new yamaha models

ron bayless

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A friend of mine in wichita falls texas is the head salesperson at eddie hills funcycles.I saw the fz and sr bikes.All very fast but not a bike for a senior like myself.He had one of the kickstart 400 bikes.Has been there 2 years and no one wants it.he commented about other bikes and brands.the cb 1100 never sells well for them.He had a beautiful goldwing trike that no one wants.He said the new kawasaki z bikes do pretty well.And a kawasaki rep gave him the new z650 to try out.He said it felt great and had great power.It was roadworthy and comfortable enough to take a 200 mile trip.I was looking for bike similar to the xs.Rumors and even pictures have been seen of a look alike kwasaki 900 z1.The faster sons stuff mimiked the xs.But mile high rear fenders and sportbike looking seats just do not look retro or comfortable. He said the motor in the new venture is a greatly improved version of the stratoliner and roadliner motor.I already ride a venture. Is there any modern bike that could be close enough to the xs? I wonder what others here think.
 
It's no surprise that the SR400 doesn't sell. It's an old design in continuous production in the Japanese home market, so with no development cost to speak of, nothing trick about it, and an anemic motor, Yamaha hung a price tag on it that will put a rider out the door for around $7,000. It looks to me like an in-house argument at Yamaha over the new old bike concept, with the higher ups allowing a trial run that's designed to fail.

The Triumph Bonneville is the only thing I know of in current production that comes close to the styling of a traditional parallel twin; much more motor and far better frame and suspension than we had back in the day, of course. I haven't seen the Kawi z650. A Kawi Ninja 650 parallel twin has shared the stable with my old XS650D for the past few years, and it's been the most all around satisfactory light road bike I've owned; the seat doesn't look comfortable but it's kind to my 70 year old glutes, ergonomics fit me like a glove, handling is very nice, and the machine has been utterly reliable. No, it doesn't have a retro look, but style isn't what I look for in a bike.
 
It's no surprise that the SR400 doesn't sell. It's an old design in continuous production in the Japanese home market, so with no development cost to speak of, nothing trick about it, and an anemic motor, Yamaha hung a price tag on it that will put a rider out the door for around $7,000. It looks to me like an in-house argument at Yamaha over the new old bike concept, with the higher ups allowing a trial run that's designed to fail.

The Triumph Bonneville is the only thing I know of in current production that comes close to the styling of a traditional parallel twin; much more motor and far better frame and suspension than we had back in the day, of course. I haven't seen the Kawi z650. A Kawi Ninja 650 parallel twin has shared the stable with my old XS650D for the past few years, and it's been the most all around satisfactory light road bike I've owned; the seat doesn't look comfortable but it's kind to my 70 year old glutes, ergonomics fit me like a glove, handling is very nice, and the machine has been utterly reliable. No, it doesn't have a retro look, but style isn't what I look for in a bike.
I am surprised you can ride a ninja at 70.I want style but not at the expense of bein miserably uncomfortable on a bike.I couldnt bend my knees enough for a ninja.But if retro styling is there I prefer it.When the bonneville was resurrected some 20 years ago they took a museum quality bonneville, about a 69 model and made the new one as identical to the old one as possible.That would be my version of the xs.If that sr400 cost 7 k, they will never sell them.There are many bikes 5 times better in that price range.The 400 could be about 4500 in my opinion.
 
I toyed with the idea of modifying a Yam XSR900.
Just photoshopping.
Tail section lowered 2", add a few degrees rake.

........................Before ........................................ After...
XSR-900.jpg XSR-900-y2M.jpg


I sat on one, the 32.7" seat height doesn't work for me.
Wet weight of 430 lbs is very appealing.
Rear suspension travel about 5.5", much more clearance in there, could be reduced...
 
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The Ninja label doesn't mean much, Ron. The Ninja 4-bangers are out-and-out sport bikes. The twins (250, 500, and 650) are not: they have ergonomics that are closer to an old time sport standard. Bar and peg position on my EX650 allows a riding position very similar to the BMW R69S that I rode way back when.
 
If I wanted a new, small bike for the same price as the SR400 I'd probably get a Suzuki DR-Z400.
 
Yeah, for the price of the SR400 you could buy the DRZ400sm super motard version with inverted forks, 17" wheels front and rear, and all the tricks; just the thing for your mountain roads. If I wasn't so short I'd have bought one long ago.
 
The Ninja label doesn't mean much, Ron. The Ninja 4-bangers are out-and-out sport bikes. The twins (250, 500, and 650) are not: they have ergonomics that are closer to an old time sport standard. Bar and peg position on my EX650 allows a riding position very similar to the BMW R69S that I rode way back when.
I never rode a bmw. Not sure what an ex650 is.I will look for one.
 
I toyed with the idea of modifying a Yam XSR900.
Just photoshopping.
Tail section lowered 2", add a few degrees rake.

........................Before ........................................ After...
View attachment 106490 View attachment 106491


I sat on one, the 32.7" seat height doesn't work for me.
Wet weight of 430 lbs is very appealing.
Rear suspension travel about 5.5", much more clearance in there, could be reduced...
The rear fender is still far above the rear wheel, but I see what you are talking about. A good possibility.I bet its crazy fast too.
 
perfect.hey, I am not trying to get everyone to trade in their xs's.lol.But that rendering sure makes me want one.I wonder if a seatpan was modified and a low profile was created if there would be enough padding.The rear fender is just right too.That might be hard to accomplish.But I love the idea.
 
Ron, the EX650 is the 650 Ninja (also referred to as the ER6N, no fundamental difference). Bar and peg position yield an upright rider position, not a sport bike lie-down. 2M has shown what Yamaha maybe should have done; you'd have to take a close look at the suspension and subframe structure, it might be a viable modification.
 
Fairly certain the frame/rear end of that bike is a duplicate to the FZ09. It's the slap on parts that change it up along with motor. I have an FZ, love it to death. Longest stint was 12.5hrs saddle time, my focus capability gave out before my body lol. Pretty sure something can be done to drop the rear end down a bit more with a shorter shock but stock, they do drop down a decent ammount already with the factory setup.

IMG_5422.JPG
IMG_5424.JPG


Seating position is akin to a dirt bike on a stock setup. It forces a very straight position with no arching to tire you out from pressure points.

IMG_5427.JPG

Like I said, love that bike. Can load it with my panniers/oversack and go anywhere free of physical exhaustion.
 
When I was lookin' over the XSR-900, FJ09, and FZ09, I noticed that the electronics is packed under the rear fender. That stuff would need to be relocated.

The tailframe sub-section comes right off.
FZ09-Frame.JPG

I would've expected someone may have already come out with some sort of retrofit kit, but haven't seen one, other than the Abarth and tail tidy.

Did find this, disturbing, even more up, up, and away.
FZ09-Bikeexif.jpg

More fun:

http://www.xs650.com/threads/yamaha-bolt.37351/
http://www.xs650.com/threads/thoughts.44866/
http://www.xs650.com/threads/new-bike-fj-09.46015/
 
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