Modern street bikes: "Innovation"(?), or just marketing?

R1200RS + R1250RS Forum � RS Lounge Area � Off Topic � Modern street bikes: "Innovation"(?), or just marketing?

Topic settings

Jump to forum

RS-Forum New Member Introductions Forum operation, design and help guest area My ride tour reports in planning training and coaching 1200 RS technology General topics Exhausts and Engine Tyres, Brakes and Suspension Tuning and modding Electronics Warranty stuff 1250 RS technology General topics Exhausts and Engine Tyres, Brakes and Suspension Tuning and modding Electronics Warranty stuff RS equipment Navigation accessories clothing and helmet What have you done to bike Knowledge Base Knowledge Base - how it works Knowledge Base Meeting Thread RS worldwide regions Africa Asia Australia Canada Europe Europe UK Middle East South America USA Midwest USA Northeast USA Southeast USA Southwest USA West RS Lounge Area Off Topic Other Bikes buy and sell forum rules

#1 | Modern street bikes: "Innovation"(?), or just marketing? datum

Thu Mar 21, 2024 5:57 pm (Last edited: Thu Mar 21, 2024 6:14 pm)

The RS is turning out to have (I think) the best combination of bike qualities for touring, cruising and canyon-carving. Sometimes I miss the 4-cylinder thrill of the RR, but when I look at the new offerings out there I'm somewhat taken aback. BMW's sport bike offerings now have "wings". Wings make sense on the track, but on the street they look silly. I once saw a guy on a sport bike wearing Valentino Rossi replica leathers and I thought, "Dude, that just looks ridiculous". Same with wings.

I get it...sportbike buyers want to pretend they're racers and BMW caters to that fantasy. It wouldn't be so bad, but prices for these bikes are now approaching unaffordable levels. My '17 RR, perhaps the best version of the RR that BMW made, cost around $17,000 or so. 2024 S1000RR's are around $23,000. An M1000RR is around $40,000.

I dunno, this trend is becoming a bit overdone, my opinion. Suzuki, at least, still offers an "analog" sportbike in the GSXR series, at a price that makes sense.

My RS looks better every day. A truly utilitarian motorcycle that ticks almost all the boxes.

I have to wonder: What kind of bike will we see in 5 years? At the rate of "innovation" I can't even begin to imagine. Can you?

these members like the post: Dave H and Richard230

reply

#2 | RE: Modern street bikes: "Innovation"(?), or just marketing? datum

Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:08 pm (Last edited: Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:08 pm)

I think the Japanese have decided the Europeans with their super bikes have presented an opportunity to revive the ~600cc I4 sports category such as the new CBR650R which is priced at £8600.

In the UK, insurers are limiting the market for bikes costing over about £18,000. Early adopters of the R1300GS had a big shock when they contacted a broker for a quote. Some in the dodgier areas could not get cover at all.

Whether these affordable bikes will revive the sports bike sector like the CBR, R6 & GSXR did for my generation in the 1990s is another matter. Back then there were lots of people in their 30s returning to riding after having a bike as a teenager as well as new, younger riders. We were in rude financial health back then. Now, finances are in a perilous state and the population is ageing. I once owned a CBR600, 1999 bike, last of the carb models, and rode it to Slovenia. I sold it not long after as it wasn't a good touring bike. I went to a R1150GS. I'm pretty sure the CBR650R won't be on my short list of bikes for the future.

Spam goes here

reply

#3 | RE: Modern street bikes: "Innovation"(?), or just marketing? datum

Thu Mar 21, 2024 8:02 pm

Interesting, Wessie. You also mentioned insurance, and the cost of it (not just for bikes) is going through the roof.

I hope the mid-size sport market does revive. My first real bike was a Suzuki GS550ES and it was a super fun ride. If BMW got its act together and made a 600RR I'd jump on it fast. But doubtful they will.

I'm waiting to see what Suzuki has in mind for the 2025 GSXR series...talk is of some long-overdue changes (which I hope would include cruise control). If they have a good bike in the series next year, I'd probably add one to the RS.

reply

#4 | RE: Modern street bikes: "Innovation"(?), or just marketing? datum

Thu Mar 21, 2024 8:18 pm

BMW won't enter the 600cc I4 market. They have made it clear their "cheap" range will be based on Chinese made parallel twins like the F900R.

Triumph are having another go but not with a fire breathing super sport bike based on the Moto2 thing. Just like the Japanese and Aprilia, they are after to what MCN call the soft sport market. Triumph's last attempt failed miserably as it was just a clone of my 1999 CBR600 just as everything went fuel injection and the R6 blew away the competition. At least this new Triumph will have a triple engine to offer an alternative to the I4 bikes and 270 cranky parallel twins

Spam goes here

reply

GM is watching you � � A reasonably clean joke thread