Yep Thanassis, I see the logic in your argument about going for the younger crowd, BUT answer me this: How many V-Maxs, V-Rods, and "Power-Cruisers" do you suppose we Yanks see out there on the road, as compared to all the Dynas and Softtails out there on the road?
Heck! I've got a pretty good idea that the reason the guys at H-D haven't brought to their HOME Market that cool new Flattracker looking XR1200 Sportster and are only selling it in Europe right now is because the boys in Milwaukee think it "isn't Crusier-lookin' enough" for their average customer.
Once again, if Triumph's idea is to sell a whole bunch of these T-Birds, and not just make it yet another of their "niche market" machines, then I still have say that I feel those "Experts and Professionals" in Hinckley slightly missed their target customer, IF as I said they're trying to appeal to THAT largest market segment here in The States.
And BTW...I think most of us around here have lived long enough to realize that those terms, "Expert" and "Professional" shouldn't neccessarily imbue any sort of automatic inability of those so described to "mis-fire" in their judgements. At least, I personally have lived long enough to have witnessed many so-called "Experts" and "Professionals" very often make some real counter-productive moves somewhere along the line, anyway! As an example, was ANYBODY clammering to purchase the brand new Triumph SPEED FOUR when it hit the market??? NOPE!!!
And while the sheetmetal on any motorcycle, such as gastanks and fenders and such can be cut and reshaped, or replaced altogther with a little talent and ingenuity whenever one wants to "personalize" their motorcycle, almost nobody would have the ability to recast an external engine part if they're not all that crazy about THAT part of a motorcycle, right?!
Oh, and for the record, I don't necessarily have a complaint about the T-Bird being water-cooled, nor do I think the radiator on it is all that unslightly either, it's just that I think a "Cruiser" that will appeal to the largest segment of the MASS Market here in The States would have a much better chance in that MASS Market if it's a little more "traditional" in it's engine's aesthetics, especially.
(and BTW Keith....I LOVE brussel sprouts!!!)
