Anyone else feel like Yamaha is losing its touch?

[deeptekkie]

The newer bikes I'm excited about are the CBF1000FA, Ninja Z1000SX, Versys, GSR 750 as soon a faired version is available, and the new Z750 as soon as a faired version is available. Does anyone else get the feeling the Yamaha hasn't done anything exciting with their bikes since the 2007 FZ6 redesign?

Just my personal opinion:
I totally agree with you. I am ticked with them for, (in my opinon), sitting on the haunches, not exploring the smaller displacement street bike market, and dropping models that were unbeatable for what they were.
The FZ6 is argueably the best bike ever made. They dropped it. Duh. It was past being expensive to manufacture. Why not perfect it? (It was darn close as-is)
The little Kaw Ninja 250R is a multimillion dollar seller with no signs of letting up.....with, (in my opinion), NO competition, especially from Yamaha. I think Honda is getting ready to give it some competition with a new thumper.
Yamaha seems to be, (again, IMO), just sitting around waiting to see what happens instead of trying to take the lead. After owning and/or riding nearly everything out there, my next-to-the-last purchase last year was my first Yamaha and I have to say that their design and engineering is top notch. Why can't their design and/or marketing people get in gear as well?
I know that "way back when", Suzuki invited public opinion and they gave away hats and/or tee shirts to any ideas you submitted that they liked. (I got several of them) Many ideas submitted became standard manufactured items! To me, it seems that Yamaha has become stagnant, (but then again I am biased and prejudiced seeing no need for the 800, except for the fact that some others were doing it too).
Kawasaki on the other hand is staying the course on their little great seller, the Ninja 250r, and instead of biting off more and new expensive manufacturing problems, engineering and designing problems, seeking out new vendors and suppliers, inventing new shipping/storage techniques, conducting thousands of hours of R&D, retooling assembly lines, purchasing newfabrication fixtures, inventing new advertising campaigns, and making new repair books, DVD's, and schooling for dealers, PLUS a ton of other new parts to stock, they seem to be improving upon a very solid model. In this light, why did the FZ6 disappear? "If it ain't broke don't fix it" seems very appropriate here.
Finally, to answer your question, "Does anyone else get the feeling the Yamaha hasn't done anything exciting with their bikes since the 2007 FZ6 redesign?": Yes, I get that feeling, (especially when I walk into a dealer showroom and see them filled with all kinds of smaller displacement blue trail bikes)!

 

[The Toecutter]

YAMAHA is the king of motorcycles in my mind... and we in the U.S.A. only get to see about a quarter of the line up of bikes they produce...Mr. Yamaha is very" in touch " with the Worlds needs as far Life on Two Wheels goes.....,and they provide the different sections of the WORLD with the models that will sell there....how many FZ6's do you see on the road everyday in your American town???? I saw one 2 days ago,and it had been allmost a year since my last siteing....the FZ6 went away not only because it did'nt sell in America ,but because sales had declined World wide...(probably because they are so bullet proof IMO) But anyway they send us what they think will sell here in our Harley Loving I want to be accepted follow the crowd don't think for yourself society...... heres an example of what Yamaha offers... . Yamaha Global Home The Americas


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[Ransom]

With the FZ8 and the Super Tenere coming to the states, which is very exciting. Though, they are in the Naked genre. Nothing comes to mind along the lines of "New" for full Fairing.

 

[youngy]

The FZ6 is still available in some markets.

 

[Disco]

Umm, if we are talking the Japanese bikes only for arguments sake, id point that argument straight at Honda before Yamaha, or Kawasaki or even Suzuki.

Even though most of us feel the pain of the axing of the FZ6 & being replaced by the unmentionable, hows Honda's form. Think back to the glorious RC30 & look what they have now carrying the VFR name.....need I say more. Would Yamaha commit such a crime?????

Only speaking for myself, Yamaha make bikes that excite me & get me in their dealerships every month or so just to look at them.

 

[deeptekkie]

YAMAHA is the king of motorcycles in my mind... and we in the U.S.A. only get to see about a quarter of the line up of bikes they produce...But anyway they send us what they think will sell here in our Harley Loving I want to be accepted follow the crowd don't think for yourself society......

I love you man!
I call it a lemming society.
A freind of mine rides a V-twin, oil-leaking, red-rash-vibrating, loud machine, (which shall remain nameless), and he carries two spare plugs with him anytime he goes riding!

 

[Shinn]

Yamaha losing its touch?!! Wow, I wouldn't never believe that. In Canada, last year suzuki refused to bring any new models until dealers screamed and sold all the old crap, and nothing new for 2011 except for the 600/750 gsxr. Honda still has 2007 and 2008 bikes for sale, with only a 250 for sure coming for 2011. Kawasaki introduced a few bikes only to have them flop and disappear (the naked 650). Just waiting to see how the Z1000 and Ninja 1000 do.

Our market up here is 20+ begginers who want a race rep, or you get the older gents who want a cruiser/tourer. Our market sucks. It sucks BAD. I ride the almost perfect bike. Now it seems all the bike companies are trying to implement a beginner 600 (below 80hp), a better 800 ish bike, and a good 1000 all for the road. Super sport bikes have gotten so crazy you can't ride them well on public roads anymore. In this regard, Yamaha have done quite well. Honda's CBF line are boring and under powered compared to the rest and do not contain an middle bike. Kawi has the 650 and the new Z1000's, but sales have been hard. The naked 650 was discontinued and I can find 650 Ninja's for cheap. I haven't even seen a single Z1000 on the road, and I can picture the Ninja 1000 being passed over for the ZX-10R, because that is what sheep... I mean people want. Suzuki just can't seem to get it right. We won't get the GSR, and the SV was brought back for the gladius again. They don't have a 1000 here, just the old bandit They make the money on the GSX-R in my market, so thats what I get.

I've been spending lots of time in the bike shops, possibly trying to upgrade or trade in my baby. When it comes down to it, I simply can't justify anything but the perfect FZ6. If only Yamaha would bring it back. It has more power then the CBF600, more comfort and much better engine over the SV650, and the ninja 650 can't touch it. In fact, after being in every shop, the only bike I can see in the Canadian market is the discontinued VFR. We just don't get anything else. Sad how the best two have become discontinued. In fact, if I was looking to buy a new bike, I love the FZ8. It is exactly like an FZ6, and fits perfect in that 750 market (just like the europe only newer Z750. Old one was a piece of crap (dad owned)).

Over to the other markets, the Tenere in Canada is $4000 cheaper then a GS1200, and it will take a huger chunk of that market then I thought originally. Cruiser riders usually say Yamaha is second to Harley, and sales show this too. And I do not dislike any sport bikes or race replicas. I love them, I just can't ride them.Yamaha have a huge part of that market, especially after watching the racers win on them.

I do not think Yamaha is bowing down or giving up. Yes, I think they need to start focusing on a 250-500 bike for the north american market, but as it stands now, they are a top runner in Canada.

 

[Wolfman]

My mate has a 2008 Z1000 wit about the same kilometres as my FZ6, which is about a year younger than the Z1000. The Kwaka has had to have heaps of "maintenance" done, such as 2 lots of exhaust gaskets, 2 lots of new clutch & brake cables, bits replaced that have broken, like side pod mount's that just break, etc, etc...

My Yamaha...nothing has broke from wear!

The difference in build quality is glaring IMHO!

I agree though, Yamaha needs to build a bike like the Ninja 250....and release it Worldwide....those bloody little fart box ninja's with their 20 year old engine design, are freaking everywhere!

:thumbup:

 

[krid80]

You guys are re-enforcing my point. While they may be doing great on the track, and their really expensive new bikes may be doing well, name a sub $10,000 all-rounder from Yamaha that you'd be excited to ride. The FZ1 is close, but has an MSRP of more than $10k, and at this point is a bit dated.

Meanwhile, the ugly Versys is considered to be a tossable wheelie machine, and Suzuki & Honda have new great looking 750s on the horizon with upside down forks. This isn't meant to be a rag on the FZ8 thread either, as Yamaha could produce a 600 UJM or a Versys-like dual sport that hits the price point and is exciting.

Yamaha is smart. They have streamlined to sell what actually sells. We have a brand new 2009 FZ6 on the showroom still as well as one R6S but the cruisers are selling quite well as are the atv's.

You can't sell thousands of bikes if you don't sell what thousands of customers want. (Suzuki)

 

[Shinn]

My mate has a 2008 Z1000 wit about the same kilometres as my FZ6, which is about a year younger than the Z1000. The Kwaka has had to have heaps of "maintenance" done, such as 2 lots of exhaust gaskets, 2 lots of new clutch & brake cables, bits replaced that have broken, like side pod mount's that just break, etc, etc...

My Yamaha...nothing has broke from wear!

The difference in build quality is glaring IMHO!

I agree though, Yamaha needs to build a bike like the Ninja 250....and release it Worldwide....those bloody little fart box ninja's with their 20 year old engine design, are freaking everywhere!

:thumbup:

The local university here (University of Calgary) has a bike club which is comprised of 32 fart boxes. They just multiply like rabbits. I remember one year they had a ninja 250 ride and over 400 showed up from nearby cities. Hell, I had one too!

As for build quality, Yamaha is the best in my opinion. Honda is close but Yamaha just pay attention to the minor details better. My fart box buzzed to the point that bolts came off the fairing and my clutch vibrated itself loose.