JohnG
03-28-2009, 12:10 AM
Found this on website...
http://www.squidbusters.com/
2004-2006 Honda 599
We Americans must be off of our rocker. In Europe, where bike nights and cruisers are infrequent, people do this really weird thing with their motorcycles. They RIDE them. How about that? In rain, snow, heat, and cold, they ride. Furthermore, they don't ride for sport or to get looked at. They ride to get from point A to point B. Wow, who knew.
Their criteria for a motorcycle isn't what is fast, chromed out, or cheap. It's all about functionality and performance. Simply put, a bike has to do everything AND it must be reliable. So, the best selling bike in Europe in 2004, 2005, and 2006 wasn't a cruiser and it wasn't a sportbike. It was a UJM, short for "Universal Japanese Motorcycle." It was the Honda Hornet 600.
In the US the bike couldn't be given away. It cost too much, wasn't flashy enough, wasn't fast enough, wasn't "big" enough; the bike didn't subscribe to the reasons American's buy a motorcycle (I hesitate to say "ride" because most honestly don't do all that much riding.)
But I am unique in that I do ride. I ride to work, to home, and everywhere else. If I gotta get there, I ride if I can, to the tune of about 10,000 miles a year. It ain't flashy and it doesn't get looked at. But fire up the engine and pull away and she shows why she is one of the best bikes EVER. $7200 bucks new and it don't even matter because you were buying one of the best bikes ever.
In the US if you go to look for this bike, you won't find it. IN the US it was sold in 2004 and again in 2006 as the "Honda 599." When I bought mine I had all of the money in the world to throw at a bike, but the one limitation I had is that I could only have one. She must do it all AND she must do it for at least 100,000 miles without any major issue.
So in 2006 I bought a 599. I have owned a LOT of machines but this is by far the best. Here's why:
1. Comfort..all day, 'nuff said.
2. Fuel mileage...behave yourself and she gets around 50MPG.
3. It will MOVE...and with practical power delivery. Honda took a CBR F3 engine and put a smaller airbox and carbs on it to boost the low end. It worked as at any RPM level she puts out within 5 ft/lb of the Suzuki SV650 twin and yet will rev to 13,000 RPM and deliver 90HP to the rear tire.
4. Easy to ride: No power "hit", just smooth, constant "twin like" power yet with the rush of a four above 8000RPM. Furthermore, she's light and predictable.
5. Feels like you have been riding it for years. It feels like an old friend within five minutes after you get on.
6. (Biggest requirement) BULLETPROOF: It's a Honda, and that's the way they make 'em.
7. (The only none functional reason on my list) If you do ride it to bike night, it might be the only one there <grin>.
http://www.squidbusters.com/
2004-2006 Honda 599
We Americans must be off of our rocker. In Europe, where bike nights and cruisers are infrequent, people do this really weird thing with their motorcycles. They RIDE them. How about that? In rain, snow, heat, and cold, they ride. Furthermore, they don't ride for sport or to get looked at. They ride to get from point A to point B. Wow, who knew.
Their criteria for a motorcycle isn't what is fast, chromed out, or cheap. It's all about functionality and performance. Simply put, a bike has to do everything AND it must be reliable. So, the best selling bike in Europe in 2004, 2005, and 2006 wasn't a cruiser and it wasn't a sportbike. It was a UJM, short for "Universal Japanese Motorcycle." It was the Honda Hornet 600.
In the US the bike couldn't be given away. It cost too much, wasn't flashy enough, wasn't fast enough, wasn't "big" enough; the bike didn't subscribe to the reasons American's buy a motorcycle (I hesitate to say "ride" because most honestly don't do all that much riding.)
But I am unique in that I do ride. I ride to work, to home, and everywhere else. If I gotta get there, I ride if I can, to the tune of about 10,000 miles a year. It ain't flashy and it doesn't get looked at. But fire up the engine and pull away and she shows why she is one of the best bikes EVER. $7200 bucks new and it don't even matter because you were buying one of the best bikes ever.
In the US if you go to look for this bike, you won't find it. IN the US it was sold in 2004 and again in 2006 as the "Honda 599." When I bought mine I had all of the money in the world to throw at a bike, but the one limitation I had is that I could only have one. She must do it all AND she must do it for at least 100,000 miles without any major issue.
So in 2006 I bought a 599. I have owned a LOT of machines but this is by far the best. Here's why:
1. Comfort..all day, 'nuff said.
2. Fuel mileage...behave yourself and she gets around 50MPG.
3. It will MOVE...and with practical power delivery. Honda took a CBR F3 engine and put a smaller airbox and carbs on it to boost the low end. It worked as at any RPM level she puts out within 5 ft/lb of the Suzuki SV650 twin and yet will rev to 13,000 RPM and deliver 90HP to the rear tire.
4. Easy to ride: No power "hit", just smooth, constant "twin like" power yet with the rush of a four above 8000RPM. Furthermore, she's light and predictable.
5. Feels like you have been riding it for years. It feels like an old friend within five minutes after you get on.
6. (Biggest requirement) BULLETPROOF: It's a Honda, and that's the way they make 'em.
7. (The only none functional reason on my list) If you do ride it to bike night, it might be the only one there <grin>.