the near future.
Shop Steward:Chat Hooers Union, Local 151
Ministry of Activity and Participation
Mountain Lifeflight 3, 11-14-09
I rode a Z1000 in Myrtle Beach. Nice bike, power low-mid, but that seat sucks. Corbin already has that fixed!
If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.
-George S. Patton
But Kawi turned their Touring bike into another stinking Hardly Clone by adding bags to a Vulcan.

Speaking of Kawi's......
My first bike was an '88 EX500 and it looks like they've barely changed that thing since then. Wonder why? Even the Ninja 250 looks superior.

"The average man does not get pleasure out of an idea because he thinks it is true; he thinks it is true because he gets pleasure out of it".
-H.L. Mencken

Nice, honda seems more focused on super sports.
Be nice to see what is in store for the sport touring but not to excited as we have heard so little. Usually sominthing is mentioned.
I would not be suprised if they simply cut the VFR.
![]()
Proud Member-Sixth Gen Millitia-1ST VTEC Battalion

Last edited by Bubba Zanetti; 09-22-2008 at 05:07 PM.
"The average man does not get pleasure out of an idea because he thinks it is true; he thinks it is true because he gets pleasure out of it".
-H.L. Mencken
I would not be surprised to see Kawi phase the Ninja 500 out of the line up. With the increase in price of the Ninja 250 and the intro of the Ninja 650R a few years ago, the Ninja 500 no longer serves a real need.
Speaking of Kawasaki...
What's with Motorcyclist Magazine voting the Versys the Bike Of The Year? Seriously, what is it that this bike does that merits it's selection? It's a butt ugly standard that does pretty much nothing in particular great. It just does most things OK. So why then does it get the BOTY? A used VFR is better at EVERYTHING with the exception of MPG. I can live with the Versys getting 55MPG when my 00 VFR gets 46+ all day, every day. My first & foremost complaint is the bike is fugly. Like I've said many times in many posts, why the F are bikes getting uglier & uglier?
On a side note, I visited the local Honda dealer looking for parts for the Hawk. Not a single person in the dealer knew anything about any new or significantly revised bike in Honda's lineup. Once again, if there is a new VFR, no one seems to know anything about it. Like always, I'm not holding my breath.
KC-10 FE out...
![]()
![]()
Evaluator/Instructor Side Sitting Switch Monkey
Motorcycle Safety Foundation RiderCoach
USAF Sport Bike Coach
Stupid Hurts & Stupid Kills. Don't Be Stupid. ATGATT
www.rockthegear.org
2001 VFR800fi Italian Red (Hers)
2000 VFR800fi Pearl Yellow (His)
I don't discriminate, I hate EVERYBODY!
Fight Communism, Free The People's Republic of New Jersey!!!
RIP TSgt Christopher D Rey 1 Apr 1968 - 28 Aug 2006
I went by the local big bike dealer today and they said their Honda rep said they're going to stop making all Hondas in the US and move everything back to Japan. New bikes are not due out until 2010, and nothing really new.
Who knows?
If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.
-George S. Patton
Honda has completely redone the CRF450R for 2009. only 4 or 5 parts carry over.
I'm very impressed by the new bike.
(Oh yeah, I ride dirt, too.)
If there is not some new blood in the sport tour line up for Honda, it'll be another nail in the coffin.
The VFR and ST are good bikes, but the world can only put up with new paint schemes for so long. I wonder how many have outgrown their sport bike and moved to another brand because Honda only provided an alternative that was stale.
Everyone gets everything he wants. I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one.
Why has Honda's bike line-up been on such a diet over the past few years, while almost every other manufacturer has been continually expanding theres? BMW has almost doubled their offerings, Kawi (as shown above), Suzuki has thrown in some new rides and Yamaha has been rolling out new wheels as well.
WHAT'S UP Honda? Are they just going to crunch it down to the basics and just be donw with it? The Goldwing, VTX, 1000RR and 600RR. I guess they'd save space on showroom floors for everybody else's bikes. Please get off the Hollywood diet Honda and breathe some life back into this brand.
Vs

Well, IMHO....I believe it is because they hardly make a profit selling bikes. They make MUCH more money selling cars, trucks, lawn mowers, generators, weed wackers, robots, etc...than they do bikes...much more volume. The focus is on cars, trucks, and hybrids now. No other manufacturer offers such a broad product selection. I wish they would wake up as well...trust me, I do. Just not enough focus, as they have dropped the ball, they see where it is, and they just don't care enough to pick it up.... sad sad....

I don't mind the selection being not as huge as long as it stays as reliable and they do continue updating it occasionally. I don't see them getting out of bike making, but it does seem to not be their focus as it once was...
_____________________________________________________Reg71 - Central Coast, CA98 VFR 800 - 5G Brotherhood
I work at a dealer, and we are truly in the dark about the future of the VFR. Even our Honda rep says he doesn't know anything yet, and Honda didn't have their annual convention. So, what we do know is... The Big Red UTV is (as far as we know right now) the only brand new model, the TRX420s (FE, TE, FM, TM) got power steering and independent rear suspension, and the CRF450R is [B]almost[B] entirely new and gets battery-less fuel injection. All other models (again, this may change) are the same with no planned changes till next year (our rep mentioned that the CBRs were getting some changes for 2010.)
Be very careful about the beginning.
Then, be very careful about the end.
Then, be very careful about the middle.
(Robert Fripp)
Bookmarks