future of SilverWing 600 im US and other markets

Looks to me SilverWing 600 as new machine is about done in US....most of the action seems to be used right now

With $9000 new price/old design/not really fun to work on, but nice to ride and reliable---even buffeting can be controlled with GIVI adjustable shield, etc. ( have purchased 10 new maxiscooters since 1990--now near 300,000 miles on them) I also have motorcycles.

Honda now has several bikes in the $6000-9000 dollar range, new and new for US market Forza at $6000 price point coming.SilverWing priced out of interest?

I have no real tech data on Forza---ReFlex engine and NO SHIMS to adjust valves=great if true. If follows ReFlex drive belt change would require pulley removal----Helix (my favorite) could be done at roadside.

Just something to think about----I am thinking to next year 's purchase. My new TU250 should be tired by then and me tired of it, too----NO CENTERSTAND SUCKS!! 2013 rides planned=4 corners US(done it before Helix) did first corner in March on Burgman 400, next Maine ... I have already ridden in 49 states at one time or another. One other 2013 goal is to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway end to end, rode 4/5 of it last Sunday===interesting, I almost frooze to death, temps dropped from 80's to high 30's---my fault I was going to start with my Stone Lake leather bibs---should have.

Have need to go north to VA soon and will complete the parkway on the way.

Info---TU 250 could probably be outrun by good Helix except on top, top end----in 250 class Helix (had 4 new) was more fun for me.

I am not much for the smaller scooters , cause they are just too scooterish , I am a silver wing man , if I could afford a new one I would be right out the door to get one , I love my auto trans , power steering , power brakes and did I mention the free air conditioning LOL, I love the silverwing so much I will probably get a tattoo of one , but as for motor cycles I could see myself downsizing , I have been real interested in a CBR 250 R to take spirited jaunts on the twistys with , but it would probably do a lot of sitting in the garage with my trusty swing steed parked in the driveway ..

I'm the opposite, I'd quite happily downsize to a 300cc to 400cc scooter again for solo Euro touring. I've already done it with a Helix and a 400 Burgman and it's not much different from being on the Silver Wing. It's only the overtaking and cruising speeds that are slower and less weight is always a bonus.

The 2009 silver wing was last model sold in Canada from what i read on this link . Just wasnt enough market for it i guess. After getting mine (05) used in 2012 i dont know why it wasnt a hit! Everyone wants the macho image of the rebel motorcycle it seems.
http://www.motorscooterguide.net/Honda/Honda.html

I tend to agree with Meldrew, the only thing I miss on the scooter is the quick blast to overtake but when I'm touring I can live without that and the scoot does everything else that I want.

I have never been able to figure out Honda's marketing strategy for scooters and motorcycles.

I have had several Shadows. A 99 600 cc and a 04 750 cc and they were both great bikes. They dropped the 600 and 1100 so only the 750 Shadow remains. They introduced the 1300 and 1800 VTX and now they have dropped the 1800 so only the 1300 remains.

The offered the Elite 125 in 83 and 84, the Elite 150 in 85 and 86, the Elite 250 from 85 to 90.

Honda seems to market a lot of good products that are short lived.

I don't know that much about the Forza yet. The 280 cc engine has a different top-end (4 valve instead of 2), fuel injection and a few more cc's than the Reflex had to make the 5 extra HP. We don't have many details yet about servicing it.

I was wondering if the engine is frame mounted or swing-arm mounted. If this is a make-over of a Reflex then it is probably swing-arm mounted. In any case, it would be a step up from my wife's Reflex.

I agree with John that the Silverwing is probably on shaky ground in the US. Since the Silverwing has had a 10 year run in the US, I wonder if they have an updated version in the works?

I suppose that if they did, our European friends would already be riding them. Europe has a bigger scooter market and Honda seems to test new models there before we get them.

There is an updated version in Europe as well as a 400cc version.

MikeO wrote:

There is an updated version in Europe as well as a 400cc version.

By updated version, do you mean an updated version of the Reflex or whatever the NSS250 is/was called in Europe? How long has the updated version been out? Does it sound similar to what they are calling the NSS300 Forza here?

How long has the 400 cc Silverwing version been available? Did Honda just scale down the 600? Is it a frame mounted engine? Is it a twin cylinder? Does it have a shorter wheelbase, smaller tires, a few pounds lighter etc.?

It is strange that Burgman 400 and Majesty 400 are doing pretty well over here, Burgman in particular, yet we don't have a Honda 400.

I liked our Majesty but my wife complained about the seat being tall and wide. If a 400 Silverwing was available in the U.S., I would be interested in it.

Since the SilverWing is not available in Canada anymore...this site will self destruct in 10..9..8..7...

Honda still has 2013 SW listed at US website, I guess it will be the last year, because they have Forza 300 as a scooter, but in bigger engine segment they have CTX700, NC700X and CTX700N all with automatic transmission, I would doubt they need another 600cc on top of that

In the US displacement is king. But for scooters, displacement doesn't mean much. Most focus is on 50cc scoots where in most states no license or registrations required. Ideal for those that have lost their driving privileges. There is negligible interest in scooters in the US aside from the 50cc scoots. In a land where a mom drive a kid(s) to school in a massive Suburban, excess is the name of the game. Practical scooter usage (250cc or below) is not the norm, nor is it respected. In fact, it can be downright dangerous. In Europe or Asia, the number of scooters in a center city block may be the same as the number of cars. In the US, it's probably 100 to 1 in favor of cars.
So for the US, what do you bring here? The Silverwing cost nothing really because it has not changed manufacturing wise. You have the new DCT series from Honda, but those focus on leg throw over type bikes.
I'm on my third Swing, a 2012. I know it, I appreciate it. But I am a small percentage. Honda will bring us a DCT based 700cc scooter. Silverwing XRT or some such. But the engineering and production will be built from leg throw overs. Swing has maybe a 2014 model. After that, the DCT700 series will replace the Swing. And I will have my checkbook out....

I think the real question is whether they "dress down" the new Integra maxi to the Silver Wing branding for 2014 (available in EU now, coming to US next year):
http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/scooters/#!/integra/

Time will tell!

Nearly 700cc? Sweet machine (Integra) hope Honda follows through and lets us have it in the US.

They "ramped up" production in February, so I'm sure they're just building up a reasonable distribution inventory before launching it as the US Integra (NC700D). Will they make a Silver Wing 2014 model? It seems crazy that they'd kill a successful product line, but splitting an already three-way platform to add another scooter model seems just as unlikely as pushing forward the five-year-old platform for yet another 580cc build with 30% less fuel economy. I think the only real hope is that the Integra doesn't have passenger seating like the S'Wing, so it's plausible they'd make that physical concession just to keep the brand alive. BMW did a similar split for their C600/C650GT, so it could happen.

Seat height on the integra is significantly higher than the Silverwing.
Being 5'6 with short legs makes it a dealbreaker for me.

The seat height on the CTX700 is a little lower than SWing, better fuel mileage, cost's less, bigger wheels means better stability. Read the review on motorcycle.com, they love it.

Looks great!
When will it be available?

The DCT motorcycle versions just became available in the US (CTX700/CTX700N, NC700X) for this month. That only leaves the Integra/Silver Wing gap open. Maybe they're trying to sell off the 2013 S'Wing before releasing it. According to their last quarterly filing, the Integra went from 10% of scooter sales in Japan to 44% in one year.

I think about the Integra-----not for me.....following questions....how do wheels come off? open chain?---weather protction?? Have to spend for decent shield? AND then price point? At least valve adjusment=nut and screw.

I have purchased over 75 new since 1955....nor is used Silverwing of interest.....had a new one. Next year Forza? Had ReFlex. Scooters should be light/cheap/easy to fix.....and fun!

MattLavallee wrote:

I think the real question is whether they "dress down" the new Integra maxi to the Silver Wing branding for 2014 (available in EU now, coming to US next year):
http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/scooters/#!/integra/

Time will tell!

Seat height of 31.1 inches won't work for me. Not much left for us short people that have trouble throwing a leg over the motorcycle.

I have 29" inseam and ride with feet up as bikes are designed to be ridden-----then when stopped only one foot, the left needs to come out

gettting on most any bike not too hard at 74-----but I do like real step thru

Hmmm, I might have to try that feet-up thing. Never thought to try that before.

MattLavallee wrote:

The DCT motorcycle versions just became available in the US (CTX700/CTX700N, NC700X) for this month. That only leaves the Integra/Silver Wing gap open. Maybe they're trying to sell off the 2013 S'Wing before releasing it. According to their last quarterly filing, the Integra went from 10% of scooter sales in Japan to 44% in one year.

Stopped by the Honda dealer in Williamsport, Pa today. They just got in a CTX700N with satndard shift and a Silverwing.
The CTX is really light and well balanced. The Silverwing is beautiful. The dealer said 2014 will Still have the Silverwing 600 and they will have a 400 scooter also in 2014.
I want to see how the CTX700 with fairing looks and feels but leaning towards scooter. Having trouble getting leg over seat on the CTX.