Playboy Magazine's Motorcycle of the Year - Brammo Empulse R

[Brammofan]

http://www.playboy.com/playground/view/thunder-road-2013-best-motorcycles

NOTE: May not be considered "Safe for work" (The article...not the bike, due to the fact that it's a magazine that apparently is known for photographs of naked women - shocking).

[Shinysideup]

My favorite line:

"It’s also one of the best-handling bikes ever made."

Amen!

[Richard230]

Most of Playboy's recommends seem in the ballpark, but, I don't know if the CCW’s Tha Misfit would be my choice for as a "Best Learner Bike".  From what I have read that bike is just a nice looking pile of random parts waiting to fall apart.   

[protomech]

But .. but .. Wes Siler likes it! We know how impartial he is in his reviews ; )

Some discussion of the CCW bikes here:
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/sprockets/cleveland-cyclewerks/46631/page1/

Some people that have sat on them and examined the bikes in person say that they generally are satisfied with the quality. Particularly for the price. Other people (who largely have not sat on the bikes) raise concerns about the Chinese manufacturing.

"pile of random parts" seems to be a little bit harsh. But I haven't seen one in person.

[Richard230]

I was basing my comments about the Misfit on three different magazine road test that I have read lately.  They all had given the bike a poor review when ridden on the street.  It did not seem like the type of bike that a beginner would want to own and maintain.

In particular, Motorcycle Consumer News tested the bike in their November 2012 issue and had this to say: "Considering all the quality control issues, we have to wonder whether Tha Misfit's $3195 asking price is still the bargain that it promises to be."  They finish up their report with: "We hope that CCW can continue to refine its products, but the bike we tested had a lot of quality control issues.  Great concept. Flawed execution."

[Shinysideup]

...I don't know if the CCW’s Tha Misfit would be my choice for as a "Best Learner Bike".  From what I have read that bike is just a nice looking pile of random parts waiting to fall apart.   

Richard, are you sure you're attributing that description correctly? Doesn't it describe Harleys?   (Ducking)

[Richard230]

...I don't know if the CCW’s Tha Misfit would be my choice for as a "Best Learner Bike".  From what I have read that bike is just a nice looking pile of random parts waiting to fall apart.   

Richard, are you sure you're attributing that description correctly? Doesn't it describe Harleys?   (Ducking)

 

My brother used to own a Harley.  Most of his parts (like the muffler) fell off before he ever left the dealership.  The bike seemed to run OK without these parts. Then he tried the same thing with a BMW K75S and found that noise, BMWs and massive surging seems to be linked somehow.      One advantage to riding electric is that there is no muffler to remove and therefore no risk of poor throttle response.   

[Jeff]

Most of Playboy's recommends seem in the ballpark, but, I don't know if the CCW’s Tha Misfit would be my choice for as a "Best Learner Bike".

Yeah I sort of take issue with the idea that any new motorcycle could be considered a Best Learner Bike.

My sub-$1000 1982 Suzuki GS650 was definitely the Best Learner Bike.