Mike54 wrote:
Also, I have a feeling that by this time next year, assuming the PR7 is out early in the new year, we will know far more about the true "adventure bike" market via sales, so according to KTM research on the subject, the PR7 will be a massive fail, and if it isnt, and is a raging success, only then might we see some interesting bikes come from KTM in the next 3-5 years.
This keeps getting posted, If the AJP sells in the volume required for KTM to consider it a success I very much doubt AJP will be able to handle the demand.
I very much doubt KTM are concerned at all by the PR7. KTM need to sell 10s of thousands to make it a success.
This is why the bike industry needs CCM and AJP and smaller manufacturers to make the boutique bikes that many of us crave with out being lumbered by the need to sell by the 100000.
These boutique bikes often come at a premium price because demand is limited and the R and D needs to be paid for.
Look at the Honda Africa Twin, When it was announced I hoped for a Bike with the weight of a BMW 650 but with a high displacement engine, A lighter version of the KTM 950 SE with a bigger tank, this was want the pre production rumour mill churned out a reasonable all rounder. as soon as the productions stats were announced I switched off because the final product has to me turned out to be "just another adventure bike."
This is what the market wants a road bike that pretends to be an off roader. I say this because I don't have the skill to ride a big bike off road or the strength to keep picking it up when it falls over. So I had a eureka moment I bought an out and out road bike for the road I find much better for my purposes on the road, when I had an adventure bike I never took it off road anyway because of the previous mentioned comments.
Having done a trip on a 400, I will admit to finding the engine vibey at motorway speeds, but on my trip there were few times when this really bothered me. however I was thankful that my bike weighed less than 150kg many many times. It's all about what the rider wants.
Would I buy a CCM GP450 or ALP PR7 now, No beacuse I have a CCM644 and CCMSR40 and that would be like buying a 3rd bike for exactly the same purpose as the other 2, however because of the type of riding I enjoy I am gald these companies exist and are pushing the bar of the long range trail bike because one day I may have to retire one of my bikes. And If i didn't have my bikes then I would be drooling at the thought of the GP450 or pr7.