Did you guys get infected with the Honda Virus?

**Dirtybill** · 06-01-13, 11:21

Honda has decided to unleash all these mid to lower end bikes on us poof Humans here.

Of course the once great planet HONDA who came out with radical stuff just because WE CAN.....is now shuffling like an old Chinese (hmmm origin of their product now?) woman off the bike stage. But WAIT......they still call the shots in racing............WTF"?

**GiantPygmy** · 06-01-13, 12:18

They make smaller Hondas in Spain for the European market.
Triumph make all their sub assemblies in Indonesia so not really a Honda thing...

Today I am missing my old VTR.

**demographic** · 06-01-13, 13:15

I'm not a real Honda fanboy but one massive thing that Honda did was make motorcycle transport available to the masses with bikes that were affordable.
Things like the humble Steppy 90.

So I don't see it as a problem if they chuck out a good few dead basic motorbikes, in fact I think its a good thing.

**Scootabout** · 07-01-13, 19:58

Good bit of bet-hedging, I suspect. This is a time when it's not clear how fast oil will run out or become a very expensive commodity, although it looks to be maybe imminent. So H will be well positioned with these bikes if 45 mpg machines suddenly become unaffordable. If they don't, H will be OK cos production of them will still be going.

**bisli** · 08-01-13, 11:07

sorry but I'm in love with my CBR 600

**Mad Ax** · 08-01-13, 11:12

Originally Posted by bisli

sorry but I'm in love with my CBR 600

Me too, even though it currently resides in collapsible boxes in the basement

**Tomcat** · 08-01-13, 12:26

Olly's old Innova was made by Wuyang Honda in China, they also marketed a near identical bike under the Wuyang name, but with greatly inferior finish. I do think the Japs are still quite protective over their reputations and Honda probably one of the better ones.

Another example, my lad's old XT125R was made my Malaguti in Spain and although the engine was good the fasteners were rotten and the paint was peeling. My little Yammy Neos is a MBK Ovetto, also Spanish made I believe, and everything metal is again faring badly.

But it's the little bikes that are where the volume market is at. It's why Honda and Yamaha GP teams have far eastern solgans plastered over them..... Satu Hati, Semakin di Depan..... these markets are massive, and growing at a rate we can't imagine. It's no wonder the manufacturers are looking at decentralising production and feeding bikes into these huge markets more worried about volume and price than durability.

**RiceBurner** · 08-01-13, 12:56

Originally Posted by bisli

sorry but I'm in love with my CBR 600

I hope you're very happy together!

**Bigjawa** · 08-01-13, 17:34

Originally Posted by Tomcat

Olly's old Innova was made by Wuyang Honda in China, they also marketed a near identical bike under the Wuyang name, but with greatly inferior finish. I do think the Japs are still quite protective over their reputations and Honda probably one of the better ones.

Are you sure? The one we have in work is made in Thailand.

I never really cared where something as built as long as it's built right, the only car I've ever owned that didn't need any spanner work for the MOT was a Hyundai Accent, I had an Audi the same age that was forever having various niggles.

Small bikes are great, they're a step between bicycle and serious motorcycle.

I'm not usually a Honda Fanboi, but I've bought 7 bikes in the past 4 years and 4 of them were Hondas.