Sodge
Member
Posts: 139
01 I/S bought 07/09 with 1,850 miles
Southwest VA
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« on: December 15, 2009, 06:32:13 PM » |
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RoadBike magazine Nov/Dec has a "letter readers write" by a VRCC member from White Plains, NY I assume G-Man. Previous magazine had an article touting Triumph as the company that decided to produce motorcycles with something other than a V-twin. G-Man pointed out that Honda did it 13 years ago and how the Valk was voted "Cruiser of the Decade" and how no other motorcycle has held that distiction.  |
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Oss
Member
Posts: 12616
The lower Hudson Valley
Ossining NY Chapter Rep VRCCDS0141
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« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2009, 08:56:32 PM » |
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Attaboy G-man ! Can you post the letter? |
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If you don't know where your going any road will take you there
George Harrison
When you come to the fork in the road, take it
Yogi Berra (Don't send it to me C.O.D.)
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Big IV
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« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2009, 03:39:47 AM » |
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Gore Vidal wrote an essay simply called "Drugs." One of the lines that stands out in the essay is when he said, "...collectively Americans have no memory and cannot remember history before last Tuesday" (or something to that effect). That sounds about right in regard to the motorcycle magazine.
See, this is why the Honda Fury should have had an inline four instead of the V twin, so it could have received a kudos from the motorcycle magazines.
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"Ride Free Citizen!"
VRCCDS0176
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Hoser
Member
Posts: 5844
child of the sixties VRCC 17899
Auburn, Kansas
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« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2009, 06:56:30 AM » |
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I think a flat 6 would have looked pretty good in that frame! anybody want to doctor a pic of the Fury? hoser |
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I don't want a pickle, just wanna ride my motor sickle  [img width=300 height=233]http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/ |
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Dogg
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« Reply #4 on: December 16, 2009, 01:22:25 PM » |
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Roadbike mag was supposed to do a big spread on my fat tire valk. I had a falling out wit th ecompany that did the swingarm mod and since, roadbike has pulled thier offer. I dont think too highly of them at this moment....
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G-Man
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« Reply #5 on: December 16, 2009, 01:46:48 PM » |
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Attaboy G-man ! Can you post the letter? Thanks, brother! Chappy Chanukah! |
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Sodge
Member
Posts: 139
01 I/S bought 07/09 with 1,850 miles
Southwest VA
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« Reply #6 on: December 16, 2009, 06:32:45 PM » |
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ALL HAIL THE VALKYRIE!
The article titled Fabulous Thunderbirds touts Triumph as the company that decided to produce motorcycles powered by "different" engines [those other than V-twin]. I'd like to remind you that Honda did this 13 years ago with the introduction of the Valkyrie, which is powered by its bulletproof, flat-six engine. The Valkyrie was voted "Cruiser of the Decade" and truly defined the term power cruiser, with nearly 100 hp. I can't recall any other motorcycle that has ever held that badge of honor. Unfortunately, Americans continue to define cruisers as motorcycles with V-twin engines, thanks to the marketing genius of H-D. I wish Triumph all the luck in the world in overcoming this definition.
Gary L., VRCC, White Plains, NY
"RoadBike reply"
No doubt Honda did venture into uncharted waters with the introduction on the Valk, but with the absence of the Valkyrie from the Honda line, cruisers from Big Red are all powered by "conventional" modern V-twin type engines and its sportbikes utilize in-line fours. But take a study of the Triumph lineup, and you'll find it didn't give in to conventional "wisdom". Triumph is still going its own way.
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G-Man
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« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2009, 07:08:11 AM » |
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I do have to agree with their reply. Honda did cave.  |
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Sodbuster
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« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2009, 10:28:55 AM » |
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I do have to agree with their reply. Honda did cave. Actually, the people caved ... sales were dismal towards the end of the Valkyrie reign. Most everyone jumped on the V-Twin wagon because their friends had one or just because they were a little too insecure to do their own thing. That's my thinking anyway. |
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« Last Edit: December 18, 2009, 03:36:38 PM by Sodbuster »
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VRCC # 30938 '99 Std. - Black & Silver - "Spirit Horse" Dear God, Seriously .... Thanks for creating beer. You rock !!  |
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G-Man
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« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2009, 12:46:51 PM » |
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I do have to agree with their reply. Honda did cave. Actually, the people caved ... sales were dismal towards the end of the Valkyrie reign. Most everyone jumped on the V-Twin wagon because their friends had one or just because they were a little too insecure to do their own thing. That's my thinging anyway. Yes, but, imagine a campaign from Honda, pushing the Valkyrie out there with slogans like "Be your own man", or "Why just fit in", or something along those lines. H-D has free thinkers and souls (All MC riders fit that category) playing follow the leader. Honda should have come up with something to get those free thinkers to be true to their desire to be different. |
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Sodbuster
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« Reply #10 on: December 18, 2009, 04:18:30 PM » |
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I think Honda has always struggled to project any kind of "Individualist" type of image in their products. It always seems to be "Johnny Come Lately" with them with the exception of maybe the GL1000 or CB750K1. In a way I think what has hurt them is the old "You Meet The Nicest People On A Honda" .... Who wants to buy a Honda cruiser and be thought of as a "Nice Guy". Personally I think Yamaha is doing an excellent job of promoting their V Star program. Yeah, it's a V-Twin and looks real similar to an H-D but it still has it's own unique look and image and a pretty good one at that.
A person has to remember that V-Twins have been around a long time and numerous companies built them before the Great Depression. Harley Davidson was just lucky enough to secure a contract with the Armed Forces to survive and then some ingenious marketing in the eighties to buy out AMF. They have a legacy and soul. Plus I think there's quite a few baby boomers out there that want a "Harley" now that the kids are gone and can be that Bad Boy that they've always wanted to be before they're sitting in that nursing home. Images of "The Wild One" and "Easy Rider" fill their minds and want to feel free again.
It's hard to say where things would be if the late Joe Boyd was still alive. He had a vision and thankfully for us we have the BEST cruiser ever made. And it will definitely be interesting to see if Triumph's RocketIII is a successful product sales-wise. Things may be opening up in the cruiser market to appeal to customers who may've not considered a cruiser at all in past years and make it more attractive to Mother Honda to re-born the almighty Valkyrie. Long live the Valkyrie
Sorry for ramblin on ......
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VRCC # 30938 '99 Std. - Black & Silver - "Spirit Horse" Dear God, Seriously .... Thanks for creating beer. You rock !! |
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Tropic traveler
Member
Posts: 3117
Livin' the Valk, er, F6B life in Central Florida.
Silver Springs, Florida
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« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2009, 08:39:47 PM » |
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Great analysis Sodbuster, my thoughts near exact! Way to go G-Man Sometimes you gotta wake those short-memoried "journalists" up.  BTW.... whoever said that the "potato-potato" sound of an American made V-twin bike was the ultimate cool sound for a motorcycle ?? I always thought the wail of a flat six or inline four at full throttle was quite stirring myself!   |
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'13 F6B black-the real new Valkyrie Tourer
'13 F6B red for Kim
'97 Valkyrie Tourer r&w, OLDFRT's ride now!
'98 Valkyrie Tourer burgundy & cream traded for Kim's F6B
'05 SS 750 traded for Kim's F6B
'99 Valkyrie black & silver Tourer, traded in on my F6B
'05 Triumph R3 gone but not forgotten!
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Hoser
Member
Posts: 5844
child of the sixties VRCC 17899
Auburn, Kansas
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« Reply #12 on: December 23, 2009, 11:42:37 PM » |
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I agree on the wail, I've ridden multis ever since my 1st CB750 in 1971 because of that wail. hoser |
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I don't want a pickle, just wanna ride my motor sickle [img width=300 height=233]http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/ |
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dipstick
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« Reply #13 on: December 24, 2009, 05:07:39 AM » |
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I do have to agree with their reply. Honda did cave. Actually, the people caved ... sales were dismal towards the end of the Valkyrie reign. Most everyone jumped on the V-Twin wagon because their friends had one or just because they were a little too insecure to do their own thing. That's my thinking anyway. Yeah but I cant imagine that Triumph is seeing BIG numbers of Rockets flying out of the showroom, but they are still building them, and even this year expanding the lineup. I hate it that Honda is falling behind the other brands in cruisers. I feel in the V-twin market the other 3 jap brands are staying pretty far ahead of the Honda. |
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Doc Moose
Member
Posts: 748
VRCC#506 - VRCCDS#0002 - BOTS
W. Indyanner / Central Florida
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« Reply #14 on: December 24, 2009, 01:28:16 PM » |
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Honda: Poor marketing and sales strategy. Tried to outdo H-D in the V-twinkie wars and couldn't overpower the image H-D portrays as a true American bike and image. I don't think it is all the "jap crap" thing either, other foreign bikes have had trouble too. Glad that Yammer, Suzies, Kawas are still in the hunt.
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 Retired OF - Everyday is Saturday! GW/Roadsmith Trike |
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Sodbuster
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« Reply #15 on: December 24, 2009, 02:50:26 PM » |
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Honda: Poor marketing and sales strategy. Right on the money .... When I was looking at buying a Valk it was that or an H-D Road King. I think I made the right choice .... I've always been partial to Honda's but I really think this may be the last Honda I ever buy, they just don't have anything that's to my liking these days. Seem's like things went kinda down hill after Mr Honda passed on. |
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VRCC # 30938 '99 Std. - Black & Silver - "Spirit Horse" Dear God, Seriously .... Thanks for creating beer. You rock !! |
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Hoser
Member
Posts: 5844
child of the sixties VRCC 17899
Auburn, Kansas
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« Reply #16 on: December 24, 2009, 05:25:34 PM » |
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I don't want a pickle, just wanna ride my motor sickle [img width=300 height=233]http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/ |
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