Will Honda or Yamaha ever develop a mid-level V-Twin sportbike?

Question

With the tremendous success that Suzuki's SV650 has attained here in the states, I am very surprised that Honda or Yamaha hasn't tried a beginner to mid-level (600cc range) v-twin sportbike to compete with the SV650.

Honda got rid of the RC51, which is an altogether different beast, but to my knowledge, don't offer a V-Twin sportbike any longer.

Answer 1

Well, they do not do much of anything anymore.  They used to have an entire lineup of bikes below the 600cc sport bikes and above the 250s.  400cc?  Gone, all gone. they used to make an automatic, too. not any more.  Also they made simple plain motorcycles, that did not try to STYLE as something they were not. (naked standards? GONE)

There used to be 500cc Singles, that got great gas mileage and were wondrously light.(One piston! One Cylinder! One Carburetor!)  So you could suggest that a somewhat experienced motorcyclist buy one (after their 250cc learning to ride bike) and he would be a happy motorcyclist for years to come, maybe even paying off the motorcycle, while still smiling. They were simple, reliable, got great gas mileage. they got rid of all that and replaced them with bikes that had a single shock absorber. there was a 550 cc bike too, once, and an entire lineup of 700s. Every maker used to have entire fleets of 750cc standards, too. You could by twins, triples, quads, the whole megillah.

The past is a different country, they do thing differently there.

Answer 2

sorry but no~

the only sport-ish mid size Vtwin is Suzuki's SV650 and SV650s

but Honda is not making anymore vtwins b/c their RR technologies is taking over on the race tracks, and Yamaha never had a Vtwin sportsbike and prob. will never make one

just get the SV650s ... then move on up to a RC51!

Answer 3

Honda and Yamaha do have a bike each to compete with the SV650 (which is not a sport bike, by the way). They're called the 599 and the FZ6. They are not V-twins, but that's not as important. Remember that you also have Ducati competitors in this market (all V-twins). Kawasaki launched the 650 Ninja to compete in this market more recently - which is a parallell-twin. Kind of the same, eh?

Suzuki does not have a mid-level V-twin sport bike either, so it's just the same as Honda and Yamaha.

Answer 4

I think the problem is that the Suzuki motor is legendary and has a long history so to go up directly against it would be difficult.

They should have a go at a smaller (500) or larger (750) twin first and let it develop a reputation. I would buy the new naked CBR if it was a 750 twin. The only other bikes in this category are the Aprilia Shiver and smaller Ducati Monster.

Answer 5

Its called the VFR800 that bike has had more awards than any bike prduced. there is just no market for a smaller twin.