The Future of Yamaha?

11960 Views 20 Replies 6 Participants Last post by GRIZZLYWIZARD, Feb 11, 2009

BATTLEGUN

Discussion Starter · Feb 6, 2009

Many of us have our own ideas of what Yamaha should or should not be doing in the lines of new ATV/UTV Development. This has had my attention for a long time. I thought I'd put together a poll to see what everyone else thinks Yamaha should do (or not be doing). Basically, I'm curious to see if others share my opinion and perhaps even why you feel the way you do so feel free to post the reasoning behind your vote.

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I personally feel that Yamaha should produce a Sportier/Larger (bore) UTV to keep Polaris from leading the market and answer the call for race-ready UTV's. In the same note, I think they should be the first to produce an answer to the Can-Am Renegade. I would also personally love to see Yamaha put a V-Twin in either or both of the mentioned concepts. Why do I feel this way? It's simple. Even though I jumped ship and went with a Can-Am 800R, I still think Yamaha makes a superior product. I am a Yamaha fan who has fallen in love with the power, ergonomics, & handling of the Can-Am Outlander 800R.

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GRIZZLYWIZARD

· #2 · Feb 6, 2009

I seems to me that Yamaha much like Honda has different philosophies that the North American ATV manufacturers. Keep in mind that their sales are based on a larger scope demographically than Polaris and CanAm. Without looking at the numbers I am sure Yamaha and Hondas sales are higher when tallied on an international level.

That being said, another thing to continue is weight. I had heard at one time from a dealer rep that Honda had this golden weight rule of 610 lbs. Their engineering standards were not to break that curb weight. Now whether that's true or not, just by looking at the lineups curb weights definitely demonstrates a trent in that direction. Could Yamaha be following similar standards.

As for competition...They really have none in their classes when you put it in perspective. The GNCC Race series has a class for the grizzly just like they have a class for the Outlander. They have a classs for the Rhino just like a dedicated clas for the Polaris types.

Would I like to see a V-twin EPS 4x4 utility? You bet! But when looking at the whole picture, how many of those types of machines appeal to the entire market? If you research ATV popularity 5 out of 7 ATV's sold are in the 550 or under class.

I think they will continue to make machines with more focus on practical items, comfort and reliability while continuing to be innovative.

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BATTLEGUN

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 6, 2009

Very well said GW. While I made my statements based on my own personal desires, you made yours based on logic, economy, and market.

FWIW, Outlander has a 500 Version of the Renegade. If they (Yamaha) were to dump that new 550 power plant on a sportier 4x4 chasis, it would fit into the popular market. ;;s;;

GRIZZLYWIZARD

· #4 · Feb 6, 2009

BATTLEGUN said:
FWIW, Outlander has a 500 Version of the Renegade. If they (Yamaha) were to dump that new 550 power plant on a sportier 4x4 chasis, it would fit into the popular market. ;;s;;

True. Kinda something like the Wolverine.

midgetracer

· #5 · Feb 6, 2009

I have been reading that the Rhino was going to be a 900 cc Vtwin and there was also going to be a sportier model like the razor.

They need a big bore bike! So doesn't Honda!

BATTLEGUN

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 6, 2009

midgetracer said:
I have been reading that the Rhino was going to be a 900 cc Vtwin and there was also going to be a sportier model like the razor.

They need a big bore bike! So doesn't Honda!

I heard something like that too. I also heard Can-Am was working a 990 UTV. I'm not sure I can see Yamaha pushing out a 900 class ATV or UTV. I'm certianly not opposed to it though.

GRIZZLYWIZARD

· #7 · Feb 7, 2009

midgetracer said:
I have been reading that the Rhino was going to be a 900 cc Vtwin and there was also going to be a sportier model like the razor.

They need a big bore bike! So doesn't Honda!

I personally don't see it happening. My thoughts to back this up is mainly the current state of the economy. It would not make sense to move forth on a new machine that is only going to appeal to a particular peer group when the machines that currently available are simple not selling. If it was my company I would continue to improve upon the shortfalls of the current manufactured process; but do it as efficient as possible until a good part of my inventory was exhausted. Then I would move forward with the manufacturing process.

Who knows, this may very well be why Yamaha has delayed the release of the new SxS next week.

I am no economist by any means (i just know that the economy stinks) so I could (and probably am) way off base here.\ with my theory.

BATTLEGUN

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 7, 2009

Again, you bring valid points to the table GW, but when I created this poll, I did not intend for reality to be the deciding factor for what people want Yamaha to do. Obviously it is, and will always be the deciding factor over what any manufacturer does or does not do.

I simply want to ping people's thoughts about what they think Yamaha should do with their line-up whether it be tomorrow, 2 years from now, or 10 years from now (hopefully not that long).

And unless the Nation falls, God I hope not, things will perk up again and all the blue prints that were setting idol waiting for supply and demand to increase will again find themselves on the drawing table.

GRIZZLYWIZARD

· #9 · Feb 7, 2009

Oh I agree BG. But what good is a poll without healthy debate? I am simply tossing around my ideas about the case in hand. Hopefully I am dead wrong and someone else will chime in and express their thoughts on the matter.

3TV

· #10 · Feb 7, 2009

What I wish Yamaha would build is a smaller, and lighter high performance 4x4 ATV. American manufacturers keep building bigger and bigger 4x4s (Arctic Cat 950, Polaris 850) that are powerful, but are so big and so heavy that they still do not have true sport performance capabilities. Yamaha needs to follow their own lead, from another model ATV that has been a huge success in this last year, ... the Raptor 250. Seriously! Do that with a 4x4! Build a small, compact, super lightweight, superb handling, great suspended 4x4. And put a smaller but higher performing engine in it. Perhaps the 500cc Phazer engine from their snomobile line up. That engine is basically two YZ250F engines grafted together for a high performance 500cc engine. Build this ATV so that it is 1/3 smaller and 1/3 lighter than the Wolverine, with a sport tuned chassis, and a performance 500cc engine that makes twice the horsepower. We're talking zero utility capability, and pure sport 4x4.

3TV

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BATTLEGUN

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 7, 2009

3TV said:
What I wish Yamaha would build is a smaller, and lighter high performance 4x4 ATV. American manufacturers keep building bigger and bigger 4x4s (Arctic Cat 950, Polaris 850) that are powerful, but are so big and so heavy that they still do not have true sport performance capabilities. Yamaha needs to follow their own lead, from another model ATV that has been a huge success in this last year, ... the Raptor 250. Seriously! Do that with a 4x4! Build a small, compact, super lightweight, superb handling, great suspended 4x4. And put a smaller but higher performing engine in it. Perhaps the 500cc Phazer engine from their snomobile line up. That engine is basically two YZ250F engines grafted together for a high performance 500cc engine. Build this ATV so that it is 1/3 smaller and 1/3 lighter than the Wolverine, with a sport tuned chassis, and a performance 500cc engine that makes twice the horsepower. We're talking zero utility capability, and pure sport 4x4.

3TV

Very interesting take on this 3TV. Is the 500 Phazer engine a twin then? I would love to see yami put a twin in any of their quads. I suppose there is reason not to (weight). When I get home I may add that option to the poll.

GRIZZLYWIZARD

· #12 · Feb 7, 2009

I am with 3TV on this one. I say this cause I have always liked the 450 Grizzly because of it's handling characteristics. One thing I disliked was the "get up n go" it possessed or lack thereof. Look what many of us have done with our Grizzlies; lowered with aftermarket suspensions MX style handlebars and performance mods. Just to get them as close to a sport quad as possible but still maintain the 4x4 and extreme terrain capabilities as possible. One manufacturer answered this question already...Can Am.

BATTLEGUN

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 7, 2009

There is def a new bread of riders evolving and only one ATV Manufacturer adreasing this, CanAm. Likewise there is only one UTV Manufacturer addressing it, Polaris.

I suspect that in time, even the guy who wants an ATV for some chores will opt for the sportier utility quads because they can get a trailer to put behind it for the chores and still have a very capable trail machine, which ultimately adds more justification to purchase an ATV to begin with.

I still think if they were to introduce a sportier 4x4 they should go ahead and address the displacement issue at the same time. I'm not saying scrub the smaller, lighter, faster concept though. That really makes a lot of sense.

Grizz Rider

· #14 · Feb 7, 2009

Great Question to ask BG! After the New Year's Ride we had I have been constantly thinking to myself that "yamaha should deffinately be trying to enter the market under a Sportier/ Big bore UTV! I think the the Rihno is a great rig to have for the farm and maybe some hunting, however I think that they need to come out with something to compete with the RZR and it needs to be better trail and race ready than the Rihno. We spent most of our time waiting on the Rihno to get through the last part of the trail before we could proceed!

BATTLEGUN

Discussion Starter · #15 · Feb 9, 2009

:update:

I've add the "Lightweight 400-500 Class Sport 4x4. I added two votes, 1 for 3TV and 1 for GW. If anyone else that has already voted would like to add a vote to it send me a pm.

GRIZZLYWIZARD

· #16 · Feb 9, 2009

Awesome! Thanks!

BATTLEGUN

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 11, 2009

Well, while we don't have many votes yet, it appears the most popular opinion is a larger/sportier UTV. While I agree, I don't think we would see a larger bored UTV without a larger bored ATV in the line-up. And to be devils advocate, why would Yamaha build a larger bored ATV if their beloved 700 can keep up with and in most cases beat the much larger bored competion?

:seesaw:

GRIZZLYWIZARD

· #18 · Feb 11, 2009

I wondered the same thing myself. Personally I would love a UTV. But the Rhino is to wide fro the majority of the trails I traverse. A Razr is an option, but I would really like to see some additional competition, and perhaps something else for me to consider.

BATTLEGUN

Discussion Starter · #19 · Feb 11, 2009

If I lived in the desert or had a farm I would want a UTV. As it stands, I would buy a tractor before I bought a UTV. I'll stick with my "utility" quad. So i would personally not care if Yamaha didn't do anything with their UTV line up. I just think maybe they should do some modernizing (i think I spelled that right). Will they? I'm very skeptical.

formguy

· #20 · Feb 11, 2009

While I think the Griz just may be the best "all around" 4x4, I think they should do a flagship V-twin. The rush of an outlander, renegade or brute force is hard to replace. It's more than the power, even the sound excites. If Yamaha could do one withe the handling and weight of the Griz...WOW.

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