Motorcycles!

[jrsjr]

God help us...

[skully93]

I still kinda want one, even though I am swimming in bikes.

Denver has also become absolutely s**t to ride in. I do it for sanity, but...ugh.

Still want one. And a RE Interceptor. And a Goldwing. And a pony!

[Syd]

Yay, a new forum, yippee!

[KABarash]

I can’t wait to read others’ impressions after seeing and riding since we’ve waited sooooo long!

[jrsjr]

[johnk]

I never liked motorcycles at all before getting my Stella, but the process of learning to ride and work on it has changed that. If I do ever get a motorcycle, the G400C would be the first one I look at.

I have to admit that it bothers me how transparenly Genuine is trying to sell us the retro-Americana lifestyle. ("Let’s focus on the people you’ll meet and the friendships you’ll form as you travel the roads that will take you through big cities, small towns and rural America.") I absolutely love my Stella, and its mechanical simplicity/quirkiness is part of its charm, but it has made me extremely wary of being sold an attractive, fantasy-inducing product rather than a quality product.

For example, I feel a little swindled by the retro-Americana-style Biltwell Gringo helmet I bought, which I bought because it looked awesome, and only later learned that it offers much less protection than modern helmets should. And when I contacted Biltwell to ask whether my helmet's face shield conforms to the ANSI Z87.1 safety standard as required by my state, they told me that ANSI Z87.1 is not a motorcycle safety standard. They're wrong about that. So when every rider in the G400C advertisements has a Biltwell Gringo helmet on, my gut tells me to stay away.

[Dooglas]

[Stanza]

[johnk]

Damn, I thought I could sneak in some complaining over in the G400C corner before anyone got here!

I guess my real point is that there can be a fine line between lovable, educational, complex, rolling beauty (like the Stella) and cheap crap with a good marketing spin (like my Biltwell helmet).

I want and expect the G400C to be on the Stella side, but those ads aren't helping!

[dasscooter]

Someone like JohnK is why I think Genuine should have named their motorcycle brand something *not* Genuine.

I've already gotten the whole "I like the G400 but my Stella was a pile" a few times. I try to explain that they couldn't be more different and that Genuine themselves aren't out back building bikes and scooters - but there's still that bad taste in their mouths.

It makes sense, though. 95% of customers aren't going to get nor care about the whole importer vs manufacturer thing. All they'll see is another retro looking thing with a Genuine badge.

Hopefully I'm wrong and it won't be as bad once people get to look at them.

[johnk]

I think you're right, dassscooter, but just to clarify: my Stella is NOT a pile! I love it, it is beautiful, and it has taught me a lot about value. I know that Genuine didn't manufacture the Stella and doesn't manufacture the G400C. My only complaint is with how Genuine is marketing them to us. That's the only point where the bad taste shows up (and it tastes like Biltwell). And, again, I would absolutely look at a G400C if ever I decided to buy a motorcycle!

[Stanza]

[dasscooter]

[johnk]

The new CSC SG250 looks like another motorcycle that might appeal to people who are heretofore scooter riders. It's a 250cc and about half the price of the G400C. The style is a more modernized cafe racer.

Here is a video review.

[Point37]

http://www.mac-motorcycles.com/the-ruby/

[Christophers]

[Dooglas]