[Kuiil]

The Japanese manufacturers, have you all totally conned, bamboozled and completely hornswoggled.

They have you all believing, that even the calmest of cruisers and touring bikes, shouldn't have shaft drives or center stands, because you might lose a few horsepower and some precious cornering clearance.

The truth is, chain drives are much cheaper to build... and now that you all believe their tankful of swill, they don't even have to design around center stands.

You guys have probably saved them several hundred million dollars in production costs, as you clumsily lift your bikes up on some unstable contraption, just to change your oil and get filthy chain lube all over your back wheel.

You know, most street riders really need that 25 lb. low center of gravity weight reduction, 8 extra net horsepower and half inch more cornering clearance, for those mythical twisties, you all seem to be so obsessed with.

Most of us, can't even come close to out-riding the bikes we have on public roads. The Japanese manufacturers have successfully tricked you all and are many millions of dollars richer for it.

I have spoken.

 

[FlipFlop]

Some of what you say, I agree with, some I don't. Welcome to the site as you came in with a definite roar

 

[Kuiil]

...as you came in with a definite roar ...

Well described and received! I see you are a fellow wordsmith! Cheers to you!

 

[Tinsnips]

You had me at hornswoggled. I know a quality rant when I see it. I’m not sure I agree on all of it either but you get the nod of approval for the flair. High points for style too.

 

[SemiFast]

S F

 

[Kuiil]

Thank you guys for the warm welcome! Most appreciated! I thought I was going to get zapped!

If any of these were made new, in updated versions, any and/or all of them would be sitting in my garage right now:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kawasaki+gt750

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=suzuki+katana+gs650g

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=honda+nighthawk+700s

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=yamaha+xj+900+s

 

[Kuiil]

You had me at hornswoggled. I know a quality rant when I see it. I’m not sure I agree on all of it either but you get the nod of approval for the flair. High points for style too.

Thank you!

 

[Kuiil]

Hey, I resemble that remark. Except the mythical part...

Would you accept "artistic licensure" as qualified reason?

 

[RogerC60]

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=honda+nighthawk+700s

Yes. My wife is teetering on a decision to get a bike and start riding, and the Nighthawk is always one she points to and says, "Why can't we find something like that?"

 

[SemiFast]

Would you accept "artistic licensure" as qualified reason?

I believe I could because I should so yes I would.

S F

 

[Kuiil]

Yes. My wife is teetering on a decision to get a bike and start riding, and the Nighthawk is always one she points to and says, "Why can't we find something like that?"

Possibly a stupid suggestion? Maybe have a look at this:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=suzuki+boulevard+s40

...and if she really likes it, perhaps a few choice components from this kit:

suzuki boulevard s40 cafe kit - Google Search

❓

(suggestion made, because of the above ➕ clean, low maintenance belt drive)

 

[Unkle Krusty]

Wot about Moto Guzzi and the Italian conspiracy? Wot about BMW and the German conspiracy.
I removed the center stand from my XS11 with a shaft drive.
I shortened the center stand on my Triumph Trophy with a chain drive.
I use a cheap industrial chain on my XS400, and retained the center stand.
My SV1000S does not have a center stand, so I bought one of those lifty things.
My CT00 has and extra length of chain, to be added when the large sprocket is used. This is for the high low gearing change. UK

 

[Kuiil]

Yes. My wife is teetering on a decision to get a bike and start riding, and the Nighthawk is always one she points to and says, "Why can't we find something like that?"

PS...or this:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=honda+nt700v+deauville+review

❔

 

[Kuiil]

Wot about Moto Guzzi and the Italian conspiracy? Wot about BMW and the German conspiracy.
I removed the center stand from my XS11 with a shaft drive.
I shortened the center stand on my Triumph Trophy with a chain drive.
I use a cheap industrial chain on my XS400, and retained the center stand.
My SV1000S does not have a center stand, so I bought one of those lifty things.
My CT00 has and extra length of chain, to be added when the large sprocket is used. This is for the high low gearing change. UK

Excellent thoughts! As of this discussion, I might try cafe-ing out a:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=honda+nt700v+deauville+review

 

[Annihilator]

It doesn't just save the manufacturer money, it saves the consumer money. If you add every feature possible to a motorcycle then my $7500 OTD FZ09 would have cost $20k.

Also, weight is a huge factor with chain drive over shaft drive. Not everyone wants a bike that weighs 600lbs+. Some of us value lightness over everything.

 

[Kuiil]

It doesn't just save the manufacturer money, it saves the consumer money. If you add every feature possible to a motorcycle then my $7500 OTD FZ09 would have cost $20k.

Also, weight is a huge factor with chain drive over shaft drive. Not everyone wants a bike that weighs 600lbs+. Some of us value lightness over everything.

(my apologies in advance, just couldn't resist)​

 

[BAZININJA]

Excellent thoughts! As of this discussion, I might try cafe-ing out a:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=honda+nt700v+deauville+review

Welcome from the Missouri Ozarks!

Now THAT would be interesting. I had a 2010 NT700V for about 35,000 miles. They're tall and top-heavy so they fall into corners great--but they're also tall and top-heavy. 😡

 

[BAZININJA]

PS...or this:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=honda+nt700v+deauville+review

❔

The NT700V wouldn't be a beginner bike for most folks, especially the vertically-challenged, which most women tend to be (How tall is your wife, Roger?) They're also a pretty portly 600 lbs (the NT, not most women ), plus however much stuff you cram into the cases (I had the optional top case on mine), which is something to consider when you think about having to pick it up alone if it's dropped. I could pick up mine (I'm 5'2", somewhere in the neighborhood of 145lbs), provided it was flat, paved, dry, the stars were aligned just so, and I held my tongue right. But I never turned down any help that was cheerfully offered. Luckily, they have built in front fairing guards so they don't go all the way down. And some of us on the NT forum took to adding automotive bumper guards to the side bags to keep them from getting scraped up in a drop. I had the wide lids and the lower fairing, both of which had to be ordered from the UK.

 

[BAZININJA]

Chains are a pain, I agree. I do miss the shaft drives on my Hondas, and the centerstand on my NT was handy, even though I needed help to deploy it. Is it a conspiracy? Dunno. But I added a Scottoiler to my NINJA 650 so I wouldn't have to mess with lubing the chain every time I turn around. I have to have help putting my bike on the rear stand, and I don't want to have to bother my family every week for it, not to mention when I'm on a 3000-4000 mile trip every summer. Heck, I'm about 375 miles from my folks, so I would have to dink with it on the other end when I ride up to see them, too.

 

[Doktor]

The Japanese manufacturers, have you all totally conned, bamboozled and completely hornswoggled.

My CT00 has and extra length of chain, to be added when the large sprocket is used. This is for the high low gearing change. UK

Rather than a conspiracy, this is the reason for chain drives - it allows for variation in sprocket ratios, which a shaft can't, and the fact that a set of sprockets and chain is way cheaper than a differential rebuild.