Honda CB Twister motorcycle. $1000, 140mpg

[atadaskew]

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/honda/2010-honda-cb-twister-review-89314.html

seriously for $1K, top speed of 60mph, 140mpg this would be a fun alternative for a city bike.

[chornbe]

Oh wait... "It sucks", "Not a real motorcycle", "Rather buy [...]", "meh, another underpowered Honda"...

How am I doing?

[marc11]

At that price and MPG for my 70 mile commute each day, the bike would pay for itself in about a year.  I already calculated I save over a $1000 using my Versys over my truck for 9 months of the year, based on consumables and insurance, not purchase price.  This is even better...

[Tar Snake]

What's big lever by the riders right foot do?    

Seriously though, standing on my   soapbox for a bit most of the m/c's in my high school parking lot circa 1980 were little bikes, 100 - 250cc streetbikes and "enduros" (dualsports for the kids) and a lot of mopeds. I'd bet most of the kids that rode those bikes then now don't ride, but for others like me it planted the bug.

Bikes like those were perceived by Mom & Dad as safer and cheap enough a family or kid who worked for a summer could buy one.

I guess the cat's out of the bag now that an R6 is a "starter bike"   but I miss the little runabouts. I think they were safer in the sense that when I 1st went too hot and lost in it a corner I was going ~25mph not 60. The little bikes were like the first level of a video game, challenging because you've never played before, but slow enough learn technique before moving up the ladder.

 

[Scratch33]

My first bike was a CB100.  I'd hit it.

[birdrunner]

Call your Honda Canada dealer,  I'm sure they'd be glad to sell you a CBR125 cheap.   There's lots around.

[Flyer]

...standing on my   soapbox for a bit ...

Hey I built yer soapbox!
...but nobody listens when you start talking about graduated licensing.
When I'M elected Primeresident of North America, you'll get your Federal gas taxes back at the end of the year if you ride 140 mpg (North American made   ) motorbikes...

[Scratch33]

When I'M elected Primeresident of North America, you'll get your Federal gas taxes back at the end of the year if you ride 140 mpg (North American made   ) motorbikes...

mpg, or mph?

[atadaskew]

Call your Honda Canada dealer,  I'm sure they'd be glad to sell you a CBR125 cheap.   There's lots around.

$1000 cheap?  This is the kind of thing that will bring new people into motorcycling.  
Not $7K 'entry level' bikes.

[vguy]

Better than a scooter. And, if it will climb the hills in San Francisco, why not?

[spd2918]

For $1,000 it can't be US smogged (yet).  I would buy one if I needed a commuter.

[birdrunner]

$1000 cheap?  This is the kind of thing that will bring new people into motorcycling.  
Not $7K 'entry level' bikes.

fuel injected, 6 spd, full fairing,  warranty,  $2400.00 CAD,  and they're not selling.

[Justin]

I want to import one and enter it in the IBA Rally Definitely a "hopeless" class contender!

[atadaskew]

fuel injected, 6 spd, full fairing,  warranty,  $2400.00 CAD,  and they're not selling.

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.

[steve.m]

honestly, the reason 500+ bikes became starter bikes is because fat, heavy americans can't ride two up on 100 cc bikes without breaking them.  reminisce about how fantastic those bikes were back in the 60's if you'd like, but my guess is the folks that rode them spend a LOT of time fixing them.  I know from experience, my first bike was a 73 honda XL100.  I weighed about 185 at the time which was more than the thing was rated for.  it didn't last long.  

my guess is if i sat on this, i'd break it too

[sleazy rider]

Me want for commute.  I ride 70 miles a day and that would definitely alleviate the gas budget crunch, not to mention keeping the daily miles off my fun bikes.  I can easily scrape up a grand plus tax for it, but make mine hi-viz orange or day glow yellow.  

[falconati]

I would buy that tomorrow.

[phoenix]

by Honda for India

I suspect this model would not meet US regs without many changes

powerband is wide, vibe-free and silky smooth even when pushing high revs; the Twister willingly chugs away in top-gear (4th) from speeds as low as 15 mph. Performance is class leading, with the 0-36-mph dash achieved in a creditable 7.13 seconds.

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

Our test bike came with an optional 240mm disc brake, which proved capable of stopping from 36 mph in 17.33 meters (56.8 feet).

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

[atadaskew]

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.

Which part of the 100cc motorcycle didn't you get?
Let's see you go faster on your bicycle on an 80 degree day after a few stop and starts, and see how sweaty you are by the time you get to work.

$1000.
I'd buy 1 just to have in the garage for when out o town peeps show up to have fun on.

[Zerosum]

Found this on YouTube...

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

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

[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.

[jay547]

my daughter wants a bike next year when she turns 14. that one would be perfect.

[gritsngravy]

Nice bike.  I learned to ride on a '74 Yamaha rd 60 .....this new honda is a 'busa in comparison.  

[just roy]

my first street bike was a yamaha RS100B two stroke. i have very fond memories of it and would own another in a heart beat. not as an only bike though.

[JoelCool]

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.

 , heck, take delivery after you pass the MSF course on YOUR new Twister!

[rgbeard]

I *would* buy this tomorrow.   but.....

My little piece of suburban SoCal has no real jobs, and thus - you have to leave Lake Elsinore.  The only ways out are either:  I-15 or the Ortega Highway.


The I-15 runs a normal pace of 80mph.  The Ortega runs 55mph but it's a twisty hillclimb.

Either one's out for my size and a small engine.

[Baz]

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.

I have to agree here, as Honda sells the 125 Wave in Thailand for about $1200.00 USD. and I think the average daily wage there is about 3 American dollars.

They have sold 12 million of them in the last 5 years there however.

[Paul Barnard]

I really like that bike.  Something tells me though with the Honda nameplate that it wouldn't hit our shores for less than $1800.  I grew up on a 72 Honda XL 100 and beat that bike unmercifully.  Today's Honda is a different company altogether.

[steve.m]

I grew up on a 72 Honda XL 100 and beat that bike unmercifully.

w00t!  me too (73 though).  unfortunately mine didn't survive my beatings

[Tar Snake]

w00t!  me too (73 though).  unfortunately mine didn't survive my beatings

I recently went playbike riding on the modern version CRF100. Even though it was made for a 12 yr old the poor little thing could climb straight up even with 190lbs of me on it. Did some jumps too!

The next day my thighs were killing me! It's mid size between the 80cc bikes and a full size dirtbike. So going from sitting to standing is a workout.  

[steve.m]

that's what was nice about the xl100...it was "full sized" and my (then) 5'10" self was comfortable on it.  I'd imagine it would look like a toy to me these days  

[omnivore]

Great deal for a grand. New. Warrantied. You could buy a new one each year and sell th eused one for $500 and never be out of warranty.

I paid more than that for every bicycle I own.
My 4 yr old son's electric OSET trials bike cost more than that.
It's a good deal.

[jfurf]

I love how even a 100c Honda sold in India can spark an argument around here.  

So what do you guys think of the new VFR?

[Tar Snake]

I love how even a 100c Honda sold in India can spark an argument around here.  

So what do you guys think of the new VFR?

It should sell for $1000  

[Giaka]

It should sell for $1000  

No one would buy it.

[atadaskew]

No one would buy it.

Not true.  Once a nice lightly used fully farkled one  for , say, $650, comes on the market...

[jfurf]

No one would buy it.

Not a big enough gas tank for a $1000 bike.

R.I.P. Soichiro