With only a couple of months until the end of 2007, who has been your Manufacturer of the Year?
Maybe Honda have lit your fire this year, maybe Ducati.. Maybe some other?
Which manufacturer has genuinely shone through this year in your opinion?
Have your say!
Bike Manufacturer of the Year
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That doesnt mean everyone has to vote Aprilia.. Although the new models have been quite good... but have they really shone through?
So on the basis of one non-2007 model bike that's been heavily modded, that makes them Manufacturer of the year 2007?
I can see the reasoning... 
KTM have had a great year in the 250's Maybe they deserve a place in and around the Manufacturer of the Year?
I can see the reasoning... KTM have had a great year in the 250's Maybe they deserve a place in and around the Manufacturer of the Year?
Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly
FFS who wants to ride around on an ornage peel bike (in more wayus than 1)Kwackerz wrote:So on the basis of one non-2007 model bike that's been heavily modded, that makes them Manufacturer of the year 2007?
KTM have had a great year in the 250's Maybe they deserve a place in and around the Manufacturer of the Year?
Aprilia are doing well in the World Supermoto..
Maybe they can grab a vote against that.. Husqvarna doing well there too though..
Triumph are cracking on with the Daytona 675. Is it enoughto sneak them in with a vote?
So many ways you can look at it. The range of models, the racing, heck, I suppose they could get it for the quality of the servicing and support they provide.
Maybe they can grab a vote against that.. Husqvarna doing well there too though..
Triumph are cracking on with the Daytona 675. Is it enoughto sneak them in with a vote?
So many ways you can look at it. The range of models, the racing, heck, I suppose they could get it for the quality of the servicing and support they provide.
Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly
I voted Other - meaning None Of The Above.
All the latest bikes are getting further away from my idea of a bike all the time.
OK I know some of it can't be avoided - emission rules etc - but the more complicated they become with sodding fly by wire throttles and the like the more I don't want one. Now I know that I would probably love the performance of many of these new bikes BUT there's so much more to it than that - especially if every bike you have ever owned (or are likely to own) is decidedly third hand
There is a faint light at the end of the tunnel though.......
.........and it's a Honda!
The prototype CB1100F - Although I suspect all kinds of electronic trickery will be needed to make an air cooled engine pass the law
All the latest bikes are getting further away from my idea of a bike all the time.
OK I know some of it can't be avoided - emission rules etc - but the more complicated they become with sodding fly by wire throttles and the like the more I don't want one. Now I know that I would probably love the performance of many of these new bikes BUT there's so much more to it than that - especially if every bike you have ever owned (or are likely to own) is decidedly third hand
There is a faint light at the end of the tunnel though.......
.........and it's a Honda!
The prototype CB1100F - Although I suspect all kinds of electronic trickery will be needed to make an air cooled engine pass the law
I went to the local bike show about a month back where all the big names where showing off their new bikes.
I have two words to describe 95% of the Japanese machines and the new Buell 1125. "F***ing UGLY". All the Jap machines look identical - take the stickers off them and you'd be pushed to tell them apart. The Buell looks uglier in real life than it does in any photo I've seen.
The only good looking bikes (IMHO) where the European machines - the Aprilias, Ducatis, Benellis, MV Augustas and the Moto-Morinis.
I have two words to describe 95% of the Japanese machines and the new Buell 1125. "F***ing UGLY". All the Jap machines look identical - take the stickers off them and you'd be pushed to tell them apart. The Buell looks uglier in real life than it does in any photo I've seen.
The only good looking bikes (IMHO) where the European machines - the Aprilias, Ducatis, Benellis, MV Augustas and the Moto-Morinis.
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HowardQ
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Sorry, but having taken my "blinkers" off, it's got to be Triumph, as on a limited budget they seem to be trying harder than all the Japs put together, who mainly seem to be building even smaller, even lighter, even peakier, even more race focussed, even more high revving, even more uncomfortable bikes every year.
Brilliant technology, only fun to ride on a track (if you can fit on one).
I'm not just advocating Triumph as a Brit, and we know they are milking what engines and models they already have.
Their latest Street Triple seems to get around their last two major failings in that their bikes were a bit too expensive and not too much fun.
The 675 sorted the latter and the price of the Street Triple should wipe out the 600 ish street bike market. Would you buy a 600 Hornet or Faser when the Street Triple is better and cheaper.
P.S. Second place would go to Honda for giving J.T. a bike just good enough to win WSB!!
Brilliant technology, only fun to ride on a track (if you can fit on one).
I'm not just advocating Triumph as a Brit, and we know they are milking what engines and models they already have.
Their latest Street Triple seems to get around their last two major failings in that their bikes were a bit too expensive and not too much fun.
The 675 sorted the latter and the price of the Street Triple should wipe out the 600 ish street bike market. Would you buy a 600 Hornet or Faser when the Street Triple is better and cheaper.
P.S. Second place would go to Honda for giving J.T. a bike just good enough to win WSB!!
More or less my thoughts Howard. This applies pretty well to the 675 doesn't it? Still, that wasn't this year.HowardQ wrote: mainly seem to be building even smaller, even lighter, even peakier, even more race focussed, even more high revving, even more uncomfortable bikes every year.
Brilliant technology, only fun to ride on a track (if you can fit on one).
Agree though that this year they seem to be doing better.
Shame they still make the 'nakeds' look like you just fell off and can't afford to replace the plastics (ie streetfighters). You'll gather I am not a fan
