Honda CB Twister motorcycle. $1000, 140mpg

[Kraz]

0-36 mph in over 7 seconds? I think I can get going faster on my bicycle.  

optional brakes?   36-0 in 57 feet? Doesn't sound good to me.

I've paid over a grand for bicycles twice.  Once was just on parts building up a mtn bike myself.  I consider all bikes under a grand that are USED on craigslist, this one is NEW!!!  I'm not saying I'd buy one, but if I had friends who are looking at getting into bikes (and I do), this would be an instant hit for them.  I wouldn't mind keeping one on hand to teach people how to ride and fuck off once in a while, especially if I found one used.

Also, it's optional DISK brakes... not optional brakes.  I'm sure the reg brakes are drums or something weak.  I wonder how much the disk option is...  or if there's a turbo option.    Ok, ok, 9hp... but AT LEAST give it hard bags!

Agreed on the emissions vs. price crappola.  Being small and fuel efficient and having the carbon footprint of a lawn mower, I think it should be exempt.  I'll put that request in with the future Prime Ministrent of North America.

[atadaskew]

Found this on YouTube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HTwXMuvJOw

It's neat, but I'd sooner buy a Sachs Madass.

Sachs Madass is cool too, butt it is 2.5 times the cost.

[coho]

"...the equivalent of $1050.00 US..."

International price comparisons are never accurate.  $1K is a lot of money in most places.

[Tar Snake]

That's almost 2.5 times the cost of the CB Twister.  For basic entry level bikes the numero uno is cheap. Full fairing, FI etc does not matter.
Cheap does.  
Hay-zoos H, Chinese beach cruiser bicycles are being sold up the street from me for $400-$600!  $1K for a moto that will do 60mph is insane in comparison.

You're smoking dope and listening to an extended raga by Rava Shankar if you think the little Honda could sell for 1000 USD in the states.

Even this little guy goes for $3k:

http://www.kymcousa.com/showroom/mcs/quannon150/index.html

Since the Honda deletes the fairing, electric starter, and 50cc maybe it would go for $2k.

[atadaskew]

You're smoking dope

Get to the point
Posted on: March 13, 2010, 12:48:29 pm

Since the Honda deletes the fairing, electric starter, and 50cc maybe it would go for $2k.

That Honda still is much higher spec..
Here's da ting, stuff is priced in different countries according to what they think the market would bear.
A can o soda in Egypt is sumfink like 5 cents.  Here it is 50 cents.
Look at the prices of bikes in Europe vs the US.

[Tar Snake]

OK this is wacky, but maybe if Honda imported it and sold it really, really, cheap they should take a page from their past and sell through Costco, Wally-World, JC Witney, Amazon.com, someplace that non-riders shop at vs. a motorcycle shop.

A $2500 "package; a voucher for the bike, an MSF course, a helmet and gloves. You buy the package, come back with your license and you get the bike, your gear, and wobble off into the sunset.

[phoenix]

Well, don't get me wrong, I would like to see something like that brought over here. At least Kawasaki has kept the little Ninja alive, and its not $7k.

My pessimism stems around the constant mention of India in the article. I assume the bike is still assembled in Japan, but I am suspicious of several things:
* majority of parts made in India to reach local content?
* designed in India (lower R&D costs)?
* someday, if not already, it will be assembled in India?
* lower cost materials?
* no warranty?

India is a big market for all sorts 'o' shit. My employer, John Deere, is focused very heavily on increasing sales in India and China. To get sales, hell yeah we have to develop products that fit with what the customers would conceivably spend on machines. This is a huge challenge. How do you downspec something 90%? You don't. You start from scratch mostly. And in the end you might get something that is a borderline POS since reliability is not a primary goal.