Why no CX500E/CX650E in the US?
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- BlueThunder
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Why no CX500E/CX650E in the US?
Is there any reason why Honda did not market the CX500E or CX650E in the US? I would love to have one.
...Brian
2014 CTX1300 Deluxe - BlackThunder aka Predator
1977 GL1000 - Ox
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- BigDub
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Re: Why no CX500E/CX650E in the US?
That's a good question. Isn't that because of emissions standards?BlueThunder wrote:Is there any reason why Honda did not market the CX500E or CX650E in the US? I would love to have one.
1984 VF1100 Flat Black Saber
1981 GL1100 Flat Black Bagged aka my pickup
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1981 GL1100 Flat Black Bagged aka my pickup
1976 MR175 farm/trail bike
1975 GL1000 Antares Red
- BlueThunder
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Re: Why no CX500E/CX650E in the US?
I thought about that but... Honda met the requirements by jetting lean. I think its more about what they thought Americans would buy. Europe gets the sportier models a least a year or two before we do. I want the sportier Europe Sport model, but can't. Anyone in Canada wants to sell theirs?
...Brian
2014 CTX1300 Deluxe - BlackThunder aka Predator
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Re: Why no CX500E/CX650E in the US?
BlueThunder wrote:I thought about that but... Honda met the requirements by jetting lean. I think its more about what they thought Americans would buy. Europe gets the sportier models a least a year or two before we do. I want the sportier Europe Sport model, but can't. Anyone in Canada wants to sell theirs?
Sold a CX650E, a real good runner two years ago, took me forever to find a buyer.
Only got $800.00 for it.
Where were you when I needed you ??
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‘14 KLR650 ... not a rat ... yet
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My Original 'RAT' was a hybrid '82 CB900/1100F
- Sidecar Bob
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Re: Why no CX500E/CX650E in the US?
Man, I would have taken it for that price if I had known.
As for emissions, the CX650E and the GL650I have exactly the same engine, ignition, carbs &c and, because of the 18" back wheel, actually run a bit lower RPM so if the GL passed US testing the CX-E surely would have.
There was a crippling recession in the '80s and bike sales worldwide plummeted. Large numbers of last year's models sat in the warehouses of the importers and at the dealerships and there they sat unless they were heavy discounted, and even then it wasn't easy. A friend of mine bought a new old stock '83 Seca 650 for about 40% of the original MSRP in '85 and that wasn't the best deal offered that month.
Someone at Honda America decided that importing the CX-E was probably only going to result in them sitting in the warehouse and at the dealers for a couple of years and then being sold at a loss too so they didn't import any of them. Someone at American Suzuki made the same decision about the GS400E (Suzuki's midweight Eurosport), but they took the GS450E instead.
By the time the recession was over, Honda no longer made the CX range.
Perhaps because of Canada's smaller economy (which translates to less bikes imported and therefore less stale inventory), or perhaps because they felt that these models would be different enough to attract buyers, Honda Canada and Suzuki Canada decided differently and both models were imported into Canada.
All these years later, who is to say whether these decisions were right or not?
As for emissions, the CX650E and the GL650I have exactly the same engine, ignition, carbs &c and, because of the 18" back wheel, actually run a bit lower RPM so if the GL passed US testing the CX-E surely would have.
There was a crippling recession in the '80s and bike sales worldwide plummeted. Large numbers of last year's models sat in the warehouses of the importers and at the dealerships and there they sat unless they were heavy discounted, and even then it wasn't easy. A friend of mine bought a new old stock '83 Seca 650 for about 40% of the original MSRP in '85 and that wasn't the best deal offered that month.
Someone at Honda America decided that importing the CX-E was probably only going to result in them sitting in the warehouse and at the dealers for a couple of years and then being sold at a loss too so they didn't import any of them. Someone at American Suzuki made the same decision about the GS400E (Suzuki's midweight Eurosport), but they took the GS450E instead.
By the time the recession was over, Honda no longer made the CX range.
Perhaps because of Canada's smaller economy (which translates to less bikes imported and therefore less stale inventory), or perhaps because they felt that these models would be different enough to attract buyers, Honda Canada and Suzuki Canada decided differently and both models were imported into Canada.
All these years later, who is to say whether these decisions were right or not?
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Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
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The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
- BlueThunder
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Re: Why no CX500E/CX650E in the US?
Ok, that explains why the model was discontinued. But doesn't when the CX was first introducted, the E version was excluded from the US.
...Brian
2014 CTX1300 Deluxe - BlackThunder aka Predator
1977 GL1000 - Ox
2014 CTX1300 Deluxe - BlackThunder aka Predator
1977 GL1000 - Ox
- Sidecar Bob
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Re: Why no CX500E/CX650E in the US?
Sidecar Bob wrote:There was a crippling recession in the '80s and bike sales worldwide plummeted. Large numbers of last year's models sat in the warehouses of the importers and at the dealerships and there they sat unless they were heavy discounted, and even then it wasn't easy.
Someone at Honda America decided that importing the CX-E was probably only going to result in them sitting in the warehouse and at the dealers for a couple of years and then being sold at a loss too so they didn't import any of them.
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1100/Dnepr) summer How a motorcycle evolves thread
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
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Re: Why no CX500E/CX650E in the US?
When Honda discontinued the CX line, it wasn't all about the economy. They also had numerous models in competition for the Con$umer$ money. Can't be all things for all people and not all good ideas, like the CXs, are profitable. How many "better mousetraps" have been invented and ended up in the dump? Too much competition within Honda's own house.
I used to work for Motorola, back when they made wafer chips for their own phones. One of the main reasons they went broke is because they made TWENTY-TWO different models and still produced parts for the outdated models. The competition only made 3 or 4 and when a new model came out, they quit making an older one. Public bought the new.
I used to work for Motorola, back when they made wafer chips for their own phones. One of the main reasons they went broke is because they made TWENTY-TWO different models and still produced parts for the outdated models. The competition only made 3 or 4 and when a new model came out, they quit making an older one. Public bought the new.
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'76 Yello Café to be
'83 CX650C Needs Work
'83 CX650C #2 Daily Rider
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10 others in the project/parts pile
'75 GL YelloWing, '73 Norton Commando, '79 CB750, '80 Fiat Spyder, '83 Silverado w/ BB Cad, to name a few.
'79 Black Hondaline/Vetter bagger Tourer
'76 Yello Café to be
'83 CX650C Needs Work
'83 CX650C #2 Daily Rider
'79 Yamaha XS750
10 others in the project/parts pile