Tuesday 22nd December 2015
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodnight: PH2
PH2 looks at the bikes that have dropped off the production line for 2016 and whether they will be missed or not...
The end of the year offers a time for reflection on the past 12 months; the successes, the failures and the could-have-done-betters amongst others.
BMW's K1300R has always split opinions. Does the world really need a naked hyperbike? The Honda X-11 and Suzuki B-King's failure certainly suggested that a 170mph top end and no fairing isn't a great combination unless you are on first name terms with a chiropractor. But that didn't stop BMW persisting, until now. With the German towel thrown in for 2016, will this 175hp naked be missed?
Some riders really fell for the R's thumping mid-range and relaxed riding position, but obviously not enough to justify its existence. The fact it came with BMW's advanced electronics package such as electronic suspension and traction control was certainly a plus point, but at the end of the day its lack of fairing meant it was compromised both as a tourer and commuter; its hyperbike roots also equalled slightly ponderous handling, meaning super naked fans were put off.
Verdict : More than overdue its gold watch and retirement card.
Quite why Ducati built a smaller version of its unpopular Streetfighter is a bit of a mystery. The Streetfighter 1100 itself only lasted four years until it was killed off, but despite this Ducati still released a smaller version in 2011 using the 848 motor - presumably because it had some unused parts kicking around. Somewhat unsurprisingly the Streetfighter 848 also bombed. Why? The Streetfighter 1100 was an awkward and argumentative bike that was great fun when you were in the mood, but a right old pain when you weren't.
The Streetfighter 848's smaller motor took some of this aggression out, but the uncomfortable riding position, harsh suspension and odd looks remained, leaving a rabid dog that was now missing most of its bite. Super nakeds are meant to be super in terms of performance while naked middleweights should be fairly relaxed for newer riders to enjoy, neither of which the Streetfighter 848 was. And it also cost a small fortune.
Verdict : Bad parentage led to a troubled offspring that should never have been conceived.
The Austrian superbike that never was is still for sale in KTM dealers for 2016 - but its production has now stopped and it is a case of old stock being cleared rather than new models being built. Should we be upset that a European superbike has dropped off the scene? Yes, because the RC8 remains a brilliant bike.
Annoyingly for the RC8, it simply arrived a few years too late and instead of joining the electrical revolution, KTM dug its heels in and refused to give its superbike the latest technology. If you look at the RC8 in terms of style, engineering and practicality it remains an impressive bike, but without traction control, 200hp and a bit of race pedigree it could never hope to stay in the superbike game. Superbikes live and die by their results and sadly for the RC8, it never made the WSB grid and that effectively sealed its fate. If you look at KTM's Moto3 success there is no doubt the firm could have turned the RC8 into a winner, but the firm's management saw its future in other markets and refused to spend the R&D money on a halo project when small bikes could deliver the company the growth they yearned. To be fair, they were right.
Verdict : A sad loss of a bike with masses of unfulfilled potential.
The Suzuki Gladius's fate was effective sealed the very first year it was unveiled. Some marketing type decided it was a good idea not only to give it a very stupid name, but also to say it was a 'girl's bike', instantly alienating just about everybody. Men didn't want to be seen riding it, women's backs were put up by this apparent sexism. A hasty name change to SFV650 (catchy...) didn't really help sales and with Suzuki's ridiculous number of middleweights, the Gladys got lost in the range - which was a shame.
Replaced for 2016 by the new SV650 (which appears basically a renamed and tweaked Gladius...), the Gladius is actually a really good commuter. Yes, its looks are still a bit odd, but the SV V-twin is a brilliant motor and the riding position nice and relaxed. Once Suzuki had abandoned the horrible pink colour (another genius marketing move there) the Gladius even looks pretty masculine in grey with a red frame. For 2016 Suzuki have also killed off the GSX650F, which was a good, cheap, and solid commuter.
Verdict : A good bike killed by some very poor marketing. Bye, bye, Gladys.
The writing was on the wall for the XJ6 models as soon as the MT range was revealed; that being said they have had a decent run of things and will be missed by many. Not overly inspiring in terms of performance, the XJ6 models are one of those ranges that do exactly what they say on the can and not a great deal more. Cheap, reliable and very easy to live with, these are the bikes that Yamaha should have replaced the wonderful FZS Fazers with instead of the terrible FZ6 model range.
Realistically when you look at the price and performance of the MT-07 the XJ6 was never going to compete, but it is quite sad that Yamaha no longer have an inline four middleweight in its model range.
Verdict : A great bike that undeservedly slipped under many rider's radars.
Talking about dropping the ball, the FZ1 and FZ8 sum up why Yamaha was in such a terrible state in the late 2000s and why the whole company so desperately needed its recent rejuvenation. There is very little good you can say about either the FZ1 or the FZ1 Fazer other than the fact that by the end of their lives Yamaha had (almost) made them reasonable bikes. Initially launched with a terrible fuel injection system and dodgy damper, the FZ1 models limped and lurched their way through a few small updates but realistically they were a typical 'universal Japanese bike' with few redeeming features that were thoroughly out-classed by their competition.
And the FZ8 was even worse. If you wanted a no-brainer commuter the FZ8 was alright, but its price tag was too high and suspension too soft to even hope to take on the likes of the Street Triple or Kawasaki Z range. When you consider the MT-09 and up-coming MT-10, they blow the FZ range out of the water.
Verdict : Best forgotten about, not exactly a crowning glory moment in Yamaha's history.
Somewhat amusingly, the SR400 only arrived in the UK in late 2014 and it has already been sent packing! Why? The SR400 was brought into the UK to fill a hole in Yamaha's 'Sport Heritage' range after trendy types started to use imported SRs as a base for customisation. Which is when reality hit. While the air-cooled single is pretty cool and the bike is nice and light and agile, those with designer beards struggled with the concept of a kickstart and decompression lever; they were then forced to forlornly sip their lactose-free skinny latte with soy bean milk while they waited for an adult (with a proper man's beard) to start it for them...
Verdict : A fashion victim that has met its predictable fate.