FZ7 announced in Kanukistan, and a good review in bike UK

[kmac]

+1

I agree that I doubt they would stroke the 7
I also agree selling concepts to wife HAS to have sound logic behind it or you will called out and shot down....hence my motto-"It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission" but that has cost me very many cold nights.

I have no issue with the 660 other than we can get it here even if we wanted it.

Now lets blow Yamaha's mind and make the suggestion of all suggestions....Plate the DAMN WR450F....all it needs is a street flash in the computer and a side stand/clutch out switch...come ON....then offer the ST7 based on the FZ7 platform with 21/18" wheels and premium suspension for the serious off road Adventure tourer and keep the big ST1200 as is.

Personally on a dream ST7 I would not want ABS...I HATE it off road and I have read every argument made for it, that it just works....I hate it and will NEVER ride with it on for any serious off tar work. The weight it adds to a lightweight bike like a dream ST7 would not be worth it for me.
Your FZ09 was just fine without ABS in my opinion and so would a dirt biased bike like the ST7...make it OPTIONAL at most...hold the ABS for me Yami.

Current WR250R/X
Plated current WR450F {not some watered down version like the WR250R is compared to the WR250F} to compete HEAD to HEAD with KTM
Off road biased Adventure twin/triple based on the FZ7 or FZ09
Current Tenere
Now that is dual sport line up

PS: not knocking the WR250R/X for what it is, it is a fine bike and quite capable, but it is NO WR250F which is a great dirt bike and should have been the platform imho

 

[kmac]

To add,
Why not go after niche markets?

Yami already builds the best 250 dual sport compared to other Asian brands {Klx250, Crf250 or the sad Dr250} but it does not even rate on pure performance to the Husky TE250...it does on reliability and availability but not handling, suspension, and weight.
But it is a quality piece and very versatile overall, not that cheap though.

But KTM OWNS the performance dual sport market and the argument I always hear is that it is a niche market.... ??? It is the market that has kept KTM alive through a lot of slow years. If a big corporation like Yami had to spend tons of R&D to develop a new motor and or platform for a DS bike I could see that not looking appealing. But if you already have a PERECT bike that needs almost nothing to jump into a niche, why NOT go after that niche?

I personally think there would be every bit as much of a market for the Plated version of a WR450F at a substantially lower development cost than there is for the Super Ten was.

You already have 2 great motor and base frames in the Fz7 and FZ09 why NOT just put on some legs and DS do dads and market that?

A GOOD plated WR450F would go head to head with the KTM 350/500 {it would need a 6 speed trans though} and a DS version of the FZ09 could go heads up with the 990 ADV and the S-Ten already competes with the new 1190 and the BMW GS....I just don't see a down side. It seems smarter than building a number of mid sized naked bikes like they currently are.

 

[greg the pole]

all good points Kelly.

I think the driving force is Europe and asia. The euros love their nakeds. I joined a mt09 forum in French, and I'm having a ball. If anything 95% of all roads in Europe are paved.
that said they love their big trailies too, as they are super reliable, comfortable, and practical.
there's a guy that's selling a plated w450 (road legal, with an extra set of sm rims/tires)
I'm a weak man, but I will resist it.
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-dirt-bikes-motocross/calgary/very-rare-2008-yamaha-yz450f-street-legal/524766134

Who knows...I'm hoping they build one. Meantime between time, I'm getting some new rubber for the fz9 shortly (metzeler next) and might break out the cardboard over the winter to fashion up a skid plate/belly pan.... the possibilities...