yamaha factory SM?

[jonb]

even if its an mx bike with just genuine yammy factory aftermarket stuff, its still a sweet option from the dealership. :love

read the tiny blurb here (http://www.motorcycledaily.com/05june03yamahadealersmtg.htm)

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/032/163/463204-060503supermoto.jpg

[thump]

Hmmm 'to gauge dealer interest' is an interesting phrase!!

[DRZ]

Um, I think I would like that!!:teeth

[JoeBar]

This motard YZF needs a sticker kit badly!!! It looks so boring I almost fell asleep while looking at the picture. :wow :laughing
By the way, if it is still red sticker, it won't be possible to make it street legal :(

[Beauregard]

Cannondale made the mistake of not green-stickering their motard, I contend they would still be in business if they had; I would have bought one.

Hopefully Yamaha will be smart enough to get a green sticker on their boring looking but prolly fun motard.

Wouldn't it be rad if all the major manufacturers came out with motards?

mmmmm... tasty delight that would be.

[jonb]

would be badass especially if you could roll out of the dealership with a lic. plate.

[thump]

It'll be interesting to see how the jap manufacturers react to the motard market and whether they decide to make 'em track only (like this one would probably be) or street legal.

The motard market is very strong in Europe and I've been surprised that the Japs haven't launched motards as yet.

I can only figure that the US is such an influential market that it pretty much calls the shots.

[jonb]

is the ama series is strong which it already seems to be, that may set something in motion with the major manufacturers. damn it would still be a year or two coming though to create a production model and get it approved and everything right?

[thump]

Originally posted by stillart
if the ama series is strong which it already seems to be, that may set something in motion with the major manufacturers. damn it would still be a year or two coming though to create a production model and get it approved and everything right?

I agree. I also think the class structure the ama has created was designed with the conversion of MX/SX bikes in mind.

The classes in Europe are more aligned with the 500-650 models already available over there.

My own opinion is that the 'bigger' 500-650 bikes make more practical street bikes and are easier to live with.

Hence I see the Japs sitting on the fence- do they go for the street motard market or just make variants of their green sticker dirt bikes that can be baja-ised?

I see a market for dealers who are prepared to do the motard conversion at reasonable cost and as Stillart suggest, get a motard plated and out the door ready for the street.

[morthrane]

Seems like there's been rumors for a while now that Yamaha is sitting on the fence with bringing out a full on production supermoto... who knows. Wait and see I guess.

[Beauregard]

Regarding the dealerships putting a baja kit on a factory motard I just don’t really see that happening. Ideally the Big 4 Japanese will see an increase of market share by small European manufacturers like VOR, KTM, Vermawhatever and the like. I’m banking on an established pattern of: Invented in the USA, popularized in Europe, then EXPLODING in America; like Rock & Roll. Perhaps I’m dreaming...

[jonb]

its weird. i think it will blow up in america. you know how it is, to get big in the usa it more than likely has to blow up in a) california b) new york. suddenly everyone i'm talking to is lookign to get a bike, lookign to hti stockton, everyone knows about ward, mcgrath, russel and carmichael. its nuts. i bet this time next year it will be as big as any other form of racing and motorcycle culture.

[Peter]

Hey! I'm a "Jap" but I'm not sitting on a fence!:cool



Thump said:

"Hence I see the Japs sitting on the fence"

[DRZ]

Originally posted by Peter
Hey! I'm a "Jap" but I'm not sitting on a fence!:cool



Thump said:

"Hence I see the Japs sitting on the fence"

My wifes a Jap and shes not on the fence either:cool

[DRZ]

Originally posted by stillart
its weird. i think it will blow up in america. you know how it is, to get big in the usa it more than likely has to blow up in a) california b) new york. suddenly everyone i'm talking to is lookign to get a bike, lookign to hti stockton, everyone knows about ward, mcgrath, russel and carmichael. its nuts. i bet this time next year it will be as big as any other form of racing and motorcycle culture.


Jon, I think your dead right on that:thumbup

[thump]

Originally posted by Peter
Hey! I'm a "Jap" but I'm not sitting on a fence!:cool

and

Originally posted by DrZ
My wifes a Jap and shes not on the fence either:cool

:blush

Okay, my bad. I'm sorry.

I should have said 'Japanese Motorcycle Manufacturers.

You got me. I didn't mean to offend and it's kind of you to point out my error with good humour.

like I said :blush

[DRZ]

Im not offended Thump, its all good im just messin with ya;)

[Peter]

Thump...same here, no worries.

Peter

[Beauregard]

I'm giving it more like 2 years. Hollywood and MTV have to get on the band wagon first. The first time you see James Bond getting chased by a bunch of Hooligans on Motards you'll know to step up and yell to the crowd "I was doing it before it was cool!"

[JoeBar]

Originally posted by Beauregard
I'm giving it more like 2 years. Hollywood and MTV have to get on the band wagon first. The first time you see James Bond getting chased by a bunch of Hooligans on Motards you'll know to step up and yell to the crowd "I was doing it before it was cool!" I started going to SuperMotard races in France circa 1985-86 as a spectator. It's has been "cool" for a while there, the "Guidon d'or" being the most popular race. The original idea of the SuperMotard races was to see who is the best of the best. Everything was supposed to be as neutral as possible. The bikes were half dirtbikes, half streetbikes, the track half MX, half roadracing track and all the best riders from all categories (SX, MX, Moto GP, Superbike, Supersport,...) were invited! Since then a new species of riders has appeared, the SuperMotards! ;) :teeth

[thump]

Originally posted by JoeBar
I started going to SuperMotard races in France circa 1985-86 as a spectator. It's has been "cool" for a while there, the "Guidon d'or" being the most popular race. The original idea of the SuperMotard races was to see who is the best of the best. Everything was supposed to be as neutral as possible. The bikes were half dirtbikes, half streetbikes, the track half MX, half roadracing track and all the best riders from all categories (SX, MX, Moto GP, Superbike, Supersport,...) were invited! Since then a new species of riders has appeared, the SuperMotards! ;) :teeth

what he said.

The first SM race I ever saw was in the UK, then a few times in Switzerland then several time in France, including an awesome indoor in the Palais Omnisport in Bercy.

It's awesome to watch as the track is so short and tight, you can see it all happening in front of your eyes.

The top guys, Kinigadner, the Chambon brothers etc. have absolutely superhuman bikehandling skills.

On one circuit the jump was immediatley before a dirt turn. The top guys were tail whipping the jump and landing the bikes at an angle with the throttle open and immediately sliding/driving the corner.

Very impressive!!

[Beauregard]

1976 ABC Wide World of Sports

"Best of the racers on two wheels."

[thump]

Originally posted by Beauregard
1976 ABC Wide World of Sports

"Best of the racers on two wheels."


So how come if it was 'invented' here, it took a bunch of crazy french, finnish, swedish, british, spanish, german and austrian nutters to make it in to what it is :confused

PS. I put the street wheels fron a wrecked honda cb250 onto a honda 175 trail bike and rode it around London in 79 and the early 80s. Was that a motard? I guess it was.


edit. Am I going too hard with this 'Europeans OWN motarding' thing? Ok, I'll back it off now.


:laughing :twofinger