New Honda Africa Twin? For Real? (Italian Translator wanted!)

[zebulon]

Thank you Josep; so now wait & see ... 

[zebulon]

Yes, true pokemi, but we can hope they go the right way ...

[jackyork]

I'm skeptical that Honda will come up with the goods, if anything, Honda has proved time and time again that customer feedback is an annoyance more than anything else. They prefer to tell us what we want.....

Will see....

It's true and a fault of many organizations when arrogance takes over.

JK

[Two Plugs]

I'm skeptical that Honda will come up with the goods, if anything, Honda has proved time and time again that customer feedback is an annoyance more than anything else. They prefer to tell us what we want.....

Will see....

That's my first thought too, Pokemi.
But after having intensive chats with the huge Honda delegation which joined us at the last VCIM meeting in Wales, I think Honda now acknowledges that they have to 'act' and that there is no place anymore for arrogance...

But it still is Honda... A very strange company. F.e., all the Americans are shouting 'bring us the Crosstourer, bring us the Varadero'. But Honda US blows the wisstle and thinks that in the US, there is only a customer marked for Goldwings and cruisers, where even small manufactures like Ducati and Aprilia make very good profits on their big trail bikes Multistrada and Caponord...

In Europe we are shouting for a proper Transalp/Africa Twin replacement. The only thing Honda does, is give us cheap budgetbikes like the CB500 / NC700-750,  a overweight VFR1200F sportsbike with the fuelconsumption of a truck, a dressed up ancient VFR800i and a chopped ST1300 (hilarious!) which dates back 200 yrs...

But still... I have some (little) hope left that some one at the Honda management will see the light somewhere, sometime... Rumours for a new Africa Twin are at least 20 yrs old, but they have never been so strong as this time.

[Bønne]

Happy, happy, happy... 2,5 hours drive to Collogne...  I know where I'm going to go next autumn!

And I have less than 8 hours

https://maps.google.dk/maps?saddr=Svinninge&daddr=K%C3%B6ln,+Tyskland&hl=da&ie=UTF8&sll=35.721988,-114.897766&sspn=0.780441,1.465302&geocode=FYw-UgMdZ-WuACkt9tgicYFNRjHwMlEdzK8ACg%3BFbs-CQMdlzRqACnlL6tpkSW_RzHwdypK_GAnBA&oq=k%C3%B6ln&t=m&mra=ls&z=6

[Past It]

It's true and a fault of many organizations when arrogance takes over

True, but the arrogance often comes of being a long established market leader, able to afford the best people and ignoring the mostly irrelevant comments and suggestions from individuals with limited information, involved self interested nitch markets.

Anyone wanting a hot enduro style road bike  there are plenty of low volume nitch market bike manufacturers to choose from.

[Skye]

Small manufactures like Ducati and Aprilia make very good profits on their big trail bikes Multistrada and Caponord...

BMuuuuu Adv makes even better money in lack of competition. Alaske, desert, Great Lakes.., Well isn't that places to visit with an adventurer..

And I have less than 8 hours
[/quote]

Might join you..

[JosepM]

There's a new trail bike in the market.

Very light and unpowered compared to a Varadero. Might be an option for my son in the future. 

[jackyork]

Re; 'Minsk' That looks 'the business' !

JK

[meine dicke]

Looks goooooooooooood.

Josep, you have more info abot this MC?

Rainer

[JosepM]

Looks goooooooooooood.

Josep, you have more info abot this MC?

Rainer

Sure. It's a 250cc with some quite unusual tyre sizes. They claim they've done some long rally without any reliability problem . See:

http://www.minsk-moto.com/en/

[zebulon]

Never heard of this manufaturer before .... 

[Skye]

Belarus???

[zebulon]

Yes it seems

[Two Plugs]

Yes, from Belarus, with love... looking at the Chinese influence in that country these days, its clear where the knowhow comes from...