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By American?

2011 February 24
by bgerman

(This is really about motorcycles) ( I do have comments about autos also)

Been looking for a new motorcycle lately (and a new SUV). Sent a friend a list of my possible choices and he wrote back, very politely, and subtly, that I should ‘buy American’. It does seem to me that all of us (in America) should pay attention to the ‘buy American’ request. Just like we treat our family and friends with as much respect as we treat strangers, and hopefully, more!

Let’s get to why I wrote this.

OK, I went and traded my Kawasaki 900cc cruiser for a Yamaha FJR 1300cc today. Pick it up Friday, I hope. Yamaha and Kawasaki are both ‘made in Japan’.

Buy American? I have a 2008 Ford Edge now, my first American car since the 80’s. It has been great (outstanding even) and now I’m shopping for a new SUV that has a tow rating of 5,000 lbs. Looking at either a Ford Explorer (new design) or a Jeep Cherokee (also new design from M-B). And NOT looking at any foreign SUV’s. Since I’m not even tempted to go foreign, that surely must mean American car mfg’s are doing much better! (At least with me, a person who MUST have the best)

(Foreign vehicles I have owned: Acura, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes, Nissan, and Volvo, Kawasaki and Yamaha) (Domestic brands I have owned: Chevrolet, Ford, Plymouth, Pontiac, Studebaker)

Update January 2012: Oops, I bought a BMW X5. It was assembled in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and therefore qualifies as quasi-American.

Back to Motorcycles

Harley-Davidson. Made in America, it is another (sad) story. This spring-summer, before I bought the Kawasaki, I committed myself to finding a Harley (made in America) cruiser that I could take to Sturgis. Went to the dealer here in Colorado Springs 10+ times, looking and asking questions. Read reviews and comparisons (most reviews rate Harley towards the bottom). Then, they had a test day, where I went and rode 4-5 models. Fat Bob, etc. Not one of which was I comfortable on, on the highway at speed. Squirrelly. The salesman was nice, said just keep trying you’ll find one. Why was I so set on finding ‘my’ Harley? Peer pressure. My friends have them. Go to any MC rally in this country, you will see 90% Harleys. Made in America.

But I’m sorry, for me a Harley is the exact same situation as when the Jap cars came to America in the 70s-80s. They were cheaper than American, but poor quality. Within a decade, Jap cars were cheaper and just as good. From the 80’s until the last few years, American cars were probably the worst in the world – design, quality, innovation, mileage, maintenance cost, trade-in value. Why would a smart American even look at an American car? For 30 years, I did not.

If you’re facing the below mentioned diseases, make generic viagra price sure to have the authentic product to assure the top quality of the results. This buy viagra for women is cheap but not less working and not high side-effective medicine. Marketing hits levitra online frankkrauseautomotive.com are usually not large innovative leaps. Though its treating cheap levitra possibilities are quite effective in proving the vitality back in men. Harley, sorry, but you are as far behind the Japs in quality motorcycles as American cars were in the 90’s. After my Harley rides in early 2010, I rode two Jap bikes: a Yamaha and a Kawasaki. Both cruisers, similar to the Harleys. Get on the freeway, the Jap bikes make me feel comfortable. (With 4,000 lb cars on every side.) The Jap bikes are smooth, powerful and confidence inspiring. Now, I ask you, don’t you want a motorcycle that can give you confidence on a busy freeway?

End of lecture, and Harley, I know you’re trying and you will get there. 90% of Americans riders buy you.

Prologue. Gave up on trying Harleys, went inside (the Harley dealer now sells Ducatis and BMWs) and looked at BMWs. The one I would like, best selling sport touring bike in the world is a BMW R1200 GS. $16,000 base new, but plenty used for around $10K. Sat on this bike, it is GIGANTIC. Tall, wide and heavy. Too big for me, although every single day I see a 5′-6′ rider on one, smiling.

The smaller 800cc two cylinder BMW is perfect for me, easy to handle, will go on dirt roads and looks great. Expensive at $12,000, not many used ones for sale, most $10,000. Pretty fast, 0-60 in 4.5 secs. Having had BMW experience, I know I will have to add $2,000 in baggage and comfort accessories to make it a traveling bike. Then I found a used one for less than $10,000, went up to Denver intending to buy it. Rode it and: the 0-60 acceleration was good, but not mind blowing. So I sat on my decision and she sold the bike, but not to me.

Now more research, and I find that Yamaha makes a 1000 cc (FZ1) bike that qualifies in the ‘sport touring bike’ category. Which means upright seating and comfortable to travel. It was my new bike of choice until I sat on one and looked at its performance specs. Faster than a Ducati. Uh, oh. I might kill myself.

Then, went to APEX sports, dealer here in the Springs. They had a FZ1, and also lots of Triumphs (made In England) that were very good looking bikes. I rode a 685cc model, it was buzzy and underpowered. The FZ1 was $8,000 for a 2006 model, but felt too much like a ‘sport bike’. Spent hours looking at every possible bike in this store (100’s of bike, 20-30 possibilities for me). There were three  funky looking ‘sport touring’ bikes parked together which caught my attention. Never had looked at them before, too much ‘baggage’, much too conservative, looked like an old man’s bike. Then, I looked closer.

These three were a Kawasaki, a Suzuki, and the Yamaha FJR. And, they had an FJR used, available to test ride. The salesman was very busy, he rolled the FJR out in front, handed me the key and said ‘ be careful’.

Well, the best bike and ride ever, so far. Easy turning in the parking lot, stopped great on  city streets, and the on the freeway hauled like a scalded cat and then slowed instantly. 100 mph was comfortable.

Next thing I know, I’m shopping for used FJR’s. Then finding my bike up in Ft Collins. And it had been upgraded with windshield and rear bag. Good condition and they let me ride it twice. Price was so good someone else was waiting in the showroom to buy it if I didn’t. (now, that’s a real incentive!)

So. I bought it, they loaded it on my trailer and it is such a perfect bike, maybe it will be OK for a year. Mucho power. Instant speed. Oh yeah.

I’ll be going to DC with this bike, and it may be faster than any American made bike going in our group, probably, but not for sure. Update August 2011: Yes the Yamaha is so much quicker than any Harley – any speed, any gear. At sea level, where I hadn’t been before, it is mind blowingly fast – wheelies happen.

One Response leave one →
  1. February 26, 2012

    no, but that would be a good site name.

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