bramds

Malaysia : Priced at RM150,000, Kawasaki H2 is now standing in par along with a Ducati Panigale & BMW S1000RR (even HP4) in Malaysia. However, does the price makes it exclusive? Somehow in Malaysia, the Continental bikes still belongs to the premium side. Kawasaki launched both H2 and H2R yesterday in Kuala Lumpur and revealed the price tag for both H2 and H2R. Although the price for H2 was surprisingly below expectation which makes it competitive; the H2R however was slightly above expectation priced at somewhere around RM300,000. For this much talked about monster, it is way below the Italian competitor; the Panigale Superleggera which is priced at RM499K. Both is now the premium machine for each brand. However when it comes to andrenalin rush, the Superleggera is no where near the H2R.

Enough of numbers and back to the question of exclusivity. Kawasaki announced that to own either H2 or H2R, you need to have experience riding a supersports at least. Upon placing order, your names will be submitted to Kawasaki Malaysia and you are required to be at their HQ for a test; to prove that you are capable of handling a supersports. It is unclear if they will loan you a ZX10 or ZX14 for the test. In other words, you need to have a H2 Licence from Kawasaki to own a H2! Now that is exclusive. So if you have been riding a naked sports all this while, it would be difficult or you to get a H2!

When asked by media on what is the difference between a ZX10 and H2, the Japanese representative from Kawasaki replied, "ZX10R have a better handling and H2 will give you better fun."

Absolutely amazed at this, you can walk into any bike dealer in Thailand and drive out with a ZZR1400 or some other beast and without showing a driving license also having no experience of driving powerful bikes, now all of a sudden you need to prove you can handle a powerful bike and you also need too gain a special licence, only in Thailand!!

Maybe you should read the first word of my text

Maybe you should tour a little more on it. Less than 2000 kms might not be enough to already decide you want to sell.

Malaysia : Priced at RM150,000, Kawasaki H2 is now standing in par along with a Ducati Panigale & BMW S1000RR (even HP4) in Malaysia. However, does the price makes it exclusive? Somehow in Malaysia, the Continental bikes still belongs to the premium side. Kawasaki launched both H2 and H2R yesterday in Kuala Lumpur and revealed the price tag for both H2 and H2R. Although the price for H2 was surprisingly below expectation which makes it competitive; the H2R however was slightly above expectation priced at somewhere around RM300,000. For this much talked about monster, it is way below the Italian competitor; the Panigale Superleggera which is priced at RM499K. Both is now the premium machine for each brand. However when it comes to andrenalin rush, the Superleggera is no where near the H2R.

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Ever heard the old saying 'four wheels moves the body, two wheels moves the soul'

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Totally agree on this sentence and i like it or lets call it an idiom.

So, as it says, if you have a soul and character, your bike moves it!

it is all about the rider. What we are riding are, it might sound cold but, 'tools' to realize, canalize and project our riding skills, our soul, our character, our tastes and experience to the roads or to the outside world.

Or from another perspective:

Soul, character, these are subjective feelings. A rocking hot iron Harley is liked by some as it shakes and sounds etc and there is no problem with that, i have to admit, they move, look and sound cool at times but it does not mean a smooth, quiet and refined good handling japanese bikes do not have soul and character.

For me, if a bike handles a curves precisely, or it has a stable, consistent and fast straight line performance, or of it has a lot of tech, or if it does not break down, or If it is refined and smooth, it has soul and character.

So, as you said, different people look on different things at the end. soul, character, fun, tastes, these are all individual subjective feelings and nothing wrong with that, we call it human diversity which makes us individuals.

And still, ll2, what you ride is always better than what someone else is riding.

You are a very contradictory person.

I finally managed to upload another video

Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/O21T084JgaA

^

Which current (something made this century, at any rate) motorcycles have you owned (or at least ridden extensively) that are your basis for comparison?

BTW- I'm impressed that you were able to have your cave wired for the Internet...

Not a whole lot as it happens, Honda Wave, CBR250 and an ER6N, I also own a 1983 Honda 43hp NV400 and these are all good machines, but without an ounce of soul or character. If you want to ride to work pick any one on the Jap list, trouble is RSD, your mind works in only one dimension, molded by the marketing men and you rush from A to B on your 1300cc whateveritis without seeing or feeling anything,.... probably with you knee down.

How many of these Jap bikes will be collected in 30 years time, when all the old British and American bikes are still running and still putting a smile on the faces of their owners and are still being admired by people they pass? "Technology" is a bullshit word for what they are trying to sell you today. Lawrence of Arabia was getting his kicks doing 100mph on his Brough Superior over 80 years ago, so how far have your Jap friends bought us since then? ABS, EFI, BUW and now battery bikes.

Wining, high revving same-same sewing machines with bits of plastic waving around in the wind, we used to call them "Rice Bikes" because rice is also effin boring. I am no big Harley fan but I do get it, laid back riding position, cool gear, with your mates, cruising along at 60mph with that deep throbbing engine note and a real history behind it. Okay we Brits are trying to relive the Cafe Racer days, those great engine soundtracks and okay a couple of spots of oil on the road, but shit it has to be better than this mindless crap they pump out of Japan year on year.

This morning I looked around the bike showrooms in KK, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, I had to look at the badge to tell one from the other, up until the time I dozed off........ My fear is that Triumph are trying to copy this crap, Harley are already building a battery bike, hopeful Obama will put a Fatwa out on the culprit.

My 30 year old Suzuki is still running, just sayin'.

Saw something similar on the Facebook page of K-Speed.

It is on show at Mega Bangna at the moment.

How times have changed.

Now Facebook is a more trustworthy source than the horse's mouth

So no one is trusting the info I got from the Ducati guy at the Ducati stand when relasing the new Ducati?

Only a person not riding in the city folds his bar end mirrors to the outside.

I pity the fool and all that

they look cool on naked bikes.

only problem should be lane splitting and maybe they might vibrate more than conventional ones as they are at the tip of the bars.

Lane splitting is actually easier. They are lower than stock mirrors and easier to control.

They don't vibrate either.

I went to check it out today. Really nice bike.

Seat is pretty low and I personally found the handlebars too high, but that is easily fixed.

Price is from 380K baht to 440K baht. Will be available in April.

Any special show promotions? Was it just a 1 day event?

No promotions. As far as I know you couldn't reserve one yet, might be possible at the next motorshow.

There was a shop selling tshirts and iphone cases.

Not sure if it was only one day. The poster did say November 9th, but that was just the launch.

Go check it out at Central World, can't miss it, big yellow containers, quite easy to spot, next to a Mercedes promotional thing.

If it is not there anymore then it was a one day event :-)

Looks like a really fun event. I'm checking out the Pirelli track day info here: http://pirelli.in.th/trackday/index_eng.html and I see they require a riding suit under Clothing Requirements at the bottom. So only full leather suit will be allowed? No jacket / pants separate combo?

properly armoured full leather two piece suits are fine.

Good. Time to visit the Dainese store in Pradit Manutham Rd then.

I saw that Snell requirement ntv69 mentioned, but I didn't think it would be enforced literally, how many helmets sold here come with a Snell label.. maybe a few imported Arai/Shoei models?

ll2 did you register already? I'll give them a call tomorrow but just wondering how's the registration/payment process.

P.S. I don't mean to hijack the thread, if this track day is discussed elsewhere pls let me know.

My HJC helmet is SNELL approved.

That's what the Ducati rep told me at Central World.

Deliveries in April. Will probably be in the showrooms a bit earlier.

Maybe they will make a 1000cc version of the NM4/Vultus

I went to check it out today. Really nice bike.

Seat is pretty low and I personally found the handlebars too high, but that is easily fixed.

Price is from 380K baht to 440K baht. Will be available in April.

Looks like a few new interesting models for the Scramblers as well as a new direction for Ducati.

Apparently competition is already on the way:

Not in Thailand, that is a Husqvarna concept.

Husqvarna does not sell in Thailand and it is not even sure this bike will even be produced.

According to a thai video I watched the price will be 370K baht for the cheapest model and 420K baht for the others.

I want to see a naked version.

Apparently it was too good to be true

Yeah, what an idea to do this on a Monday afternoon.

Let's make sure that most of the people interested can't make it.

Evenings or weekends would be more interesting.

ye

I didn't know so many Thai girls watch MotoGP.

When i test drove a CB500F, i was quite surprised what a "lean over" riding position it had for an upright bike (if that makes any sense).....i bet those risers are a welcome addition.....

The CB300F by contrast has only a slight "lean over" riding position.....

I am 175 tall and the riding position is quite upright for me.

Maybe you got shorter arms than me?