New 2012 Honda NC700X 700cc Parallel Twin!

[deputygene]

Don't know if it means anything, but I sent in one of the petitions for Honda to bring the Transalp to the US. I included my phone number and actually got a call back. The Honda guy seemed interested in my opinion, what I wanted and hinted to keep watching the Honda website. I will buy a 2012 Transalp if they bring it here.

[wheatwhacker]

Originally Posted by deputygene

Don't know if it means anything, but I sent in one of the petitions for Honda to bring the Transalp to the US. I included my phone number and actually got a call back. The Honda guy seemed interested in my opinion, what I wanted and hinted to keep watching the Honda website. I will buy a 2012 Transalp if they bring it here.

Would you really buy one? Have you ever even sat on one?
I had 2 of them here in my garage a few months ago. They did not impress me at all. They are a nice looking bike but, not great looking and nothing like the africa twin. They also have way more plastic than the old model which was a complete disaster here in the states back in the day.

There is no way the transalp will be brought here to compete with the wee strom. You have to remember that the USA is not a very profitable place to sell motorcycles. It's a great place to get rid of volume and if the buyers in Europe are happy paying the price they do for them, why sell them here for pennies of profit. The problem is when the volume does not sell, then the bike is a loss maker.

I'll say it again, reintroduce the Africa twin, give it the same bodywork as the old model, better motor and suspension and it will be a serious contender for the new strom and blow the tiger and the GS 800 out of the water.

Can someone please stop pressing the snooze button at the Honda plant and wake them up to whats going on in the market.

[deputygene]

Would you really buy one? Have you ever even sat on one?
I had 2 of them here in my garage a few months ago. They did not impress me at all. They are a nice looking bike but, not great looking and nothing like the africa twin. They also have way more plastic than the old model which was a complete disaster here in the states back in the day.

I haven't ridden a new one, that's for sure. But, I have sat on, and even rode, an 89 TA. I liked it, liked the seating position, the smooth power, and the ride. That one was for sale, but I didn't have the money right then and it was gone when I had the money up.
I would love to see the Africa Twin re-introduced, however they are out of production and the TransAlp is not. They are popular in Europe, known for their reliability. I like the plastics on the older TA better, but the new TA's looks good too. I think it would be just the ticket for my wife and I. Yeah, I think the price point would be competitive with the WEE, and I would buy one.
Here is a link to a review of a 700 TA. Also compares to older 600 TA.
http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/transal...p-700-a-3.html

[eakins]

Originally Posted by wheatwhacker

Would you really buy one? Have you ever even sat on one?
I had 2 of them here in my garage a few months ago. They did not impress me at all. They are a nice looking bike but, not great looking and nothing like the africa twin. They also have way more plastic than the old model which was a complete disaster here in the states back in the day.

There is no way the transalp will be brought here to compete with the wee strom. You have to remember that the USA is not a very profitable place to sell motorcycles. It's a great place to get rid of volume and if the buyers in Europe are happy paying the price they do for them, why sell them here for pennies of profit. The problem is when the volume does not sell, then the bike is a loss maker.

I'll say it again, reintroduce the Africa twin, give it the same bodywork as the old model, better motor and suspension and it will be a serious contender for the new strom and blow the tiger and the GS 800 out of the water.

Can someone please stop pressing the snooze button at the Honda plant and wake them up to whats going on in the market.

i've always liked this modded one.

[bluesman]

I do not think that Transalp 700 would do well anywhere. Actually it did not do well so far on this side of the pond. I mean - did not do well in sales.
I know I am going to get some owners angry at me for this, but I rode it and it is so...so....I do not know...pizza delivery bike feel. Boring. Nothing stands out. Slow in comparison with quite a few bikes, squishy handling in comparison with other quite a few, not really pretty and pain in the a...e to service (dear God, I lost count of screws to get closer to engine). WAY to heavy to even resemble adventure bike. It's just kinda UJM without kick. Many people like it, many don't. But isn't riding at least in a bit about excitement and pushing it? Isn't it reason several makes broke through in market share? Isn't it easier to buy 1993 Honda Civic and ride it without single hitch for one million kms if it would be just about moving a to b?
And when I say soul or feel - do not tell me that "soul means unreliable etc". I won't agree. I have my old VTR1000F and that motor is full of soul and sound to go with it, yet it is reliable and friendly machine to ride. Even Goldwing have that. Even Deauville have that - it's oddball looks at least! Africa was so popular because it was so different approach to adventure bike. And surprisingly easy taking spills. But new Alp...in my native language we have saying "not fish, nor meat". This is so much about new alp. I am amazed at people lusting over it without even trying what it is.

Rant off.

TwoPlugs, are they surely going to show new bikes on EICMA? Reason - I am going (for something else) there with whole bunch of friends and may be need to take good camera with me?

[Crash48]

Originally Posted by wheatwhacker

There is no way the transalp will be brought here to compete with the wee strom. You have to remember that the USA is not a very profitable place to sell motorcycles. It's a great place to get rid of volume and if the buyers in Europe are happy paying the price they do for them, why sell them here for pennies of profit. The problem is when the volume does not sell, then the bike is a loss maker.

...at least until that part of the Japanese bke manufacturer's 'U.S export non competition agreement' runs its course. Suzuki's Wee might just be in its last year of non compete from Honda.

[eakins]

Originally Posted by Crash48

...at least until that part of the Japanese bke manufacturer's 'U.S export non competition agreement' runs its course. Suzuki's Wee might just be in its last year of non compete from Honda.

each of the japanese mfg. are not competing against each other???
where are you getting that idea?

[1224R]

Calling those "dual sports" oy vey....

[GrahamD]

Originally Posted by Crash48

...at least until that part of the Japanese bke manufacturer's 'U.S export non competition agreement' runs its course. Suzuki's Wee might just be in its last year of non compete from Honda.

Seems to me the if any "non competition" comes into it it would have to be leveled at the feet of the US importers.

Look around the world, The Japanese compete and very hard.

If the market is small Honda US may not bring in a model because they know that they will have to build a market.

Just as YAMAHA are doing now with the S10. It takes time and effort and possibly losses "in that market" to do that and as has been proven often enough, what sells in other parts of the world may not sell in the US.

I know it's a total; cliche' but Cruisers sell in the US and "ADV" bikes sell in Europe up to this point. The rest of the world, the fast growing parts, are looking at scooters and small cc bikes. So if you want variety I suggest you all get into the small cc bike segment. You will be flooded with choice.

The rest are just niche' products. The days of the US being the driver of product is fading. If you want variety the US will have to learn to pay more for the smaller and smaller volumes they require. AT least the ADV segment is declining more slowly than the rest, but that is not a great rap for the market, but may draw more focus to that segment as its percentages increase.

Each importer will be asking themselves how they die more slowly than the others. On the other hand if they tax the crap out of petrol that may change, but that's not about to happen.

Cheers
Graham

[precarious]

I recall seeing numerous articles about how the adventure-touring market was the fastest growing US segment. A few years ago, the motorcycle industry would have been in the negatives if it weren't for an adventure and dual-sport sales bloom. But, I don't know what the stats are, now.

Maybe Honda wants to see how well the Super Tenere fares being a late, premium addition to the market. More variety is always a good thing.

[Two Plugs]

Unfortunately (or should I say predictibly) not the Africa Twin Successor I thought it would be. But I love the specs:
48 Bhp / 60 Nm Torque / 218 kg

[Two Plugs]

more

[Two Plugs]

and more

[Two Plugs]

and more... in this trim, it looks like the bigger Cross Tourer (see http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...7#post17251167 )

[Two Plugs]

In detail...