US Motorcycle importers need to wake up and smell the coffee

Why is it that you can't get any of the really decent motorbikes here in America. It seems that the standard response from the corporate stuffed shirts is "model X won't sell well in America."
Bollocks.
I'm talking of course about dualsports bikes. Honda need to start selling the Varadero and the Transalp, but they believe there's no market for them. They won't even sell the CBF1000 - a semi-naked sports bike. Same story with Yamaha - they don't sell the TDM900 here.
The problem is that their argument just doesn't wash. Suzuki sell bucketloads of the V-Strom, as do BMW with the R1150GS, R1200GS and F850. Same with KTM with their Adventure, and Triumph with their Tiger. Aprilia aren't doing a bad job with their Caponord either. All of these are dualsports and all sell here in America.
So why do Yamaha and Honda so pig-headedly stick to their faulty argument that dualsports bikes won't sell? Come on guys - give people more choice than uninsurable crotch rockets and unusable cruisers. Give us some decent damn motorbikes !

Comments

Mark N. said…
KTM isn't completely without blame. The bike I desire the most is one that KTM won't bring to the states - SuperDuke 990. Same engine as the Adventure 990, but will they bring it? No. Would they sell it? Ask Aprillia if they sell the Tuono or Triumph with the Speed Trip.
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