Comments on: Expanding Honda’s motorcycle lineup downward

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:06:14 +0000

The 100/125cc motorcycles in India are reliable, fast enough to handle any non-freeway road, and best of all cost about 1-2k. I would buy 2 of these if I could, but instead a large number of Americans are content spending at least 7k on a motorcycle. As long as that’s true, why should Honda or any other big motorcycle manufacturer sell these small machines. The profit margin is so much smaller… Honda would have to sell 20+ 100cc bike to make the profit of 1 1800cc bike.

By: Mark Garvey

Mark Garvey — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 21:16:04 +0000

I own a Honda CB125S a 1985 model. It is likely the best “motorcycle” I have ever owned! I purchased it used in 1994 from a friend who purchased it in 1987. It was an original MSF training bike at the local community college.

I grew up with Honda and Yamaha 90’s 100’s 125’s 250s and 350s. the Honda 350 was a SUBURB motorcycle in it’s own right! but they have vanished! As has nearly any motorcycle under 600 cc. WHY? My little Honda will haul my 240 lb butt around at 55-60 mph if necessary, but generally never sees the high side of 40! It putters along getting 100 mpg + and costs me $35 a year for insurance! About the only thing CHEAPER to own and operate is my bicycle!

Why won’t Honda import the excellent small bikes to the USA? It is even hard to get PARTS for my 125s

Mark G, IOWA

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:29:45 +0000

Well, I just think that if smaller displacements are cheaper to make, then they should be availiable for the low income person. I am really into those ultra cheap chinese bikes. I have had a few small quality flaws, but overall- its really dependable. I ride 300-400 miles a week and dont even sweat the maitenance expenses. Most of these bikes can have the engines replaced for only a couple hundred dollars or so: so when I do eventually rack up the miles, cost wont be a problem there either.

The fact that Americans want the more expensive bikes just keep the guys like me with modest finances from owning one. And that is really not fair.

By: David Wickert

David Wickert — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 08:05:29 +0000

I’m not sure who is stopping the introduction of small displacement motorcycles into the US marketplace. In California, where I live, it’s the government.

Very few of the small imported Asian bikes can get through state regulatory process. Twist and go scooters seem to have a easier time of it. You see some of those in shops. None of the small motorcycles can be sold here. For example, the mz rt125, which was sold in many states for a few years, would have been a natural for California, but it was never allowed in.

We are also a convenient shipping destination for the motorcycle industries of the pacific rim, of which there are literally hundreds. If some guy could just load up a few hundred 125cc, fuel injected, watercooled commuter bikes into a shipping container and sell them off the docks in Long Beach or San Francisco, don’t you think it already would have been done?

You’d think the nations largest consumer of auto fuel would welcome an influx of 100+ mpg vehicles. Then again, our governor was the buyer of the first privately owned HUMMER, and brags openly about riding his harley, although he could never be bothered to obtain an operators license for it. I guess conservation and legal standards are relative thing.

I live in a suburban area and am lucky enough to work just a few miles away. 90% of my driving is on suface streets without resorting to the freeways. I would gladly pay premium prices for a small , reliable, high tech machine. Over a period of time the amount of gasoline I didn’t use would be significant. Also, riding motorcycles is more fun than driving.

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 01 May 2006 04:44:12 +0000

I wish they would sale the smaller displacement bikes here in USA. Where I live in our States Capital City a significant percent of people live less than 5 miles from work and could commute on 35 mph roads. It would be nice to be able to buy a motorcycle or scooter with gas prices at $3/gallon and climbing. I like the SH125i by Honda, liquid cooled, fuel injected and over 100 mpg that would work great.

Even if the motorcycle manufacturers would emphasize mpg I’m sure they could come up with motorcycles that would get 80 mpg. One could take them on the interstate, and tour if they wished. Instead we get killer horsepower and 40 mpg. That was fun and crazy when I was younger, but I value my live now, my wallet, and the earths natural resources!