Posts
95
Joined
9/2/2011
Location
Potosi, MO, USA
Edited Date/Time
11/13/2023 11:32am
Can someone fill me in on what the deal is with Fantic? I know they are Yamahas, but do they really have that kind of money? Does Yamaha support them? I am so confused as to what their place is in the moto world. Must be legit or rich to get Coldenhoff
I read an explanation somewhere that made sort of sense. Look at it as the GasGas to the KTM kind of thing. But as I understand it, they are only going to be sold in certain countries.
Fantic works in conjunction with Yamaha and Minarelli. It's more of a Toyota/Lexus relationship and a way for Yamaha to develop two strokes without really footing the entire bill themselves. They took (some of) Fantic's development of the 125 and implemented it into the new gen YZ125, and will most likely do the same with the new 300 engine (can't wait).
Yamaha off-road bikes (WR) are not homologated in Europe. They let Fantic handle that, with the requirement that they do not enter the North American market (from what I understand).
Are these still built ?
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They are, along with quite a few different bikes...
Just introduced at EICMA...
It’s waste on that chassis
Huh?
Why? Yz’s are about the best all round handling 2 stroke bike you can get.
5 speed 300?
Saw a few when I was in Italy a couple months ago. Some street bikes and a cool 125 2T dual sport.
Made cool ‘Peds in the seventies.
They need to make a 350 four stroke Motocross bike. Maybe finally a YZ 350!
Fantic’s place is winning EMX championships.
OK, Kawasaki have a major shareholding in Bimota (Italy). Yes, it's an ugly rendition, but, it's ready for the track, for purpose. They offer a road registerable KX450. KTM Recently took a chunk of MV Augusta. VW Group own Ducati. They all have their reasons for getting involved. If it ends in a wider variety of options, usually to get around these stupid emission rules, bring it on! Fantic can be a good union for any future development of 2 strokes for Yamaha. Their days certainly are numbered, but, if they want to prolong the inevitable, Yamaha may be smart to outsource this to a team in Italy.
I have heard a rumor, that Fantic and Yamaha are also cooperating developing e-motorcycles, Fantic has some pretty high-end e-mountainbikes. I have a Fantic xxF 450, its pretty much a YZ450F with a GET ICU, titanium exhaust and different plastics. I bolted YZ plastics right on my Fantic, because I think the Fantic palstics do not look as good.
Pit Row
I don’t know who told you this but he or she is dead wrong. WR models are for sale and are homologated in Europe.
Moto Minarelli got bought from Yamaha by an Italian investment firm called VeNetWork who already owned the Fantic brand. When the deal got negotiated they also included that they could make use of Yamaha technology for the first couple of years for certain models (I believe the agreement ends at the end of 2025) that is also why they are developing their own engines and chassis currently.
These things are legendary...
To my knowledge, one year after its introduction, and even though it's on their official site, no price or availability has ever been announced...
I raced in Italy in 2021 with the Jolly Enduro team, who were providing support for Fantic, and this is where I got this information from. I think it had to do with the Euro 5 emissions as well for road legality (my WR was not road legal). But definitely take what I'm saying with a grain of salt.
When there's a will, there's a way...
But it doesn't owe a thing to Yamaha.
Yamaha WR enduro bikes are not homologated to register on plates. They dont meet Euro xx rules but Fantic bikes are because smaller companies have looser rules to get bikes registered to road legal. Maybe some EU countries have way not to follow rules.
Fantic rebranded Yamahas while they are developing their own models.
Their place is that they are an EU brand building on proven technology for their local market (Enduro and MX).
I think the relationship is 99% financial and 1% intellectual for Yamaha.
They've been around for a few years with more presence in Enduro than MX, so this is not a surprise if you've been following off-road. They have already had some great success in EMX.
Likely Fantic has sold some bikes and making a new push in MX to get Glenn and Roan. Yamaha has been scaling back all off-road factory racing for the last few years.
It's an european homologation, so if we can have street legal YZs in France (and we do), all EU countries can.
A few of the modern day Cabellero in Italy as well.
how did you make the headlight work?
The steel frame yz was better and the ergos are terrible
Some folks may prefer the steel, but the aluminum frame (which is dimensionally identical) is nonetheless a great handling bike. And you'll be happy to hear the Fantic has completely different ergos.
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