The 500 thumper was a nightmare to ride and own for some...while others, mine included, could comfortably sit on 60 mph all day and be smooth. Ive ridden some that would vibrate your teeth outta your head and were absolute heaps of shit, others a delight. The reluctance to accept them when a 650 was a similar price was obvious. I have both a modded 650 and classic 500 and I prefer riding the 500..It offers a relaxed ride, a slow down and smell the road kill feel about it. HD are going thru the same..the new bikes have little of the older hard metal feel to them even if they are a better engineered item. It come down to what excites your jollies. I grew up on thumpers from the 50s and 60s and I get nostalgic over them , not a 70's Z900 kwaka. RE are catering to the emerging market not us older blokes...