Why do the europeans get all the cool toys?

[I_FLY_LOW]

I like some of the differences in the bikes they have over there.. like this one....
http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/2008/XL700VTransalp/index.html

[2Evil4U]

couple reasons off the top of my head:

less government regulation of vehicle build and performance.

market driven more by thorobred horse english riding style and seating position rather than western horse riding style and position.

plus people don't buy bikes based on amount of chrome and lack of lean angle.

[Britton]

Here's another example:

http://www.yamaha-motor-europe.com/products/motorcycles/adventure/xt660z.jsp

I guess Japan thinks that all we, here in the US, ride is cruisers. Actually, last year the US adventure touring/dual sport market was the only motorcycle segement to grow. It grew at an amazing 19%.

The really wierd thing is the KLR is not availble in Europe.

[I_FLY_LOW]

Yea... that's another one I saw and liked, that someone here had pics of in the gallery...

[Bayou Boy]

I really like this one.
700cc Vtwin. Kinda an ST1300 light.

[scooterhose]

I like to look on the bright side. How many euros have an AR15 in their gun collection?


Aren't European bikes limited to 100 hp?qwer Dunno.

[I_FLY_LOW]

i like the looks and styling of some of em.. I really haven't looked into the numbers... Seems like we have a certain look with the bikes that we wind up with.. basically, you see one you've seen them all...

[allanj255]

I like to look on the bright side. How many euros have an AR15 in their gun collection?


Aren't European bikes limited to 100 hp?qwer Dunno.

No The Yamaha YZF-R1 on sale in the UK puts out about 180 BHP Triumph Speed Tripple 131 BHP, Rocket III, 140 BHP. Ducati 1098 puts out 160 BHP. But there is ongoing pressure from various anti bike groups to put in a 100 bhp limit but we are hanging on.
How about this? http://www.ducati.com/od/ducatiuk/en/bikes/model.jhtml?model=2288
UZI

[Ritten]

How many euros have an AR15 in their gun collection?



:1stplace:

[scooterhose]

Hypermotard 1100s : Droool slurp drool.:






No The Yamaha YZF-R1 on sale in the UK puts out about 180 BHP Triumph Speed Tripple 131 BHP, Rocket III, 140 BHP. Ducati 1098 puts out 160 BHP. But there is ongoing pressure from various anti bike groups to put in a 100 bhp limit but we are hanging on.
How about this? http://www.ducati.com/od/ducatiuk/en/bikes/model.jhtml?model=2288
UZI

[scooterhose]

:1stplace:


I love the gun range...smells like, freedom.;)

[allanj255]

Here is my best 2 buddies from my Army days.
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff268/allanj255/l85A1.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff268/allanj255/gpmg.gif
Have to make do with this now, due to crap UK gun laws
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff268/allanj255/bsa.jpg

[Radar]

Mark @ Friendly explained it to me.
Europeans ride bikes as a necesity due to high fuel cost and easier thru traffic and parking.

Bike manufactures see America as weekend riders and the majority of that is cruisers. there for they don't go thru the hassle of getting all there bikes to our standards and restrictions for off or on road use.

believe me if I had a chance to own a Tenere (yamaha)or African Twin (honda) I would have one in a second.

If you made 10 different products and knew that one contenent would prefer American made cruisers that vibrate terribly and produce very little power.
Why would any fat american who only rides on sunny weekends buy all of your products? So why would you get all your products to pass California or American emissions and dot standards if you could possibly loose money for no reason.

When I win the lotto I will start my own European bike importing business then all my friends will love what they ride. :)

[scooterhose]

Here is my best 2 buddies from my Army days.
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff268/allanj255/l85A1.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff268/allanj255/gpmg.gif
Have to make do with this now, due to crap UK gun laws
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff268/allanj255/bsa.jpg


Cool, I'd like any of these in my collection.

anywhere USA.

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[Junkjeeps]

How hard would it be to get one imported and tagged here? Possibly get a US military person to bring one back with them? Just curious.

Mark

[Britton]

I brought in a Yamaha TZR250R 3MA in the mid-90's and it was pretty easy. I had it partially dissasembled and shipped in two different shipments. That way it came in as parts and customs let it through. When I went to register it here in LA, the DMV asked me to have the Japanese title translated/notarized and then inspected by state troopers. Once I did that, I had a LA title and license. It was fun running aroung the streets on a 250GP bike!!!

[allanj255]

You could get any bike ex UK and all documents would be in English, which should simplify the process. With the new emmission laws in Europe most new bikes should comply with US emission laws. There was some great deals from Yamaha in the UK a few years ago as a lot of their bikes would not meet the new UK emmission laws and dealers were discounting brand new "old stock" bikes by $2000. The down side was if you bought your bike 3 months before the discounts you lost $2000 over nite.

[FreeSky]

Sounds legit. I've noticed more and more people using their bikes to commute (at least at LSU) so maybe the manufacturers will start sending more commuter friendly bikes across the pond for us.

My perfect bike: ~700cc, standard seat, able to do a little mild off-roading, gas mileage > 40mpg



Mark @ Friendly explained it to me.
Europeans ride bikes as a necesity due to high fuel cost and easier thru traffic and parking.

Bike manufactures see America as weekend riders and the majority of that is cruisers. there for they don't go thru the hassle of getting all there bikes to our standards and restrictions for off or on road use.

believe me if I had a chance to own a Tenere (yamaha)or African Twin (honda) I would have one in a second.

If you made 10 different products and knew that one contenent would prefer American made cruisers that vibrate terribly and produce very little power.
Why would any fat american who only rides on sunny weekends buy all of your products? So why would you get all your products to pass California or American emissions and dot standards if you could possibly loose money for no reason.

When I win the lotto I will start my own European bike importing business then all my friends will love what they ride. :)

[allanj255]

Mark @ Friendly explained it to me.
Europeans ride bikes as a necesity due to high fuel cost and easier thru traffic and parking.
UK bucks European trend. 600cc to litre sports bikes with poor MPG consumption are best sellers and mainly used by weekend warriers. The poor weather makes commuting on a daily basis only for the hardy or mad. The car industry on the other hand has responded to high fuel prices, my 1.9TDI Audi averages 55 MPG, with smaller cars giving 70+ MPG, my bike BMW R1150 R returns less than 45 MPG. It amazes me how many Harleys are on British roads, our narrow, twisty and undulating roads are just not suited to long, wide American cruisers.
More and more dual sports bikes are been sold as people try to keep their licences. Litre Sports bikes and fast roads do not mix. Getting caught doing 100 MPH results in an almost certain driving ban. Doing 35 in a 30 or 79 in a 70 limit will get you 3 points and 4 of these (12 points) in a 3 year period gets you a ban.
Driving a car and using a cell phone gets you 3 points and a fine even eating behind the whell will get you 3 points. With the same ban on reaching 12. Fn. UK driving laws :nopity:

[Klantz]

Sounds legit. I've noticed more and more people using their bikes to commute (at least at LSU) so maybe the manufacturers will start sending more commuter friendly bikes across the pond for us.

My perfect bike: ~700cc, standard seat, able to do a little mild off-roading, gas mileage > 40mpg

Aside from the 700cc part, that's my strom to a T... only it gets a little better mileage than 40 unless you romp on it constantly.