We received quite a few more reader comments after putting up the first Reader Response article about the Concept One bike. We didn’t want anyone to feel left out, so here are the rest of the responses.
- The Performance Cruiser VTX1800 ROCKS!!! I love the drag bike look, so I would buy one in a second.
- I’m not really a Honda person but I’d buy that bike over a V-Rod ANY day! The Concept 1 has to be the best sport-cruiser design I’ve ever seen from a major manufacturer!
- The only cruiser Honda needs to work on is a new Valkyrie Cruiser very similar to the one produced from 1996 to 2002. There isn’t a v-twin out there that should be called a cruiser. All you have to do is ride a v-twin, then a v-six.
- i want one :))))) i own a vtx 1300 black retro already.
- “Grotesque” is the word I think best describes this bike. It looks like something out of the world of anime or maybe something you’d see at Toys-R-Us. Honda needs to think about bulding bikes for adults.
- I love to own something very close to the styling of this concept. It is sweet as is! I own a VTX 1800c and I think this concept steps a little more into the sport side of things but not to far. A little more chrome for exhaust, front-end, etc., and a separate headlight cowl like similar to what is offered for the VTX and I’m butter!
- That cruiser is Ugly, Ugly, Ugly!
Come on Honda. Bring us the Griffon! IT would be the choice for us smaller females. - This bike is sweet! It’s lineage to the Rune is obvious, but the differences are sufficient to make it it’s own beast. The rear wheel is something that has already been done in the chopper world, with good effect – I hope it is retained. Exhaust placement is good, and the bilateral effect makes it look almost as though you are looking at thrusters from the rear. Excellent esthetics. I would make the turn signals pinpoint LEDs with light scattering lenses, and mount them alongside the headlight.
Other than that, don’t change anything, get the engineers out of the room, shoot the accountants if they dare criticize, and let the production line roll!
- This bike has the best new design I have seen in years. Since I ride an open class sport bike I usually don’t pay much attention to the new and often boring cruisers that enter the market. The Rune was a unique addition, but is a bit too big and too expensive for most buyers. The VTX concept is absolutely spectacular – a blend of sport bike and power cruiser with futuristic design accents.
I do think that a few modifications are needed if this bike goes into production. First, the mufflers are a little over done. Yes, they are high enough to give the impression that you can lean into a turn almost as much as a sportbike, but in reality something this big is never going to corner well enough to scrape the mufflers. Second, I think that Honda may want to consider the idea of having a seat that allows the option of throwing a passenger on the back. Otherwise, I think the design is near perfect. If Honda builds this bike (even in its current form) I’ll bet people will be flooding dealership doors to get in line to buy one.
- Hey Honda your falling asleep!!! You need to develop something that can at least keep up with the Rocket III, and no stinkin Vtwin’s gonna do that!!! Build a 2000 cc f6 motor, build a new fuel injected Valkyrie and become king again!
- This VTX Concept, Rocks. Make it Honda, Make it!
- My first street bike was a 1969 Honda CB-750. I also had a Kawasaki 750
H2, a Yamaha RD-400, Kawasaki Ninja 900, and a ZX-11. My current bike is
a Triumph Speed Triple. I never liked cruisers, but this is the most
beautiful “cruiser” I have seen in my life. I never had one, and probably
never will, because I do not like their foot pegs position, but this one is
really beautiful. Why? Maybe because of its drag racing stance makes it
looks more like a sport bike. I like that its low to the floor stance,
the shape and style of the gas tank, seat and tail, the use of a fat rear
tire, and the drag style handlebar. I don’t like the “mechanical type”
front fork, because it looks too fat and heavy. And, it probably looks
better with one muffler instead of two, but that is a minor detail. - I ride and make Performance Mufflers for Harley Davidson, and I would be interested in purchasing this new bike.
- All I have to say is that if this bike goes into production, I will be buying one. A couple of my buddies looked at it and they agreed.
- I’m not a cruiser person, but I think this is the bike the Rune should have been. I hope it makes the cut.
- I’m not sure if you are still taking input but a few thoughts from a guy who
is, I think, Honda’s target audience. I’m guessing Honda is trying to target
riders like me, I’m a 48 year old, 35 year rider who can afford an expensive
bike, comes from a sporting background and is getting old enough to think
about at a more mellow ride. At the same time I will never own a pair of
chaps, fingerless gloves or a bike that can not run through a set of corners
at a good clip on demand. I no longer need to lead the pack but I would like
to arrive before the other guys finish lunch. That means I not going to own
a cruiser, at least as they exist today.Overall I think Honda did a good job on the styling, based on the pictures I
would have any trouble having this bike in my garage based on looks. On the
other hand, I would never spend my money on this bike. Major problems: It
looks like it has very limited ground clearance (deal killer), the foot pegs
are much to far forward (deal killer), and, knowing Honda, it will have
linked brakes (deal killer). Minor problems: Chain drive (it is clearly not
a sport bike, why put up with a chain?), speedometer in gas tank (I actually
read mine occasionally, why take your eyes that far off the road?), solo
seat (again, it isn’t a pure sport bike, why not have a place for the person
who pays for half the bike?) and the 240-18 rear tire (shows the bike is for
posers, not riders). Also, I would need some serious convincing to believe
that god-awful ugly front end was an improvement of a good set of forks. I’m
open to improvements, I’ve owned BMWs with the telelever and prefer it to
“normal” forks (once the garbage shock is replaced with something that
works), but all I can see in this front end is a lot of flex.Finally, I’ll echo what a few others have said: Like a lot of other people,
I’m not interested in any bike priced like Rune, to sell in well the retail
price would have to be in the $12 (big numbers) to $15K (probably sell well)
range. - The Rune is a nice piece of useless eye candy and this
looks like another piece of Honda Candy.How about a Valkyrie like bike. One that stops traffic
yet is customizable, cruisable, tourable, loveable.Honda seems lost in it’s offerings. A fat tire, all around
cruiser with a big engine escapes them. The VTX is no
Valkyrie nor is the Rune. - Honda is stepping forward as they should with design. This is what the
crusier clans have been hoping for. The other cycle companys have become
stagnent in the crusier department. This is where major middle aged people
are placeing there purchases. For me I am standing above ground at 50 and
would love to own one of these bikes. At this time I own a Honda VTX 1800
and I am truely inspired by the power it contains. This concept 1 will
definetly turn heads and that is the name of the game. One thing about this
new bike is a saddle bag system. I take trips on my VTX and would do the
same on the Concept 1. A carbon Fiber back rest and containment system in
the same color and styleing would be fantastic. Again great bike and honda
is on track with the future. - Don’t care for the design of the concept cruiser. Many other models to choose from that look similer.
- I love the way this looks, clean and original, if they build It I may have to trade in my FatBoy.
- Two words, butt ugly.
Just another exercise using triangles which has been done a hundred
times. Another loser from Honda. - I already have one of the best performance cruisers, it’s called a
Valkyrie! What on earth would I want a chain-drive V-Twin, limited use
bike for? Most of us cannot afford a stable of bikes so that we can have
one for all styles of riding. My response is NO THANKS HONDA. I’ll stick
with the `cruiser of the decade.’ - All I can say is what an ugly bike. I do not like the cheap finish on the current VTX, ie almost everything on the bike goes Ping, as in tinny and cheap. I know Honda thinks everyone will want one but I’m not one of them. I have owned over the last 10 years 3 ST1100’s,(Best Sports Tourer ever produced) and two Valkyries that are the best cruisers ever built and I will never go to a twin Honda. If they ever had the brains to build an 1800 Valk I would definately get one of them. As for the Rune, well that should win the award for the ugliest heap of Sh!!!t ever produced.
- Next Bring that rear fender a little closer to the tire and lower the sides and rear of it a little bit,Head light chrome and bring the top nose out a little more it will give it a more aggressive look..Single side swingarm belt drive not chain,how ever i do like the new engine case.Exhaust got to go looks like crap carbon fibre this.I like the radiator curved but put some chrome side covers and a front grill 30s ford hot rod grill on it with out reflectors.Gas tank hmm, bring it down lower in the back and move the seat backand fill that exposed lip on the fender with foam for a back rest first move that back a little too. Overall it has promise but looks unfinished to me and not thought out enough i think it was a rush job just to make a showing. Last but least increase that displacement on the engine at least 145 hp..Then they will peek my interest i’ll fix and customize what i dont like if they did just that. Me for now well really ever i’m sticking with my 99 std. valk. and my 86 v-max. But if they came out with something powerfull enough even looking like that i would have to add it to my stable but it would go through a major facelift and fabrication. .Honda needs to pick up the ball and stop playing bottom line is no replacement for displacement. Thanks for letting me vent.
- I just wanted to e-mail you incase you have any way of letting Honda know
about consumer responses. I think that this concept design rocks. I am a
21 year old male and I am a sport bike rider. However, I have long said
that I would like to have a cruiser one day for long touring rides…if
anyone comes out with one that is cool looking. I want you to know that
this bike, in my opinion, is just the ticket. I would only make one
suggestion about the bike, and that is that I would like to see it meet
production with a shaft drive instead of a chain drive. I would suggest
this simply because of the nature of the bike. It is a cruiser, I would be
using it for very long rides very far from home, therefore I would want the
reliability and durability of a shaft drive. Now, I know that this is
supposed to be a “performance” cruiser, but as BMW has shown us with their
new sport bike, performance is definitely an attainable goal in a shaft
driven bike. Those are my thoughts. - My thoughts? I humbly await the K1200S. I dream of an R1200RS. I laugh at Honda’s attempts to turn the motorcycle into a caricature of itself. Soichiro must turn in his grave.
- What a piece of garbage! The people at Honda are totally clueless when it comes to gauging what the motorcycle consumer wants. Enough of the cruisers already! Honda built their reputation in the 60’s and 70’s on building bikes that were lightweight, reliable and fun to ride. Something that could take you across town or across the country. This VTX concept bike is ugly – just like the Rune, it surely does not look like a comfortable or safe ride. Who gives a s–t about some axle-less rear wheel? I would never buy one of these bikes, nor the Rune or any other of Honda’s two-wheeled Winnibagos. As a matter of fact, there is nothing that Honda currently makes that I would buy – I don’t want a cruiser or a crotch rocket or some high-tech, high-strung naked bike. However, if Honda brought back a slightly updated 650/750/900cc Nighthawk (1985 vintage) with SHAFT DRIVE (read that as LOW MAINTENANCE), I would buy one in a heartbeat. I want a bike that I can take off on for a week without carrying a tool kit and chain lube. Wake up Honda. Why not survey the motorcycle buying public to find out what they want, instead of building another piece of crap and foisting it on the public?!
- This is what that regawdamdiculous Rune should have been from the get-go. Saw this concept at the Cycle World show in Chicago, and it is all-around sweet!
- Great looking bike. Looks like a stealth fighter. I really hope they build
it. I have been a Honda rider for 15 years and currently have a ’03
Interceptor. I was very close to getting a VTX 1800 but it just wasn’t quite
sporty enough. If they build this bike I’ll be the first in line to buy it. - I really like the look of the bike – the symmetrical exhaust, chin spoiler,
front suspension, rear end cluster, and the long, low lines. Must haves for
practicality are low weight, long range (5 gallon tank at least), and a
decent lean angle.
