The Next Big Thing in Motorcycles: Going Small - NYTimes.com

LONG BEACH, Calif. ? Boomers who were long the motorcycle industry?s primary focus could be less important to product planners if the new, smaller bikes presented last weekend at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show are indeed the future.

Not that massive bikes like the 2013 Honda Gold Wing F6B, with its 1.8-liter engine and $19,999 price, along with several anniversary editions from Harley-Davidson, didn?t make prominent debuts. But fuel economy and affordability were main topics here.

It?s all part of the resolve to draw new customers. Fuel economy, nimbleness and low price are factors for the new target buyers, who are variously described as first-timers from Generation Y or veteran riders re-entering the market. Up to 15 percent of the total are women, according to several manufacturers.

For this audience, Honda revealed three 2013 bikes that share a water-cooled, 500cc engine and 6-speed transmission. Antilock brakes are available on all three. Otherwise, they?re as different as vanilla, strawberry and Rocky Road.

The CB500F is an eye-catching naked bike that excels in urban environments, while the CBR500R is aimed at those sporting riders moving up from the CBR250R. Both 500s are priced at $5,499 and go on sale in April.

?We?re going back to the Honda roots,? Scott Proffer, an American Honda product planner, said in an interview. ?People want efficient transportation, they want high fuel mileage, and our motorcycles can do that.?

Focus group studies have shown that variety will pay off, Mr. Proffer said. ?We?ve discovered that, just like cellphones, customers want multiple styles, multiple colors, multiple types. By doing that we have, on the 500-series, three versions that appeal to three different customers.?

The third member of the series is the CB500X. While again sharing the same powertrain, this bike stands taller than its siblings and has a large fairing and adjustable windshield. Range is greater because of the larger fuel tank.

While Honda says the CB500X offers more off-pavement capability than its standard, street-oriented tires will deliver, Honda will offer a wide range of accessories, and Proffer said he expected buyers to modify and adapt the bike after it goes on sale in July. The price has yet to be announced.

Following a similar path, Suzuki promoted its GW250, a sleek bike that?s available only in black. Styling touches inspired by Suzuki?s B-King, a naked bike introduced in 2008, include the sculpted nacelle that houses the headlamp and multifaceted reflector. Turn signals are deftly integrated into the front cowling. In sportbike fashion, the rear sweeps away to an LED taillamp. Satin finish side panels add distinctive accents.

With its bracingly bold stance, the GW250 gives Suzuki a more competitive product for entry-level buyers, especially in California where the brand has been absent in this market segment, said Derek Schoeberle, product marketing manager.

?They want something with a modern flavor,? Mr. Schoeberle said. ?They?re not finding it.?

Counterbalanced for smooth operation, the bike?s water cooled 250cc engine is rated at 24 horsepower; peak output of 26 pound-feet of torque is produced at just 4,000 r.p.m., which should result in responsive performance in city riding and the ability to keep pace on brief highway jaunts. Fuel economy is expected to surpass 70 m.p.g. when the GW250 goes on sale in April. The price wasn?t announced.

Meanwhile, Kawasaki, which a year ago directed the spotlight to the 210 horsepower Ninja ZX-14R hyperbike, this time featured the Ninja 300, a replacement for its popular Sunday sermon of a sportbike, the Ninja 250.

But for all the emphasis on efficiency, adventure also made a strong case in the form of the new BMW R1200GS. Adding water cooling for the 1.2-liter opposed twin?s cylinder heads will help in meeting future emissions restrictions. But most usefully for today, the rated output increases to 125 horsepower. It has a continuously adjustable, electronically managed suspension.

The brand?s worldwide best seller, with more than 170,000 units sold in 30 years, also is updated with an LED headlamp and five new computer-controlled riding modes: Rain, Road, Dynamic, Enduro and EnduroPro. Cruise control is added for the first time, the clutch is easier to operate, and the windshield adjusts more readily.

Source: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/the-next-big-thing-in-motorcycles-going-small/

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