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starvingstudent · 12-05-2001, 10:22 AM

That would make it $1500 less than the ZRX1200 and only about $700 more than an SV650 or Bandit 600. Are you sure that wasn't the price for the Fazer 600? (which coincidentally, does come in at roughly $700 more than the SV)

Wait--I'm pulling up stats from web pages and you must have made a mistake in converting currency. In the US, the 919 is priced at $8000--same as the ZRX. The FZ1 is a mere $500 more. Even the much-lower-tech Bandit 1200S is $7400.

starvingstudent · 12-05-2001, 10:31 AM

They'd compete with the SV650 in the cheap, light, fun, and practical category. Maybe an FZ6 priced at $5999? Base the engine on the 600R instead of the R6 if need be, but keep the cost under 6k.

I mean, that's the only segment I can think of where they must be struggling. If the company is in trouble economically, then there's some internal problems to deal with. Yamaha is doing great in cruisers. R1s and R6s are everywhere. They nearly own the super-standard market with the VMAX and the FZ1. So their tourers are a bit weak, but most US touring riders would just buy a GL1800 or BMW anyway, so I can't blame them for not fighting a losing fight. But I think that they might stand a chance against the SV with an FZ6, if they keep the price down.

trickyrick · 12-05-2001, 10:42 AM

The article said they were droping the price 1800 pounds to 5995 pounds. I may have screwed up my figures somewhere (happens more often than I like to admit).

starvingstudent · 12-05-2001, 01:11 PM

The current exchange rate is 1 GB Pound=1.42 US Dollars. So $5995 would translate to $8512, only pocket change away from the current US MSRP.

Either they were getting gouged before (7795 pounds is $11000!), or motorcycles are more expensive in Britain (I think it's the latter).

luvmyvfr · 12-05-2001, 01:42 PM

They would release the FJR1300 here in the states. I'd buy one. That might help their struggling touring market too (I know it's "sport touring", but the FRJ seems more of a tour-sport motorcycle to me).

stogieBill · 12-06-2001, 05:28 AM

How much of the "non-introduction" is force fed and how much is buyer evolution. In Yamahas case, I think they practice self-fullfilling prophesy. I don't believe they have their fingers on the pulse of America like they once did.

Carlton · 12-06-2001, 09:54 AM

Amen brother. Don't get me started....

Carlton · 12-06-2001, 10:08 AM

Very true. I also think some of their past failures have made them gunshy. During my adventure as the "FJR petition dude," I had a chance to talk to the Yamaha customer service guy assigned to me (yes, they assigned someone to talk to me...I was sort of a pain in the rear

. Anyway, he mentioned the demise of the GTS1000 several times. Also, the YZF1000R got great reviews, but didn't do very here (I had one). On the one hand, Yamaha never seems to give a U.S. "Euro" model very long to take root here, and on the other hand, we in the U.S. have not been quick about buying them. Anyway, there are currently lots of once hardcore sportbike riders that arent cruiser types in the U.S. The FZ1 was a good start and is selling well, but it doesn't suit anyone that wants to do some distance. Do we really need ELEVEN different "Star" models? Jeez.

nome · 12-27-2001, 07:33 PM

My local Yamaha dealer is a crowed place. First there are the sport bikes then the turing models followed by the best Harley knock offs around. Can't stop there now we have the hunting-farming atv's to walk around, still room for some more? Well, there is watercraft-not just "jet" skis but also, what are getting to be, very large boats. It would seem that they have it all covered, and if that's a problem it's one most companies would like to have. The company I work for is spending major money changing how everything is manufactured, now the mantra of the day is "just in time" the goal is to reduce inventory while at the same time shorten the time it takes to fill a dealer order. We have been trying to achieve this for over five years now. I would think Yamaha is going the same route or just revamping their own "just in time" process.

12-05-2001, 10:22 AM	#11
starvingstudent Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 486	That can't be right... That would make it $1500 less than the ZRX1200 and only about $700 more than an SV650 or Bandit 600. Are you sure that wasn't the price for the Fazer 600? (which coincidentally, does come in at roughly $700 more than the SV) Wait--I'm pulling up stats from web pages and you must have made a mistake in converting currency. In the US, the 919 is priced at $8000--same as the ZRX. The FZ1 is a mere $500 more. Even the much-lower-tech Bandit 1200S is $7400.

12-05-2001, 10:31 AM	#12
starvingstudent Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 486	If Yamaha really wanted to increase profits... They'd compete with the SV650 in the cheap, light, fun, and practical category. Maybe an FZ6 priced at $5999? Base the engine on the 600R instead of the R6 if need be, but keep the cost under 6k. I mean, that's the only segment I can think of where they must be struggling. If the company is in trouble economically, then there's some internal problems to deal with. Yamaha is doing great in cruisers. R1s and R6s are everywhere. They nearly own the super-standard market with the VMAX and the FZ1. So their tourers are a bit weak, but most US touring riders would just buy a GL1800 or BMW anyway, so I can't blame them for not fighting a losing fight. But I think that they might stand a chance against the SV with an FZ6, if they keep the price down.

12-05-2001, 10:42 AM	#13
trickyrick Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pascagoula, MS Posts: 2	Re: That can The article said they were droping the price 1800 pounds to 5995 pounds. I may have screwed up my figures somewhere (happens more often than I like to admit).

12-05-2001, 01:11 PM	#14
starvingstudent Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 486	Here you go The current exchange rate is 1 GB Pound=1.42 US Dollars. So $5995 would translate to $8512, only pocket change away from the current US MSRP. Either they were getting gouged before (7795 pounds is $11000!), or motorcycles are more expensive in Britain (I think it's the latter).

12-05-2001, 01:42 PM	#15
luvmyvfr Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 237	If Yamaha really wanted to increase profits... They would release the FJR1300 here in the states. I'd buy one. That might help their struggling touring market too (I know it's "sport touring", but the FRJ seems more of a tour-sport motorcycle to me).

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12-06-2001, 05:28 AM	#16
stogieBill Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 33	Re: Higher profits in Yamaha How much of the "non-introduction" is force fed and how much is buyer evolution. In Yamahas case, I think they practice self-fullfilling prophesy. I don't believe they have their fingers on the pulse of America like they once did.

12-06-2001, 09:54 AM	#17
Carlton Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 15	Re: If Yamaha really wanted to increase profits... Amen brother. Don't get me started....

12-06-2001, 10:08 AM	#18
Carlton Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 15	Re: Higher profits in Yamaha Very true. I also think some of their past failures have made them gunshy. During my adventure as the "FJR petition dude," I had a chance to talk to the Yamaha customer service guy assigned to me (yes, they assigned someone to talk to me...I was sort of a pain in the rear . Anyway, he mentioned the demise of the GTS1000 several times. Also, the YZF1000R got great reviews, but didn't do very here (I had one). On the one hand, Yamaha never seems to give a U.S. "Euro" model very long to take root here, and on the other hand, we in the U.S. have not been quick about buying them. Anyway, there are currently lots of once hardcore sportbike riders that arent cruiser types in the U.S. The FZ1 was a good start and is selling well, but it doesn't suit anyone that wants to do some distance. Do we really need ELEVEN different "Star" models? Jeez.

12-27-2001, 07:33 PM	#19
nome Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 30	Re: Higher profits in Yamaha My local Yamaha dealer is a crowed place. First there are the sport bikes then the turing models followed by the best Harley knock offs around. Can't stop there now we have the hunting-farming atv's to walk around, still room for some more? Well, there is watercraft-not just "jet" skis but also, what are getting to be, very large boats. It would seem that they have it all covered, and if that's a problem it's one most companies would like to have. The company I work for is spending major money changing how everything is manufactured, now the mantra of the day is "just in time" the goal is to reduce inventory while at the same time shorten the time it takes to fill a dealer order. We have been trying to achieve this for over five years now. I would think Yamaha is going the same route or just revamping their own "just in time" process.