Hi Tim
I guess at first I would love to see it, enthusiasm immediately replaced by the realization that the new one does not match the old one (similar to the present Z900RS). I have been digging a lot in to the history of the might zed, one thing I noticed is that they built it with 6 cylinders because a) they could and b) to show off.
As mentioned before there is no reason to use 6 cylinders, you can get the same performance with 4 and you would save the costs for the set of two cylinders. I believe the Z1300 di not pay off for Kawasaki and I suppose they have learnt from is, look how they treat this heritage !
Development of new bikes will be handled by the bean-counters, if they can not sell a certain number of units in relation to development costs the project will be dead in a second.
Pity, because I like the Suzuki Stratosphere a lot (except of all these gimmicks), but the main idea was absolute right. A clean in-line 6, with a nice frame around it.
I do hope for the same dynamics as present in the 70s, if one takes the lead the others will have to follow, like Honda amazing the world with the CBX and Kawasaki modifying their project to become the Z13.
But those times are gone. Lets enjoy what we have end even more if you meet more than one in one place that is pure entertainment.
regards,
holger
