Supply issues to blame?

All the Honda dealers we spoke to mentioned they are selling bikes like never before and can’t get enough stock to satisfy demand, so it’s feasible that Honda simply can’t make enough Hawks for Europe and the rest of the world at the same time.

Yamaha had a similar problem, and staggered the R7 launch so Europe got it six months after America and Japan. ‘The demand for bikes at the moment is through the roof – from 125s to Gold Wings,’ says Ian Gladman of Doble Motorcycles.

‘We sold more Gold Wings last year than ever – and we could have sold more if we could get them. And with the 125s we normally have ten of each model in stock, but now they’re selling before we even get them into the showroom.’