decline in touring options

[hig4s]

I have heard that BMW is discontinuing the current LT model, and it may be a few years for the next version with the new 6 cylinder engine.

 

Honda has stopped production of the Goldwing in the US, and there are rumors that when touring bike production resumes back in Japan it may not be with the Goldwing.

 

And of course we all know the current 2010 Yamaha RSV stopped production back in 09 so as to avoid having to meet the new 2010 EPA regs, and there seems to be no new model full dress Yamaha in the works yet.

 

So for 2011 people looking at buying a new full dress touring bike will be choosing from HD, Victory or Kawasaki, or looking for unsold inventory from the other three.

 

If anyone has any concrete info on what is or isn't happening, I'd love to hear it.

[Freebird]

I guess you can't include me in the "we all know" group about the RSV. I have not heard that they stopped production in 2009. As far as I know, they are still being produced and have heard nothing else but rumors.

[Bummer]

...

And of course we all know the current 2010 Yamaha RSV stopped production back in 09 so as to avoid having to meet the new 2010 EPA regs, and there seems to be no new model full dress Yamaha in the works yet.

 

...

We do? Um. Er. Did I miss a memo? (Not actually arguing. Just that I guess I'm not part of that particular 'all'.)

 

As an amusing side note, I just looked at the Star Motorcycles site. The Midnight pics have the CB antenna on the wrong side. On their own web site. I guess Dryer's isn't the only one.

[PBJ]

well with banks expecting to to show them where you make your money, where you keep your money and how you move your money they sure don't want to lend us any maybe Honda figured that out.

[Freebird]

Also, it still says on the Star site that a California model will be available in February 2010. That tells me that with some minor changes, they will still meet the EPA regs. I've heard this EPA rumor for several years now and yet the RSV still seems to be meeting it.

[LilBeaver]

Also, it still says on the Star site that a California model will be available in February 2010. That tells me that with some minor changes, they will still meet the EPA regs. I've heard this EPA rumor for several years now and yet the RSV still seems to be meeting it.

 

 

...

 

Honda has stopped production of the Goldwing in the US, and there are rumors that when touring bike production resumes back in Japan it may not be with the Goldwing.

...

 

 

They are not building them in the U.S. anymore, but that doesn't mean that they will stop selling them here. Not too long ago, I had read a review or interview, of some sort, with Honda discussing the changes/improvements to the next Goldwing (I'll poke around to see if I can find that - it was a terrific article)

 

but It will be whatever it will be. All we can do is continue to ride, enjoy and support the manufactures that we like the products of.

 

[hig4s]

Also, it still says on the Star site that a California model will be available in February 2010. That tells me that with some minor changes, they will still meet the EPA regs. I've heard this EPA rumor for several years now and yet the RSV still seems to be meeting it.

 

 

By EPA rules, any motorcycle produced after Jan 1 2010 must meet the new standards. What the model year is called is not a consideration. So any RSV assembled prior to Jan 1 2010 can be shipped and sold in the US as a 2010 model.

 

The EPA laws passed in 2005 were in several tiers automatically implemented in 06, and 2010..

 

06 >279cc engines were limited to 1.4 g/km HC, 12 g/km CO and 5.0 g/km HC+NOx

10 >279cc engines were limited to 0.8 g/km HC, 12 g/km CO and 2.5 g/km HC+NOx

 

This brings motorcycles up to about the 1996 standard for autos.

Carburated motorcycles have had to have their jetting lean, and their air screws extra lean and sealed to meet the 06 standard. I guess you can never say never but I can't think of any cars since 1996 that have had carburators.

 

As far as the production run stopping, I saw an excerpt from one of the motorcycle industry subscription mags that said that, and I thought I saw it here is why I assumed others had heard it too.

[RoadKill]

I was told by a Yamaha rep that the RSV meets the EPA standards as is, except for California.