Yamaha missing the party?

[hambone650rider]

The question I have is about the Yamaha xt660,xt660x,tenere660... From what I have researched the motorcycles are great powerful fuel injected and reliable.. SO why wouldn't Yamaha bring these motorcycles to the US? From other things I have read the dual sport motorcycle is fastest growing style of motorcycle sold today. So I think Yamaha is missing the party. Just wishing I had the option.

[SkiBumBrian]

You and thousands of others... Have you seen the new Maico dual sport? Barely over 200lbs and over 80 hp.... Can't get them here either.... I think it is EPA politics...

[john_aero]

well we wonder why klr not over here

but yes very strange why the newer single cylinder trail/adv bike is only EU when perfectly suited usa trails and would boot aftermarket supplies

[shep546]

I want a bike that is around 600cc
under 300 lbs
fuel injected
e starter and kicker
without a KTM price tag

[hambone650rider]

I wonder what the 660s would be. Priced at here? Maybe they would not be competitive I don't know, but I do know it will not be priced as cheap as KLR or Dr650. Me myself would pay more for the more modern bike. ( now don't get pissed cause I own a dr650) but I think the Yamaha up To date. Not 20 year old but proven design.

[OrangeYZ]

Talk is cheap, and when people actually vote with their wallets, those motorcycles sit on showroom floors and the message manufactures receive is "We don't want those."

[HandKPhil]

Maybe Yamaha feels they got stung when they had the XT600 for sale here, and not too many people bought them? IIRC, that was a 330 pound-ish bike with about 44 horsepower. If I found one in good shape today, I might still be tempted to buy one. Last year was '94 or '95, if I recall correctly.

[road_apple]

Yamaha's brilliant marketing strategy...you want most what you can't have. Maybe they think they're over-extended with what they already have in the market place.

[shep546]

I just looked up the stats on the xt660... doesn't look that impressive... looks to be more of a street bike that you could take down some dusty roads.

[NesquikNinja]

Dual sports make up a tiny percent of the US market as far as new bike sales go.

Money is the name of the game, and bikes made for use in the US are often more expensive than elsewhere, thus meaning they have to put more money into R&D on any given model to sell a relatively smaller quantity to our cruiser and sport bike dominated market.

Or maybe Im wrong lol

[Kommando]

Originally Posted by shep546

I just looked up the stats on the xt660... doesn't look that impressive... looks to be more of a street bike that you could take down some dusty roads.

I'm not impressed either, with the XT660Z Tenere...for dualsport duty out in the boonies and hooligan commuter duty in town. The DR650SE is a cheaper and simpler bike that is 75lb or so lighter, and it can make considerably more power than the XTs with a few goodies from Procycle. It also isn't covered in fragile plastic. The Terra 650 is already more powerful than the XT660s, and doesn't cost a whole lot more than the DR, in either weight or $$. For that kind of weight penalty, the Tenere should be a powerful multi-cylinder, like the F800 or Tiger 800XC...or Yamaha should shave at least 50lb off of it.

I can't find much for specs on the XT660R version, but it looks interesting for dualsporting close to civilization, and it's close to the Terra for weight. I wish we DID have this option in motos in the states. Yamaha also offers a 50L topcase in Europe that I've never seen here.

For long-distance bombing, everyday commuting, and usually mild offroad closer to civilization though, the Tenere version has over 3qts of oil capacity, over 6 gal of fuel capacity, dual front discs with ABS available, a fairing, and EFI. If you're not going into the rough stuff where you're likely to dump it repeatedly, it might work well for you.

[cognugget]

Yamaha does well in the small dual sport market with the wr250r/x and the xt250 and the tw200.

[BIG ED XT FAN]

Well, We can write to them, talk to them, Dream about then.
But the only thing to do is Move!!!! Thats it! Sell off every thing and move over seas!! Life is short lets move!!!! We can get a group rate to move.

[eakins]

Originally Posted by BIG ED XT FAN

Well, We can write to them, talk to them, Dream about then.
But the only thing to do is Move!!!! Thats it! Sell off every thing and move over seas!! Life is short lets move!!!! We can get a group rate to move.

It's only 1 country over. Puerto Vallarta is an awesome place to live! I was there for a year, last year.
http://www.yamaha-motor.com.mx/xt660tenere.html

[eakins]

Originally Posted by hambone650rider

The question I have is about the Yamaha xt660,xt660x,tenere660... From what I have researched the motorcycles are great powerful fuel injected and reliable.. SO why wouldn't Yamaha bring these motorcycles to the US? From other things I have read the dual sport motorcycle is fastest growing style of motorcycle sold today. So I think Yamaha is missing the party. Just wishing I had the option.

you can sign the petition and try yourself
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641304
but don't hold your breath. even when 660s are in the US, the Yamaha corp guys have no interest even looking at the bike again. cruisers guy run the show. the bike has been around since 08. it is not going to happen. most all of us gave up already.