How do you say "nanar" in your language? the Guzzi Quota is defined a "nanar"...

[p6x]

First, let's define what a nanar means in French; it is a coloquial adjective that is used for a variety of contexts.

For example, you could say that a movie is a nanar (nobody went to see it).

In the context of motorcycles, a nanar is not necessarily a "bad" product.

So what is a "nanar"?

-a motorcycle that did NOT reach any commercial success;

-because of its look; too futuristic, too retro, too strange,

-inadequate technology, engine architecture, capacity,

-good product but launched at the wrong time, too early, too late.

Feel free to give your own examples of what you deem is a nanar:

Honda Pacific Coast, Münch Mammut (some of you may remember this one), Yamaha GTS, Honda VT

Keep in mind that a "nanar" is not pejorative in this case. It is mainly a product that did not encounter success. I think in the US they may call it a failure, but maybe a "dude" would be a better analogy?

In any case, the Moto Guzzi Quota is in this category. Guzzi launched it after Laverda released their OR Atlas, Cagiva its Elephant. Confirmed by Mike Haven when he saw my Quota, he was a Guzzi dealer at the time, nobody wanted them. They had to discount them heavily to clear the stock.

 

 

Edited December 21, 2024 by p6x

[docc]

Haha, well, I had a Honda Pacific Coast for a couple years/ 11,000 miles. It was an excellent motorcycle, but hard to "connect" with as a "motorcyclist." Nanar? Absolutely.  Almost everything Honda built 1988-1991 was "nanar." Some pretty cutting edge stuff, but struggled commercially. Only to find "cult status" later. My GB500 Tourist Trophy would be another good example of "nanar?"

As well as my 2000 Moto Guzzi V11 Sport?

edit: Curious that google translate does not recognize "nanar" as French, but translates it from Indonesian to English as "sad".

2nd edit: I remember my local Honda dealer telling me the GB500 was "the biggest dog Honda ever made. " In effect: he could not sell them or make any money on them.   "nanar" =  "dog" in this south'n US vernacular.

[footgoose]

An Elvis Presley favorite snack was a peanut butter and nanar sandwich as I recall.

1 hour ago, p6x said:

"dude" would be a better analogy?

Do you mean dud maybe? A dude (dood) is a male. In the last century, a male with fancy attire.

To your point, a Guzzi Centauro is def a nanar

[Admin Jaap]

Some people in the Netherlands refer to an ugly motorcycle as an 'hok'. Which means shed (as in garden shed)

[p6x]

15 hours ago, docc said:

Haha, well, I had a Honda Pacific Coast for a couple years/ 11,000 miles.

I remember that one of my colleague purchased a Honda Goldwing the first year they came out. We were all proud of ourselves on our various Kawasaki triples, Suzuki T350 or T500, Yamaha RDLC... But the Goldwing is still here today, and going extremely strong.

Same for the Yamaha 500 XT when it came out. Nobody thought it would be a success. Of course, the GS took everyone by suprise. Who knew it would become what it is today...

Those could have easily been a nanar too...

[docc]

6 minutes ago, p6x said:

I remember that one of my colleague purchased a Honda Goldwing the first year they came out. We were all proud of ourselves on our various Kawasaki triples, Suzuki T350 or T500, Yamaha RDLC... But the Goldwing is still here today, and going extremely strong.

Same for the Yamaha 500 XT when it came out. Nobody thought it would be a success. Of course, the GS took everyone by suprise. Who knew it would become what it is today...

Those could have easily been a nanar too...

The first year (1975) GoldWing was a beast in a business suit - big valves, big carbs, hot cams. While it evolved into the touring bike everyone associates with "GoldWing", from the beginning it is an example of whatever the opposite of "nanar" would be . . .

[p6x]

On 12/21/2024 at 1:51 PM, docc said:

The first year (1975) GoldWing was a beast in a business suit - big valves, big carbs, hot cams. While it evolved into the touring bike everyone associates with "GoldWing", from the beginning it is an example of whatever the opposite of "nanar" would be . . .

Looking back at it today, you are absolutely correct. But when it came out initially, at least in Europe, nobody exactly knew what to think of it.

[docc]

12 hours ago, p6x said:

Looking back at it today, you are absolutely correct. But when it came out initially, at least in Europe, nobody exactly knew what to think of it.

This is true worldwide. Even the Japanese who engineered it had no idea what it would evolve into. I read a piece by the motorcycle designer, Glynn Kerr, in Motorcycle Consumer News discussing "corporate pride projects" that made no apparent marketing sense. He cited several examples, but the first GoldWing came to my mind.  It was a rolling engineering display. Debuting in 1975, motorcycles were still known as noisy, leaking, vibrational contraptions with marginal brakes and dodgy electrics. This powerful, smooth flat four was more of a water cooled Porsche with clean, smooth and quiet shaft drive and strong triple disc brakes. The fuel tank was hidden under the seat such that the side panels of the faux "gas tank" hinged open, the left side displaying the neat and robust electrical system and the right held the detachable kick start lever - a tribute to a time gone by as the reliable electric starter would be the last word.

All in all, it was a decidedly automotive presentation that the motorcycle community generally considered an answer to a question nobody had asked. Then folks bolted on a Vetter faring and boxes for cross country travel, put Momma on the back and started meeting others the next state over for hotcakes and bacon. Word spread and an entirely new motorcycle culture was born. Honda took note and almost immediately tamed the performance oriented motor in favor of parking lot manners, followed by the fabled factory weather protection and hard luggage. "The rest, as they say, is history" . . .

[guzzler]

Doc, you forgot to mention that the original was / is still the best looking one too.....

[guzzler]

I think Nanar might be interpreted as Shithouse down here.....? 

[audiomick]

3 hours ago, guzzler said:

I think Nanar might be interpreted as Shithouse down here.....? 

No, I beg to differ. "Shithouse" is something that was definitely bad from the beginning. As far as I understand it, a "nanar" doesn't have to be bad, but rather something that didn't work for some reason. So "dud" is better. Might have gone off, but it didn't.

[audiomick]

To exemplify what I mean:

Shithouse:

Holden Gemini Diesel. Shitbox, and it didn't sell.

Datsun 120Y. Did sell, but still a shitbox.

Dud:

Leyland P76. Should have worked, and would have been a good car, actually, if circumstances hadn't worked against it. Unfortunately, it went down with the rest of the British Motor Industry in the seventies.

For the rest of the world, I'm referring to these vehicles

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_Gemini#TE_(1979–1982)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Sunny#Third_generation_(B210;_1973)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leyland_P76

[HRC_V4]

I will throw the Honda Hawk GT in the ring, my first bike.  The Yamaha TDM, at least in the US, did better in Europe.  Maybe even the RC30, maybe due to price, but a slow seller. 

For 4 wheels, the Triumph TR7, still love the looks.  Merkur XR4TI, Subaru XVS, the Dino 246, not a big seller. 

[audiomick]

39 minutes ago, HRC_V4 said:

... Subaru XVS...

Yes, that's a good one. Should have done much better than it did.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Alcyone_SVX

[guzzler]

1 hour ago, audiomick said:

No, I beg to differ. "Shithouse" is something that was definitely bad from the beginning. As far as I understand it, a "nanar" doesn't have to be bad, but rather something that didn't work for some reason. So "dud" is better. Might have gone off, but it didn't.

True that Shithouse is for the most part derogatory, unless as a bloke you'd like to be built like a brick shithouse....

Sorry but the Centauro was definitely in the shithouse category he says ducking and weaving!