Please Yamaha, bring this bike to the US!
Everything is a compromise. Every facet of engineering design is a trade off. In almost every discipline. Only seldom does a design change become clearly superior, and I mean something like wall phone / hard landline to cell phone change, or vacuum tube to transistor, that sort of change. Even then, they're step-wise progress in modern times, usually not a single leap.Sierra1 said:Ok....help me out. The bike looks like it will be great, compact with a good engine, and lighter for better off-road riding. BUT, is it designed to be used in the same manner as the 1200cc version? I.E. load it up like a mule, and go across country/continent. To me, it sacrifices capabilities for lighter weight. Am I looking at this wrong?
snakebitten said:However, either version will be a Yamaha! I bet it is a nice bike for whatever it ends up being.
the 700 motor is a peach. It's wheelies like a madman in 2nd, has phenomenal fuel economy (Riding around like a muppet-as I usally do) it returned 300km in town at roughly 12L...4L/100km.Checkswrecks said:Being Yamaha, I doubt they reduce the weight too much, partly because that is not what they have ever done with their dual sports. Ever. MamaYama is super conservative and is known for making bikes which don't break, meaning extra weight.
And even more important, it's a slightly more off-road capable version of the VStrom and Versys so they have a hard-limit in their price point that they MUST not exceed.
Price probably also means that an aftermarket will quickly develop for forks, shocks, lowering/raising links, and windshields. It'll be interesting to see the bike with an aftermarket high front fender.
They can do a lot to change the character of the engine with flywheel weight, cams, injection, etc. Here's where the bike will have its' own personality and I doubt the motor feel is that much like what we've already seen. The bike has been in development for so long, I'm sure they will get this spot-on. Other than the typical too-lean off-idle stumble to meet EPA regs, but people will figure out how to get past that quickly.
With the usual farkles, I think this is going to be more friendly than a Lab puppy and a big success.
You're going on what you know about the current FZ-07. Sure, they'll use the same motor, but it's unlikely it will be in the same state of tune as FZ-07.greg the pole said:the 700 motor is a peach. It's wheelies like a madman in 2nd, has phenomenal fuel economy (Riding around like a muppet-as I usally do) it returned 300km in town at roughly 12L...4L/100km.
My FJ09 is burning 5.2L/100km in the city.
What I don't see is the T7 weighing more than 450lb fuelled. The little FZ07 is just over 400Lb wet. Granted it's a naked bike.
then again, I know nothing.
as is the FZ07 motor was tuned for usability, and economy, not power. iT was snappier than the tenere, and much smoother. I don't see it changing drastically to the T7.mebgardner said:You're going on what you know about the current FZ-07. Sure, they'll use the same motor, but it's unlikely it will be in the same state of tune as FZ-07.