Anybody into Hyosung??

[jbrough7]

Ya gotta take a look at this intro video for the Hyosung 650.  Awesome shots about 1.5 minutes in where the guy on a 650gt saves the turtle's life!  I wanna ride like this guy!!

Jim

[aussiebandit]

And for those of you in the land of Oz, particularly NSW and the ACT, they make a learner legal version of the 650 and all you need to do to make it Non Learner Legal is take out the restrictors on the throttle slides...

If I remember correctly, the 650 is based on the Suzuki SV650 engine, in fact Hyosung used that engine under licence, until Suzuki realised what they were up to.....

[B6mick]

Well I'll give then credit where it is due.
Not the best finished motorcycle on the market.
But like what the Japs did to the motorcycle market 30/40 years ago, I'm tipping the Koreans, are going to do the same to the Japs.
Already the car and light van market is steadly moving to the korean stuff, yes they are cheaper but, Kia, Hyundi, etc are now producing the goods, that is making the Jap and Aussie suppliers hurt. And they are reliable, now thats a good start, in any mans book.
So I reckon bring it on, as a judgement, Shinko tyres being Korean, and we all know what I think of them little gems, just maybe hyosung,
maybe on the wish list a little further down the track, when the already planned, 1000cc V twin, finally rolls off the production line.
Value for dollar, they will kill the Japs, and maybe make the Japs rethink some of the prices, its asking for its product. Either way its all good for us the riders.

[Red01]

If I remember correctly, the 650 is based on the Suzuki SV650 engine, in fact Hyosung used that engine under licence, until Suzuki realised what they were up to.....

Hyosung & Suzuki have been partners for a loooong time. Hyosung has been building the motors in Suzuki's scooters, kids bikes & quads, etc. for years. It was Hyosung that designed the SV650's motor - and the 400 & 250 V-twins used in JDM baby SV's. Apparently, the GT650 has a different bore/stroke than the SV650 though.

[Red01]

Did anyone read the article in the sidebar entitled "I raced a Harley today"  

         

I raced a Harley today

I raced a Harley today and after some really hard riding I managed to PASS the guy. I was riding on one of those really, really twisting sections of canyon road with no straight sections to speak of and where most of the curves have warning signs that say "15 MPH".

I knew if I was going to pass one of those monsters with those big-cubic-inch motors, it would have to be a place like this where handling and rider skill are more important than horsepower alone.

I saw the guy up ahead as I exited one of the turns and knew I could catch him, but it wouldn't be easy. I concentrated on my braking and cornering. three corners later, I was on his fender. Catching him was one thing; passing him would prove to be another.

Two corners later, I pulled up next to him as we sailed down the mountain. I think he was shocked to see me next to him, as I nearly got by him before he could recover. Next corner, same thing. I'd manage to pull up next to him as we started to enter the corners but when we came out he'd get on the throttle and outpower me. His horsepower was almost too much to overcome, but this only made me more determined than ever.

My only hope was to outbrake him. I held off squeezing the lever until the last instant. I kept my nerve while he lost his. In an instant I was by him. Corner after corner, I could hear the roar of his engine as he struggled to keep up. Three more miles to go before the road straightens out and he would pass me for good.

But now I was in the lead and he would no longer hold me back. I stretched out my lead and by the time we reached the bottom of the canyon, he was more than a full corner behind. I could no longer see him in my rear-view mirror.

Once the road did straighten out, it seemed like it took miles before he passed me, but it was probably just a few hundred yards. I was no match for that kind of horsepower, but it was done. In the tightest section of road, where bravery and skill count for more than horspower and deep pockets, I had passed him. though it was not easy, I had won the race to the bottom of the canyon and I had preserved the proud tradition of another of America's best bikes.

I will always remember that moment. I don't think I've ever pedaled so hard in my life. And some of the credit must go to Schwinn, as well. They really make a great bicycle...

[Sven]

I recently saw these for the first time at Woods in Austin TX.  About all I can say for them is...they are cheap.  If you don't want to commit much $ to a NEW bike, and don't mind having to wait for parts that may never come, this would be an OK investment.  (MY opinion!)  But why not get a good used bike instead.

I'm sure these will one day be decent bikes, but like the early Asian cars, they needed some time to mature.

I think I read that the partnership between Hyosung and Suzi was over.

[Red01]

I think I read that the partnership between Hyosung and Suzi was over.

I hadn't heard that... just the partnership between Suzuki & Kawasaki was finished. If Suz ended their deal with Hyosung, they'd have to find somewhere else to build all their tiddlers.

[tacoman]

I think most of the Jap mfg have a Korea/China partnership.  Kawasaki's long running and still going strong KLR 650 is Chinese made.  There's always room for low cost, low tech bikes.

[Sven]

I think I read that the partnership between Hyosung and Suzi was over.

I hadn't heard that... just the partnership between Suzuki & Kawasaki was finished. If Suz ended their deal with Hyosung, they'd have to find somewhere else to build all their tiddlers.

The sales guy at Wood's said it was over, and I *think* the article in a recent mag (maybe last month's RIDER?) said something similar.  I wouldn't swear on it.  I researched them on the web a few weeks ago, so I'll see if I can find anything conclusive.

[jbrough7]

I really wanted one of those new gv650's (the harley-rod knock-off) - the so-called muscle cruiser - it's got 73 horses where everything else in the mid-size cruiser class is working with 53 or less!

But they have taken too long to get into the canadian market and then their prices are way HIGHER than suzukis!!  Go figure!  i thought for sure they would be cheaper but my bandit 650 I just bought was almost $2000
cheaper than a gt650!  No contest.

Jim