The other day I was thinking that in the French Varadero&CrossTourer forum, there is now and then a member who buys a CrossTourer.
This is rare here, and even rarer in the Spanish forum.
As a matter of fact, I have hardly seen any on the road!
I wonder if it's (in our case) because of the crisis. But then I realize I've already seen a lot of brand new LC GSs...
Too bad. IMO CT may not be the most appealing bike, and may have a couple of wrong design decisions, but their owners seem to be very happy with her.
Greetings,
Josep M.
Be sure Josep, crisis is also present here!
We see some CT on our roads but not so much as GS LC …
Think all the friends who've bought a CT are enthusiasts ! but is it possible to not be after a so important check?
Think you are too often on the french forum these days
I don't think the crisis has something to do with it.
I have seen more brandnew R1200GS' and KTM 1190 in the last month outside the dealership, than Crosstourers inside a dealership the last 2 years. Bikes who are bought for the same pricetag... and even far beyond.
Not to mention the few I saw in the wild... The only two where the two present at our last VCIM meeting in Wales. All others where demo-bikes... Can count them on one hand.
I even see more Varadero's on the Dutch roads than CT's... That should be a clear sign to Honda's marketing department... Honda... you have been warned... by all your customers.
Question remains:
- Is Honda punished for developing a motorcycle which is basicly a good concept, but unwanted by the public?
Haven't seen many Crossrunners either.
The NC700 is rather popular though...
I think the mystery is with the ridiculous pricetag.
I have started to compare what the 12's saleprice is and with one year and 3250km on the odo, price has dropped from 17000€ to 12000€. This is what the customers been afraid of. The Value decreasing.
Launching a new model also need some years to get reputation and trust. A 2 year old used GS with 40000 km has the same price as a new Yamaha 1200 Tenere -13. KTM 1190 Demo - 13, New. 14000€. The CT's -13 now in silly season are not even close.
There is a Market. Honda Japan still wonder why the CT not selling... My answer is. Way to Expensive. I might be a Honda fan but I'm not stupid. After all it is just money, a lot of them
And that the CT was supposed to be the successor for the Varadero. But fact is that
most Varadero owners, including myself, are so happy and satisfied with this bike that
we will not replace it with the CT, regardless it´s a very nice bike.
That means that Honda are going to get other Honda model owners to replace their
bike with the CT, or steal customers from the other manufactures.
The last might be the biggest problem, because as I see it, people who ride this type
of bikes, whatever it´s called BMuu, KTM or something else, are just as happy as we are
that they won´t replace them either! Well, maybe to an upgraded model, but not to another
manufacturer.
And thats another thing where I believe Honda made a mistake. Instead of making a
whole new bike with a whole new concept as a successor, they should have made an
upgraded Varadero, like eg. BMuu has been upgrading the GS back from the 1980 R80GS
and to todays R1200GS Liquid Cooled model.
But after all, the Varadero has never been a competitor to the GS, that was what the Africa
Twin was made for in the 80s, so instead of canceling the AT, Honda should have
upgraded this too, as a variant, or an alternative to the ordinary Varadero, again, like
BMuu makes the GS in two vertions, the ordinary and the Adventure model.
But, if rumors are true, that might happen now, I just fear it´s to late...
That's why I've bought one of the last Varas … But one of these days, I have to change, so
That's why I've bought one of the last Varas … But one of these days, I have to change, so
Agree with you, Gilles. That was exactly the reason for me to buy also one of the last (and I know that Jess thinks a-like)
It seems we have a consensus. We all like our Varaderos but they are now....Obsolete!
The motorcycle press, in UK at least, gave the Vara 3 1/2stars on average, whereas owners have always rated them 4 1/2 stars.
This is why Zebulon bought one of the last and why when my '08 proved faulty, I paid extra to trade up to a 2012 model, which I intend to run until it gets too much for me, or I become too small for it (Did I mention that I fell over in the drive with it and 'Tee boned' my ribs on the gate? Took all newness off the starboard side).
So, Where are Honda-Sans?
My friend, the NC700 rider had a Vara which he loved but it became too much for him to load onto his trailer single handed. Now things have moved on and he was wanting to scratch the BMuu itch that he has always had. the Honda went in for service and he was to take a GS loan bike to try.
My advice was to make no decision. even if he liked the GS (I don't like them) and test one of the Crosstourers also for sale, then decide.
So what happened?
He liked the BM, compared the equipment and price of the Crosstourers, and a Triumph Speed Triple and struck a deal for the BM.
How do you like that Honda-san?
As for myself, I have £2,000 more than I would have liked in one Honda, because the other one had a fault that Honda couldn't address or even admit to. It's still out there, miss-firing away, with HONDA written on the tank and after the trouble I went through before, if this one hiccups, it'll be down the road and maybe a little old 650 V-Strom for Jack.
It seems we have a consensus. We all like our Varaderos but they are now....Obsolete!
The motorcycle press, in UK at least, gave the Vara 3 1/2stars on average, whereas owners have always rated them 4 1/2 stars.
This is why Zebulon bought one of the last and why when my '08 proved faulty, I paid extra to trade up to a 2012 model, which I intend to run until it gets too much for me, or I become too small for it (Did I mention that I fell over in the drive with it and 'Tee boned' my ribs on the gate? Took all newness off the starboard side).
So, Where are Honda-Sans?
My friend, the NC700 rider had a Vara which he loved but it became too much for him to load onto his trailer single handed. Now things have moved on and he was wanting to scratch the BMuu itch that he has always had. the Honda went in for service and he was to take a GS loan bike to try.
My advice was to make no decision. even if he liked the GS (I don't like them) and test one of the Crosstourers also for sale, then decide.
So what happened?
He liked the BM, compared the equipment and price of the Crosstourers, and a Triumph Speed Triple and struck a deal for the BM.
How do you like that Honda-san?
As for myself, I have £2,000 more than I would have liked in one Honda, because the other one had a fault that Honda couldn't address or even admit to. It's still out there, miss-firing away, with HONDA written on the tank and after the trouble I went through before, if this one hiccups, it'll be down the road and maybe a little old 650 V-Strom for Jack.
Since 1999 Varadero established a traditional touring category . I would better say ''Varadero refers to the old school travellers '' . It looks like the quality of an old fine wine ..... and my friend Bernard is an excellent wine taster !
But I don't build or develop Honda motorcycles, Manos... Here we have the source of the dilemma...
Today's Honda's are developed by scientists and accountants.
Where the Honda's from the 1980ties and early -90ties where developed and designed by... Motorcyclists.
Look at their new CTX1300, a 'Pan European Bagger'. Hilarious. You must be a fool to spend even a penny for a demolished bike based on ancient technology which was dated 10 years ago...
My brother owned 3 ST1100 and 3 ST1300. He will join me to next years VCIM... On his brand new Triumph Trophy 1200SE. "The bike Honda didn't build", and "The best Pan European ever", according to him...
Some one at the Honda HQ has given permission to spend at least a 6-figure amount of Euro's to develop this bike.
Where the whole planet shouts 'Build a new Africa Twin', Honda is absent. Where the whole planet shouts 'Build a new Pan European', Honda is absent.
Ach, they have something new... The all new VFR800i. Eh, based on... a 1998 design. Hoping that it would gloze over the galactic blunder the VFR1200F has become... Not that the 1200 is a bad bike - its only unwanted.
That's what you get if the design and development is left over to scientists and accountants...
Leave the wine tasting to the experts; Honda is currently selling vinegar for wine and that has never produced anything good...
From experience, if you own a Crosstourer you would not miss the Varadero
And that the CT was supposed to be the successor for the Varadero. But fact is that
most Varadero owners, including myself, are so happy and satisfied with this bike that
we will not replace it with the CT, regardless it´s a very nice bike.
I felt the same way, but after seeing pictures of the 2014 model, I made the journey to my local dealer and.... But alas, my dealer says we might not get this model, which will mean I won't change afterall. Buying a bike like a girl now- all about looks
http://www.vci-forum.com/index.php?topic=370.0
Buying a bike like a girl now- all about looks
Bikes and partners are the same in that respect but for the opposite reason to the one you suggest. If you base your choice on looks alone you will be increasingly disappointed as you both get older