that sounds pretty fair JC :lol: I just know on other boards i visit, in the past....there has been a ton of rumors and speculation...going back some 2 plus years ago. Some of the rumors were amusing, some were exciting, some down right annoying.
And then, some people believe and hear what they want to believe and hear. I'll never forget when...at the InZane rally in July of 2002 (THAT'S RIGHT...i did say July 2002)....Charlie Keller from Honda came to address the crowd. We all knew he was going to talk about this rumored 'new Valk' that many had hoped for and heard possible rumors about. And of course, just as now, the rumors were rampant. "no, there won't be any more Valks, ....yes, there will,....yes, but it will be bigger and better, ....no they are completely discontinuing....etc...etc."
So he comes up...and addresses the crowd...and comes right out and says "i can't tell you the details, but if you love the Valk, and you love big bikes, and cool bikes, and this and that...etc....then you're going to LOVE the new bike Honda is going to announce on 13 Sep 2002". So there it was, CONFIRMATION of all the rumors of a new big Valk-like bike (later, to be announced as the Rune). So the crowd disperses....and just days later, there are posts all over the Valk board....FROM PEOPLE THAT HEARD THIS SPEECH....saying the Valk is dead, no new bike, oh poor us, etc.
So of course, i go on the board and say "how can you say that? Were you really at that speech he made? And if so, how could you come away with any conclusion but that there IS a new Valk?" We argued and debated back and forth all the way until Midnight, 12/13 Sep 2002. And then the announcement. And then we all finally new the TRUTH. And some of us....were vindicated :twisted:
That's my point, no one knows anything until it is announced. PERIOD. Not my dealer. Not your dealer. Not Hal (who has three MAJOR dealerships on the east coast). Not workers at the Honda plant. Not your area Honda rep. CERTAINLY NOT ME. NO ONE. but yet, the rumors will abound. But not until Sep 2004 will we know if an 05 Rune is in the offering...or if a new different Rune...or bigger better Valk...or whatever! But until then, people will talk....and rumors will flow...and like the infamous incident at the 02 InZane, even when the word first comes out...people will hear what they want to hear and believe what they want to believe and say what they want to say :wink:
That's my long winded story, and i'm sticking to it
Me, i got my Rune on 9 Aug 03....one of the very first ones (the first ones i believe were in July). I've never had any major or minor problems with it...i love it...it's everything i hoped for. So much so, i got a second one...for my wife (Sherrune on this board). Now, if we want to get another heated debate going, just ask someone how many Runes were made....cause NO ONE knows that answer either....PERIOD :!:
