i think that the 500cc should have a super street series and a touring series, such as, a slightly remodeled ex-500r for long distance comfort and ease of use, but include some slight creature comforts to it, such as a larger tank, a fuel light, even a digital odo.
but
They shouldALSO invest in, dare i say it, a zx5r series bike with fuel injection, albeitbig shot for a 2 cylinder, but why not try? or even (just a fantasy) small bore I-4, so it has the sense of a drag worthy machine, but is laid back enough to not kill you on the first outing, because i know many many people who want the look, and sound of a ferarri killer, but not exceeding the 500+cc range for such as first timers.

 

We American consumers are a crack-up. We pine after so whatever bizarre thing that we can't get, but it immediately loses it's allure as soon as it's made available to us. We relentlessly buy the same inane, ubiquitous Harley-chopper or race-replica that everyone else is riding. THEN we complain how Europe, Canada and Japan get all the 'cool models'.
All of the big-four have stuck their necks out for us at one point or another, and we've promptly screwed them over.
"Make us a bike that looks like the Triumph Bonneville and we'll be waiting in line to buy it." (Kawasaki invested more money on the design and tooling of the W650 than they had ever done for a single model in their history, and nobody in America bought them. The salesman practically hugged me when I took possession of 'that showroom anchor'.)
Same thing happened with Honda's GB500, Transalp & CBX, Yamaha's GTS1000 & TDM800, Suzuki's VX800--we SAY we want weird/different/cool bikes, but we never buy them.
Then as soon as they discontinue some goony bike that never should have been built in the first place (like Honda's PC800), we wring our hands and gnash our teeth.


FFS, if you want a small-bore I-4 'Ferrari-killer for beginners' with fuel-injection get a CBR/GSXR600/ZX6R/R6.
-CCinC

 

its just the american consumer way, you cant fight it, all you can do is post on countless forums till you become the numerical leader and blue in the face, then move on... and accept the next generation, because time wont stop no matter what, anyway enough philosophy, but a zx5r would still be badass

 

didn't say it needed much change, just some minor creature comforts and "marketed" as such

heck the zzr600 is listed as a sport touring bike but its basicly thesame bike as my 95 zx6r.

 

I would like to see more 350cc to 500cc bikes in the american market. But everyone in america just wants bigger. The biggest bike I will problably ever own would be a 650. To use a bike for a DD and gets 40mpg I would rather drive a small cage and be comfortable.

 

i love daily driving my zx6r (when its above 40*)
it may be a little harder on the body - but its so much better for me mentally to commute with the bike than a car. with the car i don't have an oportunity to enjoy the ride in to work and i arrive in a bad mood. with the bike i arrive happy.

 

I'm in agreement with you KB, commuting on the bike is sooo much better than my cage. Even at roughly the same gas mileage.

 

No doubt it's more fun on the bike, but at the same gas mileage I would rather be comfortable. But if weather wasn't a factor I would take the bike every time.

 

If your car gets the same gas milage as your bike, no wonder it bores you. my car gets 14mpg and its a V6

 

my v8 durango gets 15 the way i drive