Biggest Motorcycle Model Failure or Success?

[Indefatigable]

My vote for the most successful model would have to be the HD Sportster.  I believe it's the longest running production model.  It has been imitated many many times and continues to sell.  The iconic gas tank, graceful lines and still a fairly good value.  It's always been my favorite model HD.  

[Sport-Touring]

[Sputnik]

looks like this may have the kind of marketing info you're after....
http://www.ubcpress.ubc.ca/search/title_book.asp?BookID=299172054

[texrick]

Not sure I'd have the Voyager in that list.  More appropriate would be the original Yamaha Venture.  The Voyager, like the Concours, was manufactured using the same tooling for something like 15 years.

The only reason I'd use the Voyager was that Kawasaki abandoned the full tourer market when they dropped the voyager. I considered a Voyager at one time while it was still in production and was impressed with the fit and finish of it. Shame on the other manuafacturers for dropping good bikes, but hey I can see why since I've had my 06 Goldwing.

[robrm250]

greatest success Honda goldwing and product lines,greatest failure Honda for stepping out of their mold,mass produced dependable affordable bikes for the masses and trying to build a custom very expensive low production bike,The Rune.

[ngoldberg]

I would like to throw my bike in there for worst marketing.  I have a Kawasaki 2005 Z750S which 20-30 years ago would have been a top selling bike.  However in todays world of Cruiser or Super Sport a UJM can only make it for 2 model years.  It truly is a great do everything bike and is more bike than most riders need, however it was never marketed at all.  You could also look at the Honda 919 and 599.  All very good bikes that just don't get the attention they deserve in the US but sell amazingly over seas.

[Cheddarhead]

If you're willing to consider expanding your potential topic targets to things outside motorcycling, i could also suggest a couple of related opportunities:
1.  The revitalization of the "COOPER" brand...as a subsidiary of BMW.  Took the styling cues from the original Cooper Mini's and produced a stylish and very popular offering...now being expanded to a 4 door version.

2.  How 'bout the "SMART Car"...originally developed by SWATCH, now owned by BMW.  Also expanded from a 2 seater to a 4 place offering.

3.  The quinnesential marketing success:  The VW BUG.  'nuff said.

4.  The Corvair (vs) Kharmann Ghia.

5.  Of more current/modern consideration:  How about the current Hyundai.. early offerings were cheap and painful...now they look like last years' ACCORD.  That's no accident!

6.  HONDA itself:  From the 500 of the mid-late 60's to the best selling passenger car marque in it's segment for 2 decades...and a perrenial "Top10" and Editors choice winner.

Lots to choose from!

Good luck...

[Shhted]

Failure: Ducati Indiana.  

This group is the only known owners.  

[county]

BMW's F650CS, made only from ~2003 to ~2006.  With ABS a $9000+ 650CC street bike.  

I rate it a failure only because BMW couldn't sell the bike.  Overall it is an excellent bike for what it is.

[Hardware]

...2.  How 'bout the "SMART Car"...originally developed by SWATCH, now owned by BMW.  Also expanded from a 2 seater to a 4 place offering...

I'm pretty sure it's Mercedes, not BMW.  A 4 seater Smart car?  That's new!?!?  

[Jeff N]

I would like to throw my bike in there for worst marketing.  I have a Kawasaki 2005 Z750S which 20-30 years ago would have been a top selling bike.

20-30 years ago the GPz750 sold pretty well. It's basically the same bike.



 

[stk0308]

 Honda's inspiration for inline 4s may have come from the all-conquering Gileras of the 1950s.

As I understand it Mr. Honda was given a couple of Mondial's last 500cc bikes when Mondial went out of racing, as a favor between the companies owners.  Shortly thereafter Honda started doing much better at the GP circus.

[Orson]

As I understand it Mr. Honda was given a couple of Mondial's last 500cc bikes when Mondial went out of racing, as a favor between the companies owners.  Shortly thereafter Honda started doing much better at the GP circus.

I thought it was a 125 Mondial.

Mondial was the Gilera of the 125 and 250 classes. Well, actually Mondial and MV Agusta fought it out for small bike honors. For all of Agusta's illustrious racing record, they couldn't hold a candle to the Gileras in the blue riband 500cc class. It wasn't until Gilera, Mondial and Moto Guzzi pulled out of Grand Prix racing in 1957 that Agusta went on to become a juggernaut.

[panther289]

20-30 years ago the GPz750 sold pretty well. It's basically the same bike.



 

Hey, wait a minute, I have the 1984 550 version in silver....  

[gritsngravy]

Honda's plan to take over the  world with V-4 powered bikes failed in the mid 80's.    The sabre v45 & v65 were nice but I-4's were what most folks wanted, even up to this day.   Honda lost a ton of cash on that gamble, only the st-1300 and the interceptor remain, both low volume sellers.   When Honda went back to I4's with the Hurricane 600 in '87, sales picked up dramatically.  

[Cheddarhead]

I'm pretty sure it's Mercedes, not BMW.  A 4 seater Smart car?  That's new!?!?  

Yep...my bad!  Didn't proof-read my comments before posting.

I hate it when I'm responsible for posting the only inaccurate info on the web!  

[blueridgerider]

I thought the Suzuki "Way of Life" campaign where "Car meets Motorcycle" was a successful infusion to brand both auto and powersports. I know their product-focused advertising got me thinking about their auto brands.

Problem with tie-ins like that it is the utter cheapness of their cars (test drove a Vitara and thought the interior pieces were going to fall apart in my hand), makes me wary of their bikes.

[atadaskew]

Suzuki TL1000s.  I bit into the Japanese Ducati thing - meant to have more power with the Japanese reliability.  Was the most unreliable vehicle I ever owned.   I was one of the first to get one, and paid MSRP... let me tell you how much it sucks to see them sitting on the showroom floor just a couple of months later being discounted by $3K!  Which means my used one was worth, oh, about a nickel...
 

[Busy Little Whiner]

If your bike has that distinctive syncopated beat of an race bred V4 then you don't need marketing
because it will sell itself... whereas the ripped paper sound of the I4 relics are getting harder to sell
since MotoGp changed the way a true race bike sounds...

distinctive syncopated beat of an race bred V4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDUsbtx8-QY&feature=related#

[DogBoy]

I would like to throw my bike in there for worst marketing.  I have a Kawasaki 2005 Z750S which 20-30 years ago would have been a top selling bike.  However in todays world of Cruiser or Super Sport a UJM can only make it for 2 model years.  It truly is a great do everything bike and is more bike than most riders need, however it was never marketed at all.  You could also look at the Honda 919 and 599.  All very good bikes that just don't get the attention they deserve in the US but sell amazingly over seas.

20-30 years ago the GPz750 sold pretty well. It's basically the same bike.



 

Uh...er...the 2005 Z750s is a totally different bike from the air-cooled ZR-7S. The Z750s is a liquid cooled, FI small bore version of the Z1000 with cheaper forks, a cheaper swingarm and a quater-fairing (among other differences). The two share no parts.

Neither bike would qualify as one of the biggest marketing successes or failures.

2005 Z750s:

[Jeff N]