Monster knock-off

[CairnsDuc]

Having owned a VTR250, all I can say is they are a superb bike for the Money and if (like I was at the time) on a restricted license or a bit short on $$$ this was the nearest thing I could get that looked and sounded (remotely) like a monster.
I owned my VTR250 for 2 years, I didn't own a car, so I commuted, toured, and thrashed this thing and it just kept on going, never broke down, started every time, only sipped at the fuel, had a lot of torque for a 250.

I have owned about 4 different 250's over a period of 10 years and the VTR was the best of the lot.

And having owned a GPX250 and then test riding a Kawasaki 250 Ninja, All I can say is they are gutless wonders, very little low down Torque, and if your not revving the ring out of them, you really are going no where.
The Kawasaki Ninja 250 is just the old GPX250 with new clothes (Fairings)
and to be honest the Ninja 250 reminds me of the old saying,
There is only so much you can polish a turd, after all it's still only a piece of shit! But you can roll it in Glitter!

[JEFF_H]

<butts in>
i can picture stew on a ninja 250....but TiAv...you're a big fella.
that image makes me giggle. 

here's an old 'monster-copy'

[TiAvenger]

<butts in>
i can picture stew on a ninja 250....but TiAv...you're a big fella.
that image makes me giggle. 

[herm]

i also think it looks more like a monster than the 696....

[DLSGAP]

Same here. And I believe Honda has discontinued the Nighthawk, have they not? That used to come in "small" as a flavor.

hmm i happen to have a 250 nighthawk sitting in my garage...

[Scottish]

Ok guys, excluding the lil Ninja which looks just like it's bigger brothers to the untrained(read beginners) eye. I think you see my point. The Honda Nighthawk 250 discontinued?? Funny that, how often are designs discontinued that move off the show room floor? What I'm saying is that not even beginners WANT to start that small, especially in our bigger is better US market. Have you watched the direction cruisers like the M109, VTX, Triumph have been going? Honda doesn't even sell the 750 Shadow anymore cause a 900cc is considered petite. Same with sport bikes, ZX-14, Busa, ZX-12 etc, if it can't melt a rear tire it's considered something to sneer at. Who was it that said they's like one to put-put around on? I don't know about you but a lot of people are clamped down on spending right now. The idea of spending 3-4k for a put around town bike? Not in my budget right now. My bike has to be able to do daily duty, weekend blast, and some occasional touring even. If I was gonna get something to put around on I can pick up old 125-250cc '70 enduros all day long off Craigslist for under $600. Now those were some great bikes for putting on.

The point is there isn't enough of a market here to make it worth getting them here, if there was there would be more than 3 models on the market. I think a big part of why there is a market for them in Europe is because there has been an artificial demand created by govt. licensing regs. Granted the consumers do the best with what they have there and make it fun, but would they if they didn't have to?

[silentbob]

The last generation supersports are ugly too 

I know.  They are hideous.



Oh wait, that's not it.  I always get those two mixed up.



The one with the functional headlight is the ugly one.  Did I get that right?

[Grampa]

[moto] weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Triple J]

I know.  They are hideous.

I never noticed before that the subframe of the Supermono isn't a trellis!! 

The only part of the newer SS I don't like is the passenger seat. It would have looked better with a cowl.

[TiAvenger]

I never noticed before that the subframe of the Supermono isn't a trellis!! 

The only part of the newer SS I don't like is the passenger seat. It would have looked better with a cowl.

Carbon fiber 

I agree about the new ss passenger seat.... thats why I bought one with it cut off 

[Duck-Stew]

I don't disagree with you, but you might think differently if you ever saw a COMPLETE newb trying to learn to ride on a 120hp R6.  Scary...

Ok guys, excluding the lil Ninja which looks just like it's bigger brothers to the untrained(read beginners) eye. I think you see my point. The Honda Nighthawk 250 discontinued?? Funny that, how often are designs discontinued that move off the show room floor? What I'm saying is that not even beginners WANT to start that small, especially in our bigger is better US market. Have you watched the direction cruisers like the M109, VTX, Triumph have been going? Honda doesn't even sell the 750 Shadow anymore cause a 900cc is considered petite. Same with sport bikes, ZX-14, Busa, ZX-12 etc, if it can't melt a rear tire it's considered something to sneer at. Who was it that said they's like one to put-put around on? I don't know about you but a lot of people are clamped down on spending right now. The idea of spending 3-4k for a put around town bike? Not in my budget right now. My bike has to be able to do daily duty, weekend blast, and some occasional touring even. If I was gonna get something to put around on I can pick up old 125-250cc '70 enduros all day long off Craigslist for under $600. Now those were some great bikes for putting on.

The point is there isn't enough of a market here to make it worth getting them here, if there was there would be more than 3 models on the market. I think a big part of why there is a market for them in Europe is because there has been an artificial demand created by govt. licensing regs. Granted the consumers do the best with what they have there and make it fun, but would they if they didn't have to?

[bluemoco]

I think it looks great.  Yes, it's a clear knockoff of the 'old' Monster, but I'm ok with that.     Despite the rare Ninja 250 that languishes on a showroom floor, Kawasaki has been cleaning up in the entry-level market with the baby Ninja.  This VTR250 would be a stellar first bike for a lot of people, and Honda will miss a big market opportunity if they don't/can't offer it here. 



Honda has a couple of other great bikes that they don't offer here in the States.  In particular, I'd love to see the TransAlp sold here again.   

[ungeheuer]

I was drawn to monsters by their design, when it left, so did I

I was drawn back to Ducati by the 696, when it appeared I returned to the brand.

It's fine, I expect a certain amount of ire from 696 owners.  I'd be pissed too.

Pissed?  Not at all.  You have an opinion, I have a bike that pleases me greatly  .

[Stangman]

Nice job Honda!

I have to agree with many others in this thread who feel that Honda picked up the great Monster look that Ducati left out on the curb.  A little more displacement and they would sell like crazy in the U.S. (at the proper price point)

Nothing against 696 owners, if you are happy with it...more power to ya, but for me the new Ducati 696 is about as much a Monster as a the new Dodge Charger is a Dodge Charger.   I just don't understand why they felt the need to "futurize" it that much....

[Travman]

here's an old 'monster-copy'

I dig the look of the Laverda Lynx.  When did this bike get produced?  Was it ever sold in the U.S.?  I especially like the swingarm from this angle.