has anyone made it out to the 2012 motorcycle show?

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Sure. But the nc has a manual transmission where as the mana is manual and automatic. Every review states the manual setting doesn't work right. It's also about finding the right. Bike for you. The. Mana for Me Feels awkward. The styling also is very bulbous the thing looks chubby like a care bear. The nc only has 47hp which frankly is the only issue I can think of. It gets 76mpg though. The shivers 0-100kmh of 3.1 sec is tempting... But in a place like Toronto with cabbies and pedestrians jumping onto the road... I think I'd be dead in a week or just never get to use all that extra power.

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I assume that 3.1 sec 0-100 is the Mana - the thing has a 140 MPH top apparently..

Horsepower is only one factor - gearing is a big one and sport modes on the automatics makes the lower horsepower very effective.
You can get high gas mileage in one mode and lovely twisties performance in the other.

77 mpg on the new Honda's tho is astounding.
 
DucatiDan said:
No yellow streetfighter. There was a black 848 at Ducati NA and a white 1098 and a red 1098 at the GP bikes booth
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the black 848 was the one I am seriously considering getting... sexy?
 
show was terrible... overpriced for the small room that it was. Kawi didn't even show up wtf. I went looking for 'deals' on 2011 models but there was very little for sale. left disappointed, you could cover the entire show in 30 minutes.
 
Twoth said:
show was terrible... overpriced for the small room that it was. Kawi didn't even show up wtf. I went looking for 'deals' on 2011 models but there was very little for sale. left disappointed, you could cover the entire show in 30 minutes.
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+1, very small.. me and my friends went through in about an hour, and we took our time. It was my first time going there though, so I wasn't too disappointed, I still found it pretty interesting.

I did plan on spending some money there, but all I ended up getting was a $2 bottle of chain lube
 
fyrebug said:
just got back.

I'm IN LOVE with the new Honda NC700s. WOW. I don't care how anyone else feels about it. THIS is the bike I've wanted them to make. streetfighter with trellis frame. less than $10k, 700cc (not too much, not too little with an intermediate bike) gas tank is a storage trunk just like the mana, but unlike the aprilia mana it's still a manual transmission and it's not an awkward POS to sit on. great height, weight, balance. It fit me like a glove. I never thought I'd buy new as I never saw a reason there's no new bike smell. I'm pre-ordering that thing. side luggage is an option as well. I love just locking my helmet inside the gas tank trunk area and walking away. or not struggling to strap it down to the rear seat if I'm bringing a passenger helmet to pick up the gf. and apparently the mpg is good too.

really glad I went or I might have settled. I was about to buy a shiver. this beats it hands down. not in speed.. but in practicialty for ME.

http://cmgonline.com/news/2011/11/08/new-honda-nc700s/
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I recommend giving the suzuki gladius a test spin when you can, it's great for what it is, don't let the old marketing fool you. That's the bike I'm looking to pick up next season; power I can use, comfort I need, price I can all around afford. I didn't like the fit and finish, but then again I don't need a garage queen anymore.

I like the tank storage idea, reminds me of the fun scooters I used to ride in Europe. I'm kind of amazed my gs500 would outperform that nc700 though.
 
Deimos said:
I recommend giving the suzuki gladius a test spin when you can, it's great for what it is, don't let the old marketing fool you. That's the bike I'm looking to pick up next season; power I can use, comfort I need, price I can all around afford. I didn't like the fit and finish, but then again I don't need a garage queen anymore.
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Suspension on the Gladius is in *DIRE* need of a fix up. Straight lines and cautious corners are OK, but otherwise the suspension is next to useless. I took a serious look at them when they came out, but the way it wallows turned me off completely in about 3.4 minutes.
 
Gladius was actually an option for me when I first saw it. I don't care about the advertising. it just seemed like a neat looking sv650 that was a rip of the monster. at the end of the day though, if I was going to drop 7-8k on something that looked like a monster, I'd get a used monster.

@Deimos
the NC has less HP than my ex500 on paper as well, but how that translates to street use may be different. our bikes aren't tuned machines so I know for mine, the powerband that you can feel is very narrow low, and then way up top. if I rev it that high ear drums will blow, so I never use it. the ex500 is rated at 60hp. the same as the ninja 650. however, I'd guess the gs and ex 500's feel more like 40hp compared to many of these bikes, they're not real numbers as far as I'm concerned. if the NC is geared for a fast take off where the HP is usable without having to hit 9000rpm, then I think it's ok, and might feel faster, might BE faster... either way.. how much does anyone need? I beat someone in a civic once that tried to race me. my life didn't get better. I lost once too. and I still have a kickass job and hot gf.

hell the v-strom 650 has the same hp as the ex500 and people don't seem to take issue with it. it's dissapointing,.. but I think they've aimed it to be a commuter bike with great mpg. so it is what it is.
 
Bigevildoer said:
Suspension on the Gladius is in *DIRE* need of a fix up. Straight lines and cautious corners are OK, but otherwise the suspension is next to useless. I took a serious look at them when they came out, but the way it wallows turned me off completely in about 3.4 minutes.
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Yeah I found the rear too soft back when I demo'd it. Maybe it just needed an adjustment.....or a gsxr 600/750 rear shock upgrade which is getting praise from owners on the sv riders forum.
 
fyrebug said:
Gladius was actually an option for me when I first saw it. I don't care about the advertising. it just seemed like a neat looking sv650 that was a rip of the monster. at the end of the day though, if I was going to drop 7-8k on something that looked like a monster, I'd get a used monster.
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Even if ABS comes standard? Fair enough I suppose. I couldn't get a duc or else I'd be obsessing about keeping it pristine. If and when I do pick up a gladdy and mod the heck out of it, who knows...might even change some minds around here. Cheers to riding slow bikes FAST ;)
 
The thing about automatic transmission is that it was designed to work in automatic mode. Same as a car, they rarely work the way people want them to when they use a manual gear changer. I'm not fussed with it, I've read several reports that the Mana system works well. And the Shiver is a lot more sporting than that NC700.

Not that I think you're wrong for liking that bike. Whatever blows your hair back. Just pick the right reasons: you like it and think it's just about right for you.

Incidentally, here's a first-ride review of the NC700:

http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-first-rides/first-ride-honda-nc700x-review/19622.html
 
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Went to the show. It was small, but good - managed to spend 3 hours there seeing and talking with people I haven't seen in a while. Ducati had a big presence. I got some good info from the GP bikes personnel.

The Norton Commandos were interesting bikes. The Guzzis were great - the V7, 8V and V7 Racer were all great looking bikes.

Another bike that caught my eye was the BMW K1300R. Never really noticed it before, but it was an eye opener for me. Maybe one day...

Thanks again to Infernobuster for the free tix.

Can someone please explain to me what Motovan does? Are they a distributor?
 
I went to the show with my wife, her niece and her husband. We spent 3 1/2 hours, had a great time. Got to sit on a lot of bikes I don't generally get to see close up.Spoke with the good folks at Cycle Canada magazine. For us, definitely worth the trip.
 
Chaos said:
Went to the show. It was small, but good - managed to spend 3 hours there seeing and talking with people I haven't seen in a while. Ducati had a big presence. I got some good info from the GP bikes personnel.

The Norton Commandos were interesting bikes. The Guzzis were great - the V7, 8V and V7 Racer were all great looking bikes.

Another bike that caught my eye was the BMW K1300R. Never really noticed it before, but it was an eye opener for me. Maybe one day...

Thanks again to Infernobuster for the free tix.

Can someone please explain to me what Motovan does? Are they a distributor?
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Yes.Every bikeshop has a Motovan/Parts Canada/Kimpex catalog.

cknowles said:
I went to the show with my wife, her niece and her husband. We spent 3 1/2 hours, had a great time. Got to sit on a lot of bikes I don't generally get to see close up.Spoke with the good folks at Cycle Canada magazine. For us, definitely worth the trip.
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Yaaah! Two happy showgoers for a change.
 
Just got back - spent a couple of hours with kid and friend.

ScreenShot2011-12-11atDec11201142220PM.jpg

Kid got to sit on his own yet to be financed 650 Suzuki something.

Honda 700 automatics were a no show but the two BMW 650 maxis were there - very nice. Solid build - suspension looks interesting - but price was not available and that will be a make or break.

Surprise of the show for me was the 650 GS

2011-bmw-g-650-gs-54.jpg


What a sweet size and feel - sort of a street dual sport - low seat height and low c of g.

IN real life

ScreenShot2011-12-11atDec11201142359PM.jpg


At $8k new that's a superb ride for just anyone short of the long distance tourer and could easily be set up to do distance,

Good article here.

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/bmw/2011-bmw-g650gs-review-video-91176.html

I''m wondering if I might sell the 650 Burgman here and pick up a g650GS in Australia given the low price and versatility. We'll see when the time comes but that was an impressive ride for $8k new.

The other interesting bike was this Yamaha TW200

http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/yamaha/2010-yamaha-tw200-ar62990.html

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Cool 200 cc beginner run around and off road with huge tires but street legal and very low seat height.

For $5k new that's a sweet learner ride - and looks to be much fun

2012_TW200_PWS1_1.jpg



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The 650 BMW maxis I's need more info on especially price

ScreenShot2011-12-11atDec11201142708PM.jpg


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Sport version did not impress - I think one of the new Hondas might outclass it but the touring version looked pretty good.
 
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Rode to the show on my bike today via the QEW and Parked in the reserved motorcycle parking. :) Stop by the GTA booth and spoke to the folks there.
Great way to spend the afternoon!
Also Enjoyed the ride ride along lakeshore back to Oakville. (QEW seem backed up)

Hope I will also be able to ride to the Janaury show!
 
yeah saw someone on bike as we were heading home - figured it was the WAY to hit the show. Good for you.
 
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