Bextreme
-
Posts
10 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Events
Store
Posts posted by Bextreme
-
-
about us having the new HD Tip and I had just demoed make a fool out of both of us, his laughter turned into a sneerish moan when he heard what I had to say about all this new touch screen technology nonsense.
After signing up for the demo, Tip and I climbed onto the gorgeous $32,000 motorcycle and pulled out of the parking lot. A voice came over a speaker and said "turn at the next intersection". Thinking those factory boys had programmed the demo route into that touch screen gps contraption staring me in the face I obeyed it's command and hooked a right.. That same scenario played out for the next 1/2 hour as our touch screen guide took us all over the county on one of the best demo rides we have been on in a long time. We would probably still be riding that new scoot had the little person behind the screen who's voice we had been listening to not decided she wanted us to go down a road that was marked impassable.. When that happened I stopped the bike to play with the touch screen and while doing so I told the little person behind the thing that I would gladly head down that muddy motocross track of trail but I wanted to go home and get our tent first. Unable to communicate with the person in there with neither my fingers or verbally we CTFW in a back track to return to the HD shop where the demo's were taking place.
All the other demo bikes were put away when we arrived and a lone factory rep stood in the parking lot grimacing at us as we pulled in.. In a very nasty tone he asked were in the h e double L we had gone.. He then proceeded to remind us that we were only suppose to have gone around the block.. After he calmed down I explained to him about the touch screen giving us directions and how I had thought he had programmed the route he wanted us to take into the annoyingly stupid thing. Once he realized what I was saying he started laughing and the told us that everyone there had tried to shut the thing off but no one could figure out how to do so.
After a short period of shared laughter I started telling him my opinion of all this modern day gizmo stuff being attached to what once was a simple motor hung between 2 wheels. He really did not seem to care for my opinion that all this modern touch screen stuff could actually be deadly as, in my opinion, it seemed to be more of a distraction than it was worth. I shared with him that in my meager motorcycling experience, even taking your eyes off the road for 1 tenth of a second a the wrong time could be deadly. Of course, his response was that the modern day biker is used to touch screen technology and most, if not all of his customers loved this new stuff.. Sorta made me feel a little old fashioned if you will..
That was until I watched this clip I am posting.. Seems my thoughts were to far off when applied to driving a car. Sure am glad that modern day bikers are more equipped to handle taking their eyes off the road than these folks are saying cagers are!!
Cowpuc as much as I love technology your exactly right it is a distraction. Other than that how was the Harley[emoji41]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
One of the first places i went to last night after the announcement was the Victory owners site theVOG.net. These are people who ride belt drive, air cooled v-twins all over the nation, and don't think twice about it. As stated on the post above, these folks are crazy excited on what they saw from Yamaha yesterday. They will buy it and not think twice about it not being a V4, or water cooled. This is the market Yamaha wants/needs to pull buyers from to stay in the full dresser market.
If they had went the other way (V4, shaft drive, water cooled), they would be trying to pull buyers from Goldwing, BMW K1600GTL, and other assorted sport tour bikes. They simply aren't going to pull very many of those folks. And, the market isn't very large with those bikes.
When I go on vacation, and I went on one again this past March to Key West, the ratio, and I'm not over estimating this at all, of v-twin, air cooled, belt drive full dresser touring bikes on the road is easily over 80% of the bikes I see. And, I think really the percentage is higher. And, the vast majority of those are Harleys. Then the remaining 20% is made up of Goldwings, and other non v-twin bikes. It appears Yamaha believes, and I think I agree with them, that they must tap into the huge V-Twin market to stay alive in the full dresser touring market.
So, what Yamaha has created is a beautiful bike that has a honkin, high quality, torque filled V-Twin to appeal to the vast V-Twin market, but they also designed the bike to look a tad more futuristic, which might just draw a few folks from the Wing, and the K1600GTL. We'll see.
Having said all of that, I too wish it was a V4, water cooled, shaft drive beast. But, I'm beginning to start to understand why they did it.
You hit the nail on the head [emoji41]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Well Doc said take two bottles and call me in the morning. So I am out yo, I guess I would have to test drive this but Seriously Belt Drive..... the yamaha touring bike will never be the same, However the shaft has been the show stopper for Trike Conversions, But I would have to cut alot of weight to even attempt one of those. If they have Cat converters that would be the first thing to go, however if its computer monitored that may be more trouble then its worth.
Everyone talks about belt drive like it's a bad thing. Belts are quite less weight and deliver more power to the ground. I demoed one and loved it. Probably be my next bike.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
I do like it. Shame on v4 but I'm ok with air cooled. No more plumbing issues.
Like the combined braking with abs, standard heated seats, low ride height, forward and reverse power assist for parking, traction control, riding modes, integrated audio system, voice, touch screen or handle bar controls for audio, controls, winds protection adjustable, advanced throttle, all electronic no more cruise cables or throttle cables, six speed, belt drive, same length as RSV but heavier. Also really like the huge alternator... Over 700 watts!
All in all I think they did a good job!!!
I demoed one and fell in love [emoji7] may get one in the spring
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
I also demoed one and loved it and agree with everything you said though I didn't get to spend as much time on it as I would have liked to. As far as the price it's less than a Harley or Indian which I've considered for my next bike. I like the CB and communication options on both Harley and the Venture since I ride 2 up and with a group and GPS. I guess I'll figure it out between now and spring [emoji41]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
I was at Sloans Saturday got in on the first ride out my wife and I loved the bike the look the ride and all the features [emoji41]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Jake Wilson best place to buy tires cheapest price I usually have mine on 2 days
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Seems like a step backwards to me. V-twin with a belt drive. Why imitate HD? Aren't we past that?
Good looking bike but I wonder why they didn't use a shaft drive.
Belt translates to more power to the ground and less maintenance [emoji41]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Hey guys I had the opportunity to ride a 2018 Venture Saturday and was very impressed all the videos I watched talked about how heavy it felt off the kick stand I thought I felt lighter than my Nomad. I road 2 up with my wife and felt very balanced and really agile and light feeling the power was great everything about was smooth as butter. It could be my next bike I want to ride a Indian Roadmaster and compare.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Watching Honda unveil right now!!
in Watering Hole
Posted
Bad ass can't wait to demo one[emoji2]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk