Honda Fury and Triumph Thunderbird - blank canvas motorcycles
After seeing some of the comments about the recently introduced Honda Fury, I can appreciate Honda's thinking and the same goes for the 2010 Triumph Thunderbird. Both of these bikes are simply a blank canvas for whatever the owner wants to create. Both are complete and finished on the dealer floor but, as offered, very plain. Though Harley Davidson has always promoted the sale of accessories in a major way, these bikes come in at a lower price point and practically require the addition of either factory accessories or aftermarket parts. Without them, they look like something is missing and what's missing is your input. It's almost like they are asking for your opinion on the final design. Of course, a large percentage of bikes are modified in some way soon after purchase but not all require it as much as these two.
What other bikes would you consider a blank canvas? What companies or market segments might benefit from having one?
Quick follow up question: Do you prefer a bike you need to customize to meet your needs or one that has everything you want right from the start?
Kickboxer Subaru WRX Powered Motorcycle Concept
{ 14 comments… add yours below ... }
Triumph Bonevilles, 1200 Roadster Sportsters. CB1100F, when/if it comes out.
The ultimate blank for me would be the Yamaha XS-V1 Sakura if it were ever produced.
As is = city commuter
Bags and screen = touring bike
Revised suspension + knobbies = scrambler
Upper fairing + dropped bar = cafe racer
Air cooled, vtwin, 1000cc:
= sufficient power 1 up with gear or 2 up
= narrow engine, low tech
= light weight compared to HD Sportsters, Thunderbird
= affordable maintenance and insurance
= Yamaha dealers everywhere
I continue to wait so I can buy two of them (gotta make a scrambler out of one).
So what about that XS-V1 Sakura? Is it gonna happen, or was it just bait?
I’d say the perfect blank canvas would have to be the Street Triple. For a streetfighter they’re perfect, two sets of drop-in forks not to mention rear suspension, a hotter motor that drops in, easily detachable subframe for tailpiece conversions, they seem pretty near perfect to me.
justpete nailed it. Gimme a stocker Bonnie or Sporty for some torch and grinder fun. I wouldn’t discount the mighty Yamaha TW225, noting the incredible long swing arm customs coming out of Japan. That would really twist my throttle.
At the same time, I really don’t see the Furby as a blank canvas. It’s really just a generic, safe slab that gives me eye rash.
For me, just about any bike is a blank canvas. I can’t think of a bike that I’ve owned that I didn’t modify one way or another. It’s more of a mind-set than any one characteristic of a motorcycle.
-todd
As to the prefer question, I wouldnt mind a bike that I would want to customize right off the floor, but it would have to inexpensive. Other than that its hard to say yes or no. Getting everything that you want on a bike from the factory would be next to impossible with trying to fit a bike to match everyone. Offering a choice of seats, bars and where to mount the foot controls straight off the floor without having the additional price of aftermarket goodies would be a great start. Not everyone wants to pay extra for getting the bike they want to fit. Of course that can be argued as well. I sure wish I had a choice to put mid-mounted foot controls on my bike. Forward controls can be tiresome on long rides.
LOL at “Furby”
All my bikes are altered some way or another. Not really cosmetically (maybe smaller indicators, fender eliminators, bolt on screens or whatever). I spend money on suspension upgrades and tyres. Thats where you get bang for your buck.
America seems to have chosen the Hayabusa as the blank canvas bike.
cheers
ken
The Kawasaki W650 gets my pick.
i prefer e bike than i can customize to meet my needs
i’ll choose a honda cb100 and custom it
cos it fits my little body
I’m more of a restoration guy so I tend to keep ‘em stock or use bolt-on accessories that can be easily removed without changing the basic design/structure. I’ve spent way too many hours fixing the dreaded previous owner’s alterations and screwups. I’m not against customizing, just not for me. Many a fine Harley frame has been trashed to create a chopper. : ^ ( My brother even did it to a 1936 EL, the first-year knucklehead.
I actually like the Triumph a lot. It may be “plain” but sometimes less is better. The Honda Fury doesn’t appeal to me much at all though. Its a bit more extreme.
I want a 2010 Triumph Thunderbird so bad…. I can’t sleep nights waiting for the call to put my money up for a pre-order!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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