Quote Originally Posted by bikerdoc View Post
As for Honda being slow and less than innovative... I would debate that thought process entirely. Just take a look at some of the really unusual models Honda have prototyped then actually put into production... e.g. DN01, CTX, the NC series which took half a Honda fit car engine, and put it into a frame and running gear that spans three different moto categories... X, S and D (Integra)...
Maybe you need to either read more moto mags/e-mags, or get out of dodge for a while to get a better understanding or appreciation of what the big four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers have been doing... AFAIK to me, they aint been sitting in stuffy boardrooms not making decisions.
Yamaha have taken all of the feedback on the XT1200Z for example and integrated the few real nit-picky areas that SOME Super Tenere owners complained about, and integrated these very items into the new model released this year.

As for the comment about WWII... I won't go there other than to say I disagree with you.

Lastly, what you and I want, may not be representative of what the majority of the MC market in PRC want. HD & BMW Motorrad seem to be doing quite nicely in terms of sales within PRC. It is a developing and slowly maturing market, which cannot be fairly compared with a mature market. IMHO PRC is still better than many other more repressive markets...
kikikillercat is in my view partially right Honda engineering and R&D is massively above the design and marketing departments. Honda do seem to lose market share because they seem a little unimaginative at times, have poor marketing and often make bikes that don't sell. They make 'logical' bikes like some semi-recumbent super scoot which is bought by three university professors or something, when bikers want passion and soul from their machines. Also recent advertising campaign offered me the 'chance to win an ipad'. Soul-less boring choice. Our family already have a few, plus smart phones I'd rather win some other pad than an ipad. Or forget that how about something really exciting, like the chance to meet a pro rider or have a track day or win custom Honda leathers? They are so popular a brand in many places they could make money by having a brand of clothing.

It seems, they think they are doing everything right, but they are just running on three cylinders, conservative and slow and steady. But there are many, many corporations just like this. Shimano and Maxxis are two others.

But Honda do need praise they make great very reliable bikes, and they have spent billions investing in hydrogen fuel cell tech for cars.