A new NT rumored

Finally Mr Honda is talking my language...My 900 parallel Triumph Bonnie has the nicest smooth motor you could wish for..( dual counter balancers)
.yes the Africa twin will do the job.....oh and while your at it larger pannier lids...just saying...
 
Interesting, hopefully they can pair a shaft drive with that twin. The CRF1000L is in the low 500s. With cast wheels, and needed touring stuff I'd guess around 600lbs wet. MPG of the Africa Twin isn't bad either, with fuelly reports putting it pretty much the same as the NT700V. It's possible with a bit more aero on a touring bike, they might be able to improve that some.
 
I do wish there were more options like the NT. Smaller size, wind protection, bags, shaft.
Not enough interest, or more to the point not enough $$ for the manufacturers to get interested.
These leftover NTs we have will not last forever. Even as good as the mechanicals are eventually the plastic body panels will take them out of service.

Brad
 
Funny how a 1,000 cc motorcycle is considered a middle weight. I can only imagine what the price will be.
 
Warren said:
I can only imagine what the price will be.
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Ugly to say the least I suspect...but it won't matter. After the reception the NT had it won't be imported to the North American market is my bet...:rolleyes:
 
Warren said:
Funny how a 1,000 cc motorcycle is considered a middle weight. I can only imagine what the price will be.
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My guess would be 15-20K. It would depend if they want to put a bunch of electronic gadgets on it that would create a huge margin such as I am suggesting. DCT would also be on the board as well.
 
Is there a market for a middleweight tourer? That to me is Question #1. There is a market for a middleweight ADV bike but probably in the 700-800 cc range.
 
DirtFlier said:
Is there a market for a middleweight tourer? That to me is Question #1. There is a market for a middleweight ADV bike but probably in the 700-800 cc range.
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Here's the thing. EPA and CARB compliance testing is quite expensive for any company to do for any new engine design. The engine used in the African Twin has already been tested and approved for sale in the US and California. It would be logical to use this engine or any other that has already met all the required testing. With that being said, another engine candidate would be the NC750 engine. Again DCT would be an option with this engine.

I think Honda is going to be pursuing DCT in the near future to attract new riders. As you know the Baby Boomer Generation is leaving motorcycle riding at an alarming rate. My generation, Generation X is not as big as a whole when compared to the Baby Boomer Generation. Generation Y or Millennials are not that interested in motorcycling as much as generation Xer's. They are busy raising a family and paying for expensive housing. Generation Z, which my children are part of being in High School and college bond. High student loans debt, finding a job and eventually starting a family of their own is higher on the priority list. This generation will not have any disposable income to buy a new or any motorcycle as they will consider them as an unnecessary luxury.

As the younger riders hang up their mohawked helmets to raise a family or to pursue other life choices. It is the rest of us born between 1946 to 1980 to carry the motorcycle industry in the US. We are the aging generations and at some point will have to leave the cycling world at some point for one reason or another. Then who will be left to carry the torch sort of speak, the Millennials???
 
The world is in constant change. There are those that adapt and change and those that don't. The motorcycle industry is no different. Unlike Harley Davidson the Japanese motorcycle companies diversified their markets and product lines long ago and are no longer dependent on sales in the US. Ultimately the American consumer will decide how large and what the market for motorcycles will be. It seems pretty clear that is is unlikely to be what it once was in its heyday.
 
I think millennials' general apathy towards motorcycles in the US can be squarely put on the shoulders of boomers and their ridiculous behaviour on H-Ds. Kids generally don't rush to emulate their parents.
 
I have to chuckle at H-D's idea that a $29k elec bike will attract newbies to motorcycling. Huh? To me, newbies wouldn't want to spend more than $8-10K because they really don't know if they'll enjoy riding.

An equally big hurdle is getting long time dealers, who were weaned on selling Road Kings & Sportsters for decades, to sell an elec bike. Heck most of them hated the Buell and as a result never had one in inventory!
 
NewTo700V said:
I think millennials' general apathy towards motorcycles in the US can be squarely put on the shoulders of boomers and their ridiculous behaviour on H-Ds. Kids generally don't rush to emulate their parents.
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I found this article that discusses Millennials and motorcycle. Millennials Are Not Killing Motorcycling

Let me touch on a few take away key points regarding Millennials and their upbringing.

  • Were overly protected while growing up. - Bubble-Wrapped syndrome or helicopter parenting.
  • They were not allowed to experience risky activities and learn from those failures from them. - That's too dangerous!!!
  • They were taught to stay away from things thought to be dangerous or risky. - McGruff kids.
  • They are more environmentally conscious than previous generations. - Captian Planet Kids.
  • Victims of the Great Recession. - Huge school debts and jobless.
  • Struggling to survive financially. - High debt and living expenses.
As stated in this and similar articles regarding this generation have too many things stacked up against them from the get-go. Not to mention from an early age they were told that motorcycles were dangerous. So, basically we as a whole we are responsible for this issue.
 
Millennial's could care less about cars as well. That was probably caused by their parents ridiculous "Buff and Biffy" behavior in their minivans. :unsure::D That and driving distracts them from their electronic instant gratification way too much...:rolleyes: As for motorcycles they are going to be a rarity on the road, in the USA anyway, in very few years. After all who needs a real motorcycle when you can download one to "ride" on a tablet or phone while you ride in a driverless Uber?
 
RedLdr1 said:
Millennial's could care less about cars as well.
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Cars are different. I think it would be more accurate to say that cars are currently not a priority. The early 2000s were huge for car culture, especially imports. Think Fast and the Furious. A large group of those that were involved are older millennials. Give it another 15-20 years, I bet there will be a huge resurgence in car interest as they look to pick up old hobbies as they reach their 50's with kids moving out.

Harley started their marketing with boomers growing up on "The Wild One" and other movies. They've carried that same demographic and image for decades now. The millennial who was working on a 2.5RS in 2000 most likely has the same impression of Harley Davidson today, as they did 20 years ago. H-D and their clientele have done nothing to change it.
 
Typically, there are artist's conception drawings to accompany the rumors and it get a few more people salivating but not always.

If they brought out a totally new NT, I'd want to know that saddlebag latching system had been completely redone for durability! I'd also like a bit lower RPM when whizzing down the interstate at 70-75 mph.
 
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Since they're unlikely to create a new engine, I'd guess it'll be using the Africa Twin engine. The drawing shows a shaft drive. If it is the Africa Twin engine, it ought to be lower revving.
 
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