I agree.

As a rider that has ridden motorcycles since I was a kid in the mid 70’s, logging more than half a million miles in all over the past fifty years, it seems as a buyer I am discounted.

Having owned, built, toured on, and raced more than thirty motorcycles during that time, I am surprised when I see specs on new motorcycles that list very high horsepower numbers, and ultra high price tags, with few actual changes to the overall design.

Still today, the basic motorcycle design is not really that different; two tires, seat, motor, and basic running gear, are all still there. With the exception of adding exotic materials, and crazy amounts of additional horsepower, much of which is wasted, the basic design remains.

Horsepower numbers on sport bikes above 100 horsepower is largely wasted. I have successfully campaigned 250cc Ninjas in WERA Formula III Superbike, with only 48 RWHP and a bike/rider weight of 400 lbs. Granted, the top speed would be greatly improved with 100 RWHP, but then again, except for the very few special built racing models, these are all street motorcycles.

Give me a reasonable bike weight, durable materials and finishes, enough torque to move the bike and my @$$ from 0 to 60, 30 to 70, and from 40 to 100 MPH in respectable times, along with enough RWHP to carry 150+ MPH. More importantly, give me a bike that supports two ridding positions; one for carving up corners, and another for cruising down the highway.

What I don’t need: carbon fiber and titanium everywhere. Good quality plastic and aluminum are good enough, as long as they are just that, GOOD QUALITY. For me, they need to save the exotic stuff for the exotic bike models.

Oof. If you get throttled by your wife, then you’re definitely in the doghouse. That should be “throttle-by-wire.” Thanks for the heads up!

I agree 100%- not sure what has happened to reasonably priced and well designed bikes.

Great bike, I put 70k miles on it and it lacked only the above.