Will Subaru Build Bikes?
Car blogs are buzzing with a rumor that has been circulating the bike world for some time: that Subaru might enter the motorcycle market.
Rumors surrounding the supposed Subie (whose alleged spy photo is seen here) include mention of a 499cc DOHC single that produces 50 horsepower, manufactured by Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries. The powerplant has already been seen in Polaris quads, and the hypothetical sportbike-- dubbed the HS500-- wears a Chinese-built, cast aluminum frame, and a beefy swingarm.
Though not as hardcore as Subaru's rally-bred WRX STi, the motorcycle, if it sees the light of day, could offer an economical alternative in the middleweight arena.
Do you think Subaru should bother building a bike, or are you content with their four-wheeled offerings? Share your thoughts by commenting.
Comments
hmmm… can’t be bad thing coming from a consistent WRC champion builder, they can only get better… but to squeeze into an over crowded niche mid range market? They would have to offer more than the other manufacturers but a Chinese build of major components kills it for me… Chinese quality is still very poor.
They build a helluva car, so there’s no reason they can’t build a real nice bike with the right help. I know I’ve annoyed a few people here with my opinions about Chinese built / designed motorcycles, but I don’t believe the Chinese - mainland or otherwise - are the right ones to align themselves with….at least for a while.
They should hire from within the established, high quality part of the industry and not risk shooting themselves in the foot, right out of the gate.
I hope they do it right….I love big singles! I very fondly remember my SR500.
First of all Chinese quality can be as good as, or even better than, OTHER competitors, if quality is required by and PAID for by the OEM client. Exotic statistical quality control (SQC) is practiced just as much in China as it is in Japan, S. Korea, Germany, the US, etc. So let’s put to bed this baloney myth about lack of quality in China. It depends on how much money you want to spend. Subaru can put together world-class bikes to compete in any segment of choice. Marketing is the key. What is the size of the world market? What are the growth projections for this market? Who are the players? Manufacturing capability of Fuji Heavy Industries is a given. A reliable distribution & maintenance network is guaranteed. The Subaru product planners look ahead much further than American enterprises do. Given that oil will sooner or later (probably sooner) reach $100 US dollars a barrel, there may be an emerging growth market around the world for additional players in the motorcycle market. If so, Subaru can and will manufacture world-class machines.
Do they know how to build anything that:
-is not 4 wheel drive?
-is not targeted toward the “L” market?
Ok, um i don’t have as a great a vocabulary as you guys do, but what i do have is many years of riding bikes, ive owned 3 Suzuki GSXRs 600, an 01, 05, 06, ive also owned a Kawasaki ninja 01, and now my baby, a Yamaha R1 05,
Basically, with me having been living in the bike community,
No one is going to buy a Subaru bike, It aint happening, Not unless they come into the market thousands of dollars below market price and with great financing options ext, And even then their target market would be 16 year olds, and people with no riding experience, The bottom line is, is that you don’t just go out and buy a bike, that does not have a track record,Its simply to dangerous,
I dunno, It would be nice to see more competition added, but i would have to expect about 3 to 5 years on the market until they are actually looked at,respected, and trusted,
So no one should really get to excited yet.
Also if you look at what Suzuki did, They are trying to get back into the car market, by advertisening everywhere, as to how “their cars, are just as good a their bikes” Well guys, They aint, there bikes kick ass, and their trucks stink to high heaven, Just wanted to bring that up.
i agree with jacobs comments in so far is it unlikely that an educated consumer will feel comfortable purchasing a new bike without a track record.
besides for being fresh of the boat, the 499cc market is for beginner riders. those with experience do not settle for anything below 600cc.
as with anything in american society, you have to come out with a great bang.
if subaru would introduce a boxer style motorcycle, or a turbocharged engine, or soething unique, maybe then diehard fanatics will take a moment to consider the bike…
I also have owned many motorcles and I think the downfall of subaru is doing a single piston bike. They might be aiming at the newly created super single market, but for the main stream a single piston sport/street bike will be looked over. To be successful in the scuch a extreme market one has to do extreme things.
I’m generally of the opinion that the products that succeed– be it cars, bikes, or even personal electronics– are the ones with distinct character, personalities that distinguish them from the crowd.
Whether or not Subaru is really entering the bike market is questionable (these are, after all, rumors), but if they are, in my opinion it’s imperative that they forge their own “gotta have it” selling point, whether it’s through a surprisingly low price point, a shockingly cool design, or novel engineering.
I’m curious to see whether or not this rumor becomes reality, and hope that if it’s true, Subaru brings a little of their utilitarian sportiness to the motorcycle world.
Basem
DJ….your opinion of Chinese quality doesn’t seem to be shared…with very good reason — They have yet to prove it. Precious little comes out China’s manufacturing sector that isn’t garbage.
Reminds me of a great old gag…would you fly in a plane Harely built? Not a chance in hell….no more than I would fly in a Chinese built plane. About all they’ve proven so far is their ability to make poor, 4th rate copies of Honda Power Equipment.
Will they improve? Probably…look where Honda was in 1967..remember the term ‘Jap Crap’? Look where Hyundai was in 1986…the Pony almost buried them…they came back pretty well. China will too…but they’re not even close yet.
I once had a Subaru–Great Car–I don`t care for sport bikes—-but I hope they go for it–maybe a cruiser bike is next
I would be bowled over if Subaru did get into the bike arena, I owned a Legacy for many years and was dazzled by the engineering. I would like to see a Bio-Fuelled bike if that was possible , then it would really mean something for the planet,I would be first in line to purchase, I know that much. Merry Xmas to one and all. Cheers Jonboy.
There is a standing joke here in Minnesota that Subaru is the only import built with factory installed rust.
I’m likely to come under fire for this, but those of you residing in the snow & salt belt take a moment to look at these cars. I’ve found when a comparison is done of other imports of the same vintage that there is more than enough physical evidence to be had in these rolling rust buckets.
Now would I be interested in a bike built by them ….. NOT A CHANCE IN H%!!
I think sport bikes are suffering the same as cruisers - they all look the same. Yes, I’m a cruiser guy so I don’t see all the nuances. As I’ve said previously, Victory has taken a great risk with the Vision, but what were they going to do, just continue with variations of their touring cruiser? I think Subaru should think long and hard about this, because if they go in selling on price alone they will be competing with the Hyosung and Kymco, and eventually the Chinese for market share.
Hello, Lets be honest, FHI would never rely on cheap Chinese parts, even for the mouldings. Fuji have always built good quality cars I know I have had two of them and might be buying a third. I would love Subaru to build bikes, I know they have the know how and would do a great value job.
Let’s hope they include an STi range in their bikes if they do.
Regards,
Michael.
Ok, if they can pull of a STI style bike, then they will have some BIZ, but they wont, and in that case, unless they open up with really cheap bikes they aintgoing to sell
I like their cars, I drive one during the winter. They probably would make a good motorcycle but I think they should stick with cars. What’s the “L market”?