Yamaha

gsxr6
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gsxr6
Edited Date/Time 1/25/2012 4:59am
I read in a popular mx mag that the 350sxf ktm outsold the 450sxf four fold. With yamaha supposedly losing money, would a re release of say the yzf400 be a wise move? perhaps a top end focused redesign of the new 450 just compacted in stroke and cylinder size? Yamaha originally swore that beyond a 426 made the bike feel too big . 426 just sounds wrong and a 350 would be just following. Cheap way to add a wizz bang model to the line.
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GuyB
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GuyB 12/8/2011 10:06am
12/8/2011 10:06am
You gave this idea up for free? Manufacturers usually have to pay big bucks for this kind of stuff.
Flatliner
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Flatliner 12/8/2011 10:07am
12/8/2011 10:07am
gsxr6 wrote:
I read in a popular mx mag that the 350sxf ktm outsold the 450sxf four fold. With yamaha supposedly losing money, would a re release of...
I read in a popular mx mag that the 350sxf ktm outsold the 450sxf four fold. With yamaha supposedly losing money, would a re release of say the yzf400 be a wise move? perhaps a top end focused redesign of the new 450 just compacted in stroke and cylinder size? Yamaha originally swore that beyond a 426 made the bike feel too big . 426 just sounds wrong and a 350 would be just following. Cheap way to add a wizz bang model to the line.
Honestly updating the two strokes would do them a world of favors. Ditch the bs athena-grind the cases 144 kit and make a true to life 150. KTM can't keep those bikes on the floor.

That yamaha 450 is a decent bike. It may not win the shootouts but its the longest lasting bike in the class.
exsarg
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exsarg 12/8/2011 10:18am
12/8/2011 10:18am
i would buy a yz 400 if it weighed some where between the 250 and 450. and had a mellow quick revving motor. i have a 350 and a 2012 yz 250f. i know if the weight was good it would sell very well.
Shawn142
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Shawn142 12/8/2011 10:29am
12/8/2011 10:29am Edited Date/Time 12/8/2011 10:31am
gsxr6 wrote:
I read in a popular mx mag that the 350sxf ktm outsold the 450sxf four fold. With yamaha supposedly losing money, would a re release of...
I read in a popular mx mag that the 350sxf ktm outsold the 450sxf four fold. With yamaha supposedly losing money, would a re release of say the yzf400 be a wise move? perhaps a top end focused redesign of the new 450 just compacted in stroke and cylinder size? Yamaha originally swore that beyond a 426 made the bike feel too big . 426 just sounds wrong and a 350 would be just following. Cheap way to add a wizz bang model to the line.
Flatliner wrote:
Honestly updating the two strokes would do them a world of favors. Ditch the bs athena-grind the cases 144 kit and make a true to life...
Honestly updating the two strokes would do them a world of favors. Ditch the bs athena-grind the cases 144 kit and make a true to life 150. KTM can't keep those bikes on the floor.

That yamaha 450 is a decent bike. It may not win the shootouts but its the longest lasting bike in the class.
People don't seem to understand KTM can't keep 2-strokes on the floor (especially the SX models) because they hardly make any. Same with Yamaha, they inflate demand by offering a very limited number then work over dealers by making them take a large amount of 4-strokes to put on the floor too. If KTM sells out of every single 2-stroke they make this year they'll have sold 14,000 bikes. With all their model lines how many of that 14k do you think are the big bike SX line (because remember they make a shit load of minibikes too, and those count toward that 14k 2-stroke number) and sold in America?

To actually answer the question I don't think it would help any. KTM sold the 350 as revolutionary compared to the carbed, heavy, and lightly updated 450SXF. The YZF is already a radical enough design and has all the features everything else has like the SSS suspension and fuel injection. So what would a YZF350 have to offer ontop of that? The thing that would make a huge different to me is a 20 to 30lbs drop in weight, I'd actually consider a Yamaha then. But like the KTM it's a heavy bastard even in factory race trim.

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Flatliner
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Flatliner 12/8/2011 10:33am
12/8/2011 10:33am
gsxr6 wrote:
I read in a popular mx mag that the 350sxf ktm outsold the 450sxf four fold. With yamaha supposedly losing money, would a re release of...
I read in a popular mx mag that the 350sxf ktm outsold the 450sxf four fold. With yamaha supposedly losing money, would a re release of say the yzf400 be a wise move? perhaps a top end focused redesign of the new 450 just compacted in stroke and cylinder size? Yamaha originally swore that beyond a 426 made the bike feel too big . 426 just sounds wrong and a 350 would be just following. Cheap way to add a wizz bang model to the line.
Flatliner wrote:
Honestly updating the two strokes would do them a world of favors. Ditch the bs athena-grind the cases 144 kit and make a true to life...
Honestly updating the two strokes would do them a world of favors. Ditch the bs athena-grind the cases 144 kit and make a true to life 150. KTM can't keep those bikes on the floor.

That yamaha 450 is a decent bike. It may not win the shootouts but its the longest lasting bike in the class.
Shawn142 wrote:
People don't seem to understand KTM can't keep 2-strokes on the floor (especially the SX models) because they hardly make any. Same with Yamaha, they inflate...
People don't seem to understand KTM can't keep 2-strokes on the floor (especially the SX models) because they hardly make any. Same with Yamaha, they inflate demand by offering a very limited number then work over dealers by making them take a large amount of 4-strokes to put on the floor too. If KTM sells out of every single 2-stroke they make this year they'll have sold 14,000 bikes. With all their model lines how many of that 14k do you think are the big bike SX line (because remember they make a shit load of minibikes too, and those count toward that 14k 2-stroke number) and sold in America?

To actually answer the question I don't think it would help any. KTM sold the 350 as revolutionary compared to the carbed, heavy, and lightly updated 450SXF. The YZF is already a radical enough design and has all the features everything else has like the SSS suspension and fuel injection. So what would a YZF350 have to offer ontop of that? The thing that would make a huge different to me is a 20 to 30lbs drop in weight, I'd actually consider a Yamaha then. But like the KTM it's a heavy bastard even in factory race trim.
I wasn't aware they didn't make that many. My local dealer sold out of 2012's last august.
Shawn142
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Shawn142 12/8/2011 10:38am
12/8/2011 10:38am
Flatliner wrote:
I wasn't aware they didn't make that many. My local dealer sold out of 2012's last august.
KTM's official count of 2-strokes produced (according to MXA) was 14,000 for world sales. That's a small number to go all over, and like I said mini bikes are included in that count. I'm certainly not saying if they made 50,000 they wouldn't sell out too, but KTM and Yamaha are able to keep demand high and charge a premium for every bike. They also use it as a tool to control dealers. You want a shiney new 250SX you know will sell? The factory will only send it to you if you also agree to take on several 4-strokes.
mxtech1
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mxtech1 12/8/2011 10:50am
12/8/2011 10:50am
The 350sxf is not the godsend bike people thought it would be. the reason KTM sold so many of these bikes is because of agressive marketing. People are suckers for having the latest and greatest. Does anyone have information on how many yz450f's were sold when the new cylinder was introduced vs the previous model year? I bet there would be a noticable jump in sales because Yamaha was marketing that bike highly. It's all about which model the OEM's choose to push and focus their R&D on.

Can the average rider use all the power on a current 450f? NO
Can the average rider use all the power on the new 350sxf? NO
Can the average rider use all the power on a 250f? NO
Can the average rider use all the power on a 125 2T? NO
Can the average rider purchase the "new, hot, and unique" bike and show it off? YES...
Torco1
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Torco1 12/8/2011 11:11am
12/8/2011 11:11am
GuyB wrote:
You gave this idea up for free? Manufacturers usually have to pay big bucks for this kind of stuff.
You've been awful hard on the newbs lately..................good job!
Ryan_Huddleston 12/8/2011 11:22am
12/8/2011 11:22am
Just purchased a new yz 450f, simply amazing. you can have your 350 ill be sure to wave at you when a pass you
Faceaz
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Faceaz 12/8/2011 11:43am
12/8/2011 11:43am
You mean copy the POS 350 that's been a complete flop & nothing that KTM predicted it would be? LOL...

Sarcasm.
tblazier
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tblazier 12/8/2011 11:45am
12/8/2011 11:45am
I loved the motor on the original YZ400F. Super mellow and easy to ride. The problem with that bike was weight pure and simple. The bike felt like and XR600 in the air and on the ground. I love the idea of a 350 but I doubt any of the Japanese manufacturers want to sink the money in right now to develop a 350. Fun bike or not I don't see it happening any time soon.
peelout
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peelout 12/8/2011 11:50am
12/8/2011 11:50am
GuyB wrote:
You gave this idea up for free? Manufacturers usually have to pay big bucks for this kind of stuff.
Sup, GuyBro?!

whats the deal with the constantly changing Avatar?

just when i get used to one, BAM, here comes a new one and i have to re-think my approach the the NoobZ posting like he owns the place because he actually does... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, bro?
gsxr6
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gsxr6 12/8/2011 1:31pm
12/8/2011 1:31pm
exsarg wrote:
i would buy a yz 400 if it weighed some where between the 250 and 450. and had a mellow quick revving motor. i have a...
i would buy a yz 400 if it weighed some where between the 250 and 450. and had a mellow quick revving motor. i have a 350 and a 2012 yz 250f. i know if the weight was good it would sell very well.
yamaha started the four stroke trend with that bike. And a mid level niche bike would just be cool. put 1000 bux worth of ti stock and charge extra. If it weighed 225 lbs it would win shootouts.
gsxr6
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gsxr6 12/8/2011 1:45pm
12/8/2011 1:45pm
GuyB wrote:
You gave this idea up for free? Manufacturers usually have to pay big bucks for this kind of stuff.
There are probably many people that are. i think its cool u even posted on a thread i started. whats the next big thing?

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