Honda quietly made the most compelling argument against electric motorcycles
quote:
Originally posted by stickman428: Those who think the Grom is too small should really sit on a Honda Monkey. It’s seat is huge! I was surprised how comfy the ergos felt for such a tiny bike. I hope Honda puts the new Grom power plant into the Monkey for 2023.
I grew up driving around the farm on a 1970 Honda z50. The Monkey looks like a grown up version. If I found one, I'd probably BUY! IT! TODAY!
Demand not that events should happen as you wish; but wish them to happen as they do happen, and you will go on well. -Epictetus
September 10, 2021, 12:28 PM
AKSuperDually
quote:
Originally posted by Black92LX:
quote:
Originally posted by AKSuperDually:
Bought a Ranger 150 with it for the kids. Now its been over a year since they've drive/ridden that, so I'm going to polish and clean it up try to get it sold before winter.
This time I'm buying camera gear. My kids can buy their own toys.
Sorry for the quick thread drift but were you ever able to get the damn thing out of turtle mode?? Can’t get turtle mode to turn off for the life of me.
Sorry I didn't see this before I left the office yesterday.
We were able to get it out, paired the phone app to the computer. One part often overlooked is the seatbelt safety switch though. They fail easily, and I know more than once when I've tried to load it up ramps to my pickup I forgot to plug the seatbelt in behind my back to disable the turtle mode. Ultimately, we disabled all the safeties because the computer is garbage. In fact, it died over the winter and I've got a new one to put in that cost me over $400 to purchase. Apparently they don't like freezing weather.
The truth is....the ranger 150 is hot garbage. The concept is awesome, the execution is typical Chinese bullshit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The trouble with our Liberal friends...is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." Ronald Reagan, 1964 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Arguing with some people is like playing chess with a pigeon. It doesn't matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon will just take a shit on the board, strut around knocking over all the pieces and act like it won.. and in some cases it will insult you at the same time." DevlDogs55, 2014 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 10, 2021, 12:42 PM
ensigmatic
I remember when the redesigned Monkey showed up here on SF a couple (few?) years ago. I took a very hard look.
I may end up with one, yet
"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe "If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher
September 10, 2021, 01:04 PM
stickman428
I am on the waitlist for a tutor watch. The new Honda Monkey & a Doxa homage that is punching WAY ABOVE its weight class is making me seriously reconsider my decision.
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The price of liberty and even of common humanity is eternal vigilance
September 10, 2021, 01:15 PM
phydough
Just remember the rule: The proper number of motorcycles in your garage is; x+1, x being the number of motorcycles currently in your garage.
September 10, 2021, 02:13 PM
HRK
quote:
Originally posted by stickman428: I am on the waitlist for a tutor watch. The new Honda Monkey & a Doxa homage that is punching WAY ABOVE its weight class is making me seriously reconsider my decision.
Man cannot serve two masters.....
September 10, 2021, 02:36 PM
stickman428
Ugh Tudor not tutor watch why is my phone F’ng with me today. I feel like I spend more time fighting with the talk to text than benefiting from its use.
I like the idea of getting my son into motos with a Grom or Monkey but the kid has crap taste. He LOVES the Grom enthusiastically but when I show him the Monkey he shrugs and says “it doesn’t look as cool.”
When I explain to him how it’s a more versatile bike and can be made into a fun bike to take anywhere he doesn’t seem to care. It makes me want to get a Monkey even more to educate the young lad on the joy of riding on and off road.
My first bike was a street legal two stroke dual sport that was NOT easy on the eyes but oh man was it FUN. It’s almost time to get my son his first bike.
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The price of liberty and even of common humanity is eternal vigilance
September 10, 2021, 02:51 PM
ridgerat
My local dealer had about a half dozen Groms, and 2 Monkeys, in stock a few weeks ago. But I added my name to the waitlist for a Trail 125. He told me it MIGHT be here in late December.
Also note there are a LOT of accessories made for these bikes. Most of the best coming out of Asia. Check out YouTube for videos.
Endowment Life Member, NRA • Member of FPC, GOA, 2AF & Arizona Citizens Defense League
September 10, 2021, 02:56 PM
nukeandpave
quote:
Originally posted by HRK:
quote:
If electric bikes are the way of the future why are no current motorcycle companies making them or taking them seriously
Yes it's Harley Davidson, they are a major motorcycle company, they make an electric motorcycle. It does work, it is fun to ride no it hasn't sold massive numbers.
As will all E-powered vehicles, range and refuel times are the problem, customer demands are more than technology will allow to be packaged in a small unit.
This, range and charging, has always been e-motivations Achilles heel.
Hondasukiyamaha will follow once they find someone to copy..
Or maybe they will just buy an existing e bike company and slap their badge on it. Like harley did.
September 10, 2021, 04:27 PM
Xer0
quote:
Originally posted by stickman428:
I like the idea of getting my son into motos with a Grom or Monkey but the kid has crap taste. He LOVES the Grom enthusiastically but when I show him the Monkey he shrugs and says “it doesn’t look as cool.”
When I explain to him how it’s a more versatile bike and can be made into a fun bike to take anywhere he doesn’t seem to care. It makes me want to get a Monkey even more to educate the young lad on the joy of riding on and off road.
The problem with the Monkey and young folk is that it's a throwback to "our" youth, not theirs. When we were young, it was the lawnmower engine scooter, on a simple steel frame with a big re-purposed motorcycle seat, and parents who let us actually have those types of things. The young folk, never grew up around them or probably knew anyone with one so don't feel any nostalgia for the style. To them it's a goofy motorcycle compared to the sleeker Grom, that looks like a miniaturized racer bike.
Like this original scooter from the movie dumb and dumber:
As to versatility, the Grom is much more versatile, simply because there is a larger aftermarket of "useful" addon parts/accessories. Other than style, they are near the exact same motorcycle.
If you haven't seen this, these guys make a replica of the dumb and dumber scooter and do the exact same long distance ride. Quite funny!
September 10, 2021, 04:38 PM
BB61
quote:
Originally posted by sigcrazy7: I have four bikes on the road currently.
See a trend here? Recently Honda resembles the Honda of the 1970s, and I'm loving it. I so want a brand spankin' new Honda Trail 125. I daily commute on my xs650, but I'd love to have the 150mpg Trail for a commuter. I'd zip tie a milk crate to that big platform behind the seat and use it for trips to Home Depot.
If they would put a low range on it like the original 90/110, I'd be all over that.
I just picked up this '73 a few months ago. It has just slightly over 5,100 miles and is in remarkably good condition for its age. It runs and shifts tight as well with no fluid leaks.
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September 10, 2021, 04:47 PM
GWbiker
quote:
1977 Yamaha xs650..
Yamaha XS650, the Japanese copy of the Triumph twin, that was way more reliable and didn't leak oil.
Yamaha sold a lot of them during a 13 year run.
********* "Some people are alive today because it's against the law to kill them".
September 10, 2021, 04:48 PM
BB61
Here is my '96 Honda XR 250L. It also has low mileage and looks and runs great. The limitations of an electric bike, when riding in b the mountains, makes them completely impractical in my mind.
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September 10, 2021, 05:12 PM
stickman428
Nukeandpave, Harley didn’t make the LiveWire? You sure you’re not thinking of the Victory Empulse TT that was manufactured by Brammo?
For what it’s worth both the LiveWire and Empulse TT are incredibly good looking bikes. It was their price tag that hurt them the most.
The first time I saw a LiveWire in person I fell in love with its looks. I remember thinking to myself oh baby! If only you had a nasty sounding triple or V4 you would be perfect! I’m not hating on the e-bike. No doubt they will progress. I just hope it isn’t at the expense of bikes I love.
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The price of liberty and even of common humanity is eternal vigilance
September 10, 2021, 05:36 PM
vthoky
I'll throw this into the mix, just to Monkey (see what I did there? ) with Stickman a little:
As part of a "customer service visit" for my employer, I got to see this bike in the development stage a couple of summers ago. Seeing the thing up close was fascinating. The lighting and control panels were just plain amazing. We were told it was stupid fast, as well, but certainly weren't allowed to try it out for ourselves.
Some components of that powertrain are used in another company's off-road product appearing at dealers very soon (if not already). Indications so far are that it's pretty well done.
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Having said all that, I'll add that the Monkey looks pretty darned cool.
More fun than a, um, barrel of monkeys?
God bless America.
September 10, 2021, 08:00 PM
nukeandpave
quote:
Originally posted by stickman428: Nukeandpave, Harley didn’t make the LiveWire? You sure you’re not thinking of the Victory Empulse TT that was manufactured by Brammo? .
Originally posted by stickman428: Nukeandpave, Harley didn’t make the LiveWire? You sure you’re not thinking of the Victory Empulse TT that was manufactured by Brammo? .
HD designed and built the Livewire it wasn't an acquired company, what he's talking about is a electric BIKE company, for kids.
September 10, 2021, 08:49 PM
bigwagon
H-D recently spun off the LiveWire into a separate division. It is no longer branded as a Harley-Davidson and they dropped the MSRP by about $10K. It will also now be able to be sold in non-HD dealerships.
September 11, 2021, 12:13 PM
stickman428
XerO, You bring up an interesting point in versatility. The Grom’s aftermarket support is massive. I am not sure about the aftermarket support for the Monkey. There is a neat video of two guys riding Honda Monkeys across Baja.
The bikes seem to be pretty much the same except for some styling and ergonomic changes. I wonder which is the better choice for a motorcycle that would be primarily ridden on the road and on light trails off road?
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The price of liberty and even of common humanity is eternal vigilance
I feel like I spend more time fighting with the talk to text than benefiting from its use.
Indications so far are that it's pretty well done.