Canada MotoGuide on Project Creep: crazy specs for new bikes

Great article.

Embarassingly, I've owned two bikes (FZ6/FZ1) described in the article as being destroyed by committee, and I've liked both of them, especially the FZ6 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
Good read. Can't say I agree with all of it, but I do agree with most of it.

Also sort of reminds me how the old CBR600F4i was superseded by the CBR600RR, which was made progressively 'harder' with each revision. Given the recent news, it looks like Honda is now backtracking slightly, given that bike's specs creeped up to the production costs of the CBR1000RR superbike.

The funny part is, although one might think they learned their lesson, the CBR250R still seems to be heading in the 'more is more' direction. Makes me wonder what the new one will cost when it finally does come out.
 
It happens all the time in the auto industry and bikes are no different. The new Honda Civic is bigger than Accord of not too long ago. So-called "half ton" pickups are enormous.
 
This happens, literally, with every engineering field (the TTC too lol)
 
This article is a combination of subjective, and being wrong. The 2006-2010 FZ6, TL1000R, and Rune are all good bikes in my eyes. The 2nd gen FZ1... maaaybe? I can give him that it did not have universal appeal. Then again, neither did the 1st gen - some people were put off by the tube steel frame and the lack of fuel injection. I'm not saying those people were right one way or the other. I'm hard-pressed to believe that Honda ever expected the Rune to be a commercial success. Honda has not been afraid of experiments, and I consider the Rune one of them. (I also think it's neat - if I was a well off bike collector, I would own one). The TL1000R ended production at the same time 1000cc inline 4s were allowed in World Superbike. What a crazy coincidence! The FZ6 was in fact not replaced by the discount FZ6R, but by the FZ8. I don't understand how he could have worked for Yamaha and be willfully blind to that fact.
 
I sure as hell am left wondering how with all the knowledge and technology available today they are unable to build a solid e.g. touring type bike or naked bike.

Get owner feedback, get competitions +/- and add the good parts to your bike.

But then again if you make a 'solid' bike then there will be nothing left to develop or buy.

How stupid can they be to create tachs that you can not see in the daytime?
I guess they created and implemented from the basement.
 
Good read. Another bike that fell victim to over design was the Suzuki B-King. Saw one on the road the other day and it's obnoxiously huge exhaust outlets look completely overdone and disingenuous when you see the majority of the outlet is black plastic with little exhaust outlets in the middle. What were they thinking.

Funny about the cbr250 - I completely disagree with his mention. 250 street bikes for the most part were never intended on being long term, comfortable bikes. Having started to ride in a decade where 250s looked plain boring if not ugly... This is was the biggest deterrent for new riders, and played a big role in them wanting to skip the 250 and jump to a bigger bike. Most riders want a good looking bike that looks cool... And now with that 2016 cbr250, they're finally delivering and as far as I'm concerned, getting it. Good for Honda.
 
Last edited:
TwistedKestrel said:
This article is a combination of subjective, and being wrong. The 2006-2010 FZ6, TL1000R, and Rune are all good bikes in my eyes. The 2nd gen FZ1... maaaybe? I can give him that it did not have universal appeal. Then again, neither did the 1st gen - some people were put off by the tube steel frame and the lack of fuel injection. I'm not saying those people were right one way or the other. I'm hard-pressed to believe that Honda ever expected the Rune to be a commercial success. Honda has not been afraid of experiments, and I consider the Rune one of them. (I also think it's neat - if I was a well off bike collector, I would own one). The TL1000R ended production at the same time 1000cc inline 4s were allowed in World Superbike. What a crazy coincidence! The FZ6 was in fact not replaced by the discount FZ6R, but by the FZ8. I don't understand how he could have worked for Yamaha and be willfully blind to that fact.
Click to expand...

Good points, especially regarding the FZ8 (which was/is a great bike).
Forum Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom