New St bike - 300lbs, 350 mile range, $3200

[Rogue]

If we all used pure logical sense when we buy motorcycles, we would all buy the VFR800.  

Or grow pointy ears--whichever.

[Sport-Touring]

[Kneescrubber]

If we all used pure logical sense when we buy motorcycles, we would all buy the VFR800.

Damn skippy!  

[HipGnosis]

I was told there'd be no logic when I joined ST.N

[bomber]

It's rare that a promise is kept so well, innit?

[Jason F.]

If the Hooligun lands cheaply with the US market OHC 250cc motor I might have to look at one. Never will forgive myself for missing out on the dirt cheap cheap DRZ400sm that came up for sale nearby a couple years ago.

http://www.clevelandcyclewerks.com/bikes/tha-hooligun-by-cleveland-cyclewerks/



Dealer near by as well.  Hmmm

[atadaskew]

All equal, I'll take the Honda CB250 or something similar.

Chinese-made isn't getting my attention in a positive way.

Huh, just noticed that Honda is made in the People's Republic of China.

[Kneescrubber]

Huh, just noticed that Honda is made in the People's Republic of China.

Duh, 90% of what the world buys is at least partially manufactured in China.

[gritsngravy]

Way to much slick hip bullshiite marketing trying oh so hard to sell this as everything but Chinese.   When ya gotta try that hard to convince folks its a wonderful globally sourced masterpiece that's the time to run, fast.    To small, slow, and of questionable quality for my tastes.   Toilet resale alone is a reason to keep away from this citrus.

If you have to have a brand new 250 might as well spend a bit more and get the cbr250 which is made in Thailand & India.     Regardless of what you might think of Honda, you'll be able re sell a popular brand when the time to move on comes.  


I'm waiting for the bound foot worship thread.......    

  

[Andrew]

If we all used pure logical sense when we buy motorcycles, we would all buy the VFR800 a Yamaha.  

Or grow pointy ears--whichever.

FTFU

[atadaskew]

If you have to have a brand new 250 might as well spend a bit more and get the cbr250

  

But what if the new 250 you want is not a plastic sporty looking bike, but a naked cafe looking bike?

You're method results in someone paying $1000 more for a bike they don't want.
 

[Fourstring]

Way to much slick hip bullshiite marketing trying oh so hard to sell this as everything but Chinese.   When ya gotta try that hard to convince folks its a wonderful globally sourced masterpiece that's the time to run, fast.    To small, slow, and of questionable quality for my tastes.   Toilet resale alone is a reason to keep away from this citrus.
 

Sorta agree.  I'm not crazy about Chinese products, but I'm encouraged a little when I compare his marketing to, say, a Johnny Pag.  Cleveland is at least marketing to people that care about USD forks, stainless lines, and fuel gauges, not to mention that the founder also has some track days under his belt and discusses directly that the engines do come from China but bikes are assembled here.  Plus, it looks like he's made parts, even gas tanks, available for purchase online if dealer networks are sparse.

Compare this to Pag's proclamations of "Stainless spokes and exhaust!  Real chopper looks!  Locking gas cap! A real triple clamp!  Be a bad ass!"  

If we're to eventually have a new US motorcycle manufacturer in today's global market, making cool bikes people actually buy, I think Cleveland's formula for getting there is better than some.

 

[Kraz]

That looks like a whole lotta fun!  

I'd trust that over the no-name Korean off brand bikes they sell out in Cali.

If I had money to burn - a few small bikes from an American entrepreneur would be a good and fun way to spend it.

http://www.clevelandcyclewerks.com/bikes/tha-hooligun-by-cleveland-cyclewerks/



Dealer near by as well.  Hmmm

[gritsngravy]

But what if the new 250 you want is not a plastic sporty looking bike, but a naked cafe looking bike?

You're method results in someone paying $1000 more for a bike they don't want.
 

Not a method, just the smarter choice IMO.   Penny wise and pound foolish and all that.  

I know the cafe look is all the rage and all but it does nothing for me.   I get it that cash can be an issue BTDT so I say use your imagination, drop back and punt.  With a $3k budget and some elbow grease there are many used choices that for me are much better.   Old Yamaha RD 250/350/400's can be bought and made streetable, restore an 80s era suzuki gs450, a myriad of old hondas make excellent cafe bikes, then there is the cb400f from the 70's the holy honda cafe grail.   SR 500, xs 650 and hell didn't Suzuki make a small single?  

Endless choices for the $$ challenged if you're willing and able.  

[dietDrThunder]

I'd trust that over the no-name Korean off brand bikes they sell out in Cali.

What, like Hyosung?

Three guesses as to who manufactured most of the 1st gen SV650 motors (one of the all-time awesome motors ever imo)?

[ConPilot1]

Korea??

Ahh I win a date with Bella ............

[HipGnosis]

Cleveland is at least marketing to people that care about USD forks, stainless lines, and fuel gauges, not to mention that the founder also has some track days under his belt and discusses directly that the engines do come from China but bikes are assembled here.  Plus, it looks like he's made parts, even gas tanks, available for purchase online if dealer networks are sparse.

I did not realize all that.  My interest just went up!  But I'll still wait until it / they are 400cc or bigger.

[Testcase]

That's a groovy bike. I already have a Thruxton but I dig that one. I'm a Harbor Freight-a-holic so the M.I.C. thing is a non-issue to me. They claim a local dealer to me, I'm going to have to go take a peek

[Rogue]

The man who made this happen tried everthing he could to get as many parts made here in the USA.  According the articles I read, most of the US suppliers were willing to supplying him--they were all deftly afraid of litigation.  Can you blame them?  It's now fashionable to sue the manufacturer of a car if you can't get the mileage you want--and so many members here were okay with that!  Big surprise.  So he ended up going to China to get the parts and the bike made there because they were all willing to make it for him.  Perhaps China is too far for our blood sucking lawyers to reach?

So yeah.  Bash it all you want because it's made in China.  But I hear this story time and time again.  It cost so much to make anything here in the USA.  When you do find a way, the government steps in and wants money from you for regulatory taxes, environmental fees, insurance, etc., etc.,  Then the insurance companies kick in and they also want money from your business to insure risk.  The state wants money too!  How the fuck can a start up company get started when the cost of starting up to manufacture anything here in the US is so astronomical that the product ends up being uncompetitive?  The bottom line is only the biggest, most powerful corporations are able to make anything in the US because they can afford it and have the protection of their own lawyers!  It's fucking ridiculous how we Americans complain about nothing being built here, yet as soon as someone asks the question, nobody is willing to help and everyone has their hand in the cookie jar!  

I say to hell with it!  If it's made in China and it has the quality that it needs to have, then I'm good with it.  The owner of CCW tried to make it here but the hurdles he faced were too ridiculous to overcome so he went to another source.  You can blame the litigous nature of our society, the overly high salaries demanded by the American worker, and the overly restrictive government regulation for all that.  

[HipGnosis]

we Americans complain about nothing being built here, yet as soon as someone asks the question, nobody is willing to help

 Just how are we suppose to (or potentially able to) help??

 If it's made in China and it has the quality that it needs to have, then I'm good with it.

 The BIG question here IS the 'quality'.   Well, that and no bike appeals to everyone.

You can blame the litigous nature of our society, the overly high salaries demanded by the American worker union, and the overly restrictive government regulation for all that.  

FTFY

[Rogue]

  Just how are we suppose to (or potentially able to) help??

  The BIG question here IS the 'quality'.   Well, that and no bike appeals to everyone.

FTFY

You missed my point.  

When I started my business many years ago, I was shocked at how our system was set up.  Instead of encouraging me to get started and make money, everyone seems to have their hands in my pocket book!  The government, State and Federal, the insurance companies, and even suppliers.  That's what I mean when I said "people are not willing to help".

The guy who started CCW wanted to have the bike made here in the USA but none of the suppliers he spoke to were willing partners.  It was the Chinese suppliers that made the product possible and allowed CCW to exist selling these bikes.