Thu, 17 Sep 1998 09:30:52 +0000 - Message No. 4035
From: Philippe.POUSSIER@st.com

Subject: offroad or not ?


     Hi guys,
     
     So I've just finished to watch at the new pictures from this .... 
     "Cuban" bike (why ???) thanks for them. As I see on the list, opinions 
     tends to be 50/50 between "offroadists" and Guys who'd better buy a 
     Guzzi because they drive only on Tarmac... ;);) (try to ride 500 km in 
     the French Alps with a guzzi and compare pleasures.... ;)
     First, i'd like to say, having compared technical datas and see better 
     pictures, that ok : It's really not an @ (funny guy,have i seen that 
     alone ???), especially when it's presented with top and side cases 
     (there she's closer to the pacific coast than to the @ ...).
     But i'm sorry Phoebus, i'm only 26, not married and since then my 
     playground has never been limited to my neighborhood. I've played with 
     my bike in most of french places (i'm from south east of france). So 
     ok, offroad is not what i'm doing during free time. And when i want to 
     leave roads, i prefer going by foot or horse ( horsing is also good 
     for offroad  ;);). So there's a pleasure with the @ we don't really 
     share. We're not waiting exactly for the same things from our bikes 
     even if we love it. But please don't tell that XL1000V (I also 
     prefered xRv) is not a good bike until you read some test from it.
     Ok it's seem not to be done for offroad and it will never replace 
     exactly our bike but can be as others say a good alternate for those 
     who don't spend their time in the mud.
     But I agree with you on one point, Honda's target for that bike and 
     their philosophy is not really close to what i expected. Do i look 
     like an old married men ? Then i'll buy a 1000R1 to blast me away like 
     young guys may always do.
     Another thing that i agree with you : I'm presently living in morroco 
     and for two years (casablanca not marrakech sorry ;) and i still 
     hesitate to bring my @ here (why not ??? because Morrocan drivers on 
     the road are 500% more dangerous than women ;);). It could be so fun 
     to go offroad there !!! But if i had a Venderathingacallit i'll never 
     get even the idea to take it there.
     see ya
     
     
     Philippe
     
     
     
     
     
     
     ______________________________________________________________________
     I quote from the Honda's press release:
     
     "these
     motorcycles amplify the enjoyment of motorcycling by giving riders the
     impression that they really can go
     anywhere, even if for most riders
     'anywhere' remains close to home."
     
     And later:
     
     "Honda research has found that most buyers of large, touring class 
     motorcycles are older, usually
     married, and would prefer to share the pleasures of riding with their
     spouses whenever possible."
     
     I don't know about you, but for me anywhere isn't close to home, 
     off-road isn't backroads and I am not an older married guy.
     If Honda really wants this kind of clients, well I am certainly not 
     married to Honda, and I am free to buy any other motorcycle that fits 
     my idea of a good bike, Honda or not!!!




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