In article <20030124230510.06358.0000
[email protected]>,
[email protected] (TritonRider) wrote:
> I don't think it was that the days of dirt bikes are gone that did them in. I think it was the
> "new" Honda CR all aluminum frame. I think the new frame is about 5 or 6 years old. well within
> C-Dale's startup. I think they thought that thier aluminium expertise would carry the bike. Bad
> call. M/C world is way too competitive. Waiting for the new KTM streetfighter! (Giant F'ing
> smile). The thing has an obscene weight/horsepower/overall size ratio. Bill C.
One thing that probably contributed heavily to the problems was the decision to develop their own
engine. They spent tons of cash on that, when they could have just gone to Rotax, given them the
specs they were looking for and sat back to work on the rest of the bike. Rotax has so much
experience in that arena it isn't funny. Going that route -has- to be cheaper than doing it
yourself. Once they got a bike to market, then they could think about doing the engine on their own.
Selling motorcycles at a loss is a pretty bad idea. The KTM you wrote about is very interesting, but
I want to see the sportbike that will be powered by the big bore motor they've been developing (with
Rotax, if I recall). I really wanted to get a KTM Sting from a couple years ago: a scaled down Duke
powered by a 125 two stroke. Not available here in the US of A...
--
tanx, Howard
remove YOUR SHOES to reply, k?
For some people, quantity IS quality...