14 July 2002

Update of 14/07/2002 Here’s an interesting question. Why do all the main bike manufacturers design ranges of bikes which look identical to the un-trained motorcycle eye ? For example Suzuk GSX-Rs, Yamaha YZFs, Kawasaki ZXs etc… Admitted yes they are designed for a particular market but consider the new owner of a R1, GSXR1000 of ZX12 only to find their bike confused with the one with lower CCs. Nothing wrong with the other models but still I would be taken back if that happened to me and I had shelled out a premium for a range topper.

Look, there’s nothing wrong with the basic design of each of their respect ranges but more visual differences in my opinion make a better marketing and certainly more interest. Surely the Hayabusa has proven that standout looks with the performance to back it up will sell, even if the look was certainly controversal 3 years ago !

I certainly congratulate Honda for making its various models with enough details to differentiate them one another. A CBR6 will not be confused with a CBR9 and certainly not the Blackbird ! Maybe that’s why Honda sells more than the rest ?