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"The crotch rockets are popular because they are cheap and that's all the kiddies can afford."

We have a winner! The most myopic statment on this thread.

Ummmmmmmm try this on for size:

"Crotch rockets" are Japanese sport bikes. Just as a Mazda Miata was an entry level Japanese sports car.

The new GSXR , R1, 1000 ZX and CBR are "hi-end" Japanese sport bikes... much as Lexus (model number?) is a hi-end Japanese sports car.

Ducati / MV Agusta / Aprilia are Itailin sport bikes... their 4 wheeled equivilent would be Ferrari's.

Believe it or not... there is a large segment of the motorcycling population in the States that do not see riding a motorcycle as a social event. These folks follow AMA Superbike racing WSB and GP-1 Racing like the average Joe shmoe follows NFL (grown men shouldn't play with balls... but this is for a whole 'nother thread).

Crotch rockets are popular because the average 600cc sportbike offers more performance for the dollar than ANY OTHER MOTOR VEHICLE on this planet!

Get it?

I know plenty of "kiddies"...who are 40-50- and even 60+ years old who have club raced most of their adult lives. They STILL ride sportbikes. You could put any one of these "kiddies" on a clapped out 1988 Yamaha FZR and they would run circles around 99% of the riders out there on the latest greatest that any manufacturer has to offer.

Some folks enjoy a relaxing ride with their buddies droning down the interstate, while others couldn't care less about that aspect of motorcycling. Some others only ride in twisty backroads and need this "speed fix" to feel alive.... much like a skydiver jumps out of an aircraft.

It's not just kiddies that ride "crotch rockets" :)

Chicks dig Harley's like they dig Ferrari's. Any questions ?

No, not all, just 90%. Gold Wings are not ridden by too many kiddies.

Cha Ching! I personally own 5 bikes, not one a harley or cruiser.

There is a common denominator in all of my motorcycle purchases; Good value, high performance, excellent quality, and the ability to function as designed (not the least of which is an ability to manuever or turn , which Harley's don't do well without scrapping hard parts or levering the rear wheel and causing a lowside).

For example, I own an 03 YZF-R1 (commuter, 150+ bhp, 370 lbs), 03 CRF 450R (MX Weapon, 57+ bhp, 250 lbs, red sticker in CA :( though), 03 KTM 525 EX/C (dual sport, CA plated which is a miracle, 60+ bhp, 250 lbs), 03 XR50 (kids bike, but with lots of bling bling for Dad to ride), 04 LTZ400 (Quad, wife's, don't know the bhp or weight, but don't care cause I don't really ride).

So, as you can see, I have no vanity or social reason for buying a motorcycle, but I do have numerous, logical and performance/design related requirements.

For most Harley riders/owners, motorcycling is a fad. Anyone who thinks that loud pipes save lives or the highest priority is repealing helmet laws is a biker not a motorcyclist (and will be a former biker and former owner shortly).

Some folks enjoy a relaxing ride with their buddies droning down the interstate, while others couldn't care less about that aspect of motorcycling. Some others only ride in twisty backroads and need this "speed fix" to feel alive.... much like a skydiver jumps out of an aircraft.

Sure, and I wouldn't call either group, bikers. There have always been recreational riders, and there always will be. Good for them, they keep the motor companies in business. As for me, I ride year round. My motorcycle is my commuter vehicle, and in the Summer, I'll make two and sometimes three interestate trips. Bar hoppers and sport bikes just don't do what I want them to do.

"Crotch rockets" are Japanese sport bikes. Just as a Mazda Miata was an entry level Japanese sports car.

The new GSXR , R1, 1000 ZX and CBR are "hi-end" Japanese sport bikes... much as Lexus (model number?) is a hi-end Japanese sports car.

You got that right... A lot of the series sport bikes are really works of art. Take a look at the welds on the CBR1000 swingarm... That's aluminum, you know, not all that easy to weld. And something else is that these bikes, that you can buy, right now off a dealer's showroom, would have been competitive in World Championship racing just 4 or 5 years ago, with the only change being tires. "Crotch Rocket" really doesn't do them justice.

Ducati / MV Agusta / Aprilia are Itailin sport bikes... their 4 wheeled equivilent would be Ferrari's.

Mine

I love these bikes... While my second favorite Ducati is the 888,

my very favorite ever is the classic 1974 750SS

Believe it or not... there is a large segment of the motorcycling population in the States that do not see riding a motorcycle as a social event. These folks follow AMA Superbike racing WSB and GP-1 Racing like the average Joe shmoe follows NFL (grown men shouldn't play with balls... but this is for a whole 'nother thread).

I used to keep track of World Championship GP racing, as well as AMA Superbike racing, through a subscription to "Cycle News" while I was in college. I still remember the fight between "Fast Freddie" Spencer and "King Kenny" Roberts for the world championship during KR's final year racing.

Crotch rockets are popular because the average 600cc sportbike offers more performance for the dollar than ANY OTHER MOTOR VEHICLE on this planet!

True...

Get it?

Yup!

I know plenty of "kiddies"...who are 40-50- and even 60+ years old who have club raced most of their adult lives. They STILL ride sportbikes. You could put any one of these "kiddies" on a clapped out 1988 Yamaha FZR and they would run circles around 99% of the riders out there on the latest greatest that any manufacturer has to offer.

Jim Koenig, owner of Letko Competition Cycles in Kansas City, KS, rode a Ducati Elephant to a track day, and he pretty much ran circles around everyone else. The Elephant is NOT a sport bike, more of a "Dual Purpose," or Supermotard bike

(This is not Jim or his bike, but it is an Elephant 900...)

Some folks enjoy a relaxing ride with their buddies droning down the interstate, while others couldn't care less about that aspect of motorcycling. Some others only ride in twisty backroads and need this "speed fix" to feel alive.... much like a skydiver jumps out of an aircraft.

I know that feeling well. Many years ago, I had my amature WERA racing license. And I still enjoy going to a riding school or track day, now and then... I've been to both Keith Code's CSS, and Reg Pridmore's CLASS (back when Jason was one of his instructors...) As they say, it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on...

It's not just kiddies that ride "crotch rockets" :)

I'm 43...

Mark