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So... looking up Yammy's line up

3K views 11 replies 5 participants last post by  sparkn 
#1 · (Edited)
This may have some blasphemy here so be forewarned but...

The current line up is just Vstars and Vmax, and the Bolt and Raider.


I mean cause honestly. The Vstars, Road Stars, and Roadliners are like the same bike, just swap bags and engines out. Honestly.

Then there's the Bolt, that has its own look.

Then the Strikers and Raiders, and lets be honest, remove the bullet cowls, and they're slightly different looking Vstars.

And then the Vmax. So there's like 3-4 different models, with different acessories. What happend to the Royal Star? Like, the metric Harley, a true factory Touring, with a rear trunk.

I guess what got me on this tangent, is I'm starting to look at full blown tourings, and Yamaha's selection got me looking elsewhere. Sure there's the stratoliner, but its a Vstar with a batwingl and a big engine. Where's my trunk and plush seats, plush passenger seat, goodies, heated grips and seat, SOMETHING. Sure the Stratoliner has gps and music and crap. All sorta useless with my BT helmet, IMO. Time to get with the times. But no cruise? Maybe I missed it in the features. I dunno.

Now of course there's the FJR1300ES, with a adjustable windshield, and at least it has cruise. Not a sport guy, but its something. Still no true blood touring. So honestly, its a sport with bags and cruise.

They just decide to stop trying to compete with GLs and Ultra Glides and Cross Countries, etc, or they holding off for a year or two to bring something out.

/blasphemy-rant-tangent
 
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#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
The Stars have no touring machine (although just about any motorcycle can be used for touring) since the RSTD was cut from the line up and it was antiquated when cut. The rest is conjecture on your part much like saying "all Harleys are the same"
 
#4 · (Edited)
The rest is conjecture on your part much like saying "all Harleys are the same"
This is spot on, on my part and you're right. But I like riding, I like bikes, but it is how I see it. I think I represent an 'average' of people who ride, but aren't die hard knowing every single make and model by memory. And nowadays, you can't.


But that aside, my point being, Star wont make one single actual Touring, full blown touring, that is. I think they shoulda reamped the Royal Star when they redid the Vstars. And I get that, 'any bike can be a touring'. I have a 950T, and have a massive tourmaster bag. It works, and its a great bike, and I can cruise the entire country, but its no full blown touring. A Wing is, a Electra Glide is, a Vision is, a Roadmaster is.


Not trying to talk smack, just Star has been my first bike, my second and current bike. I know them, comfortable with them, and like them. So I guess I'm kinda bumed that they don't offer the next bike I want, and I don't want to 'make' a bike a touring. I don't want garbled aftermarket, afterthought cruises and heated grips and different seats, etc. I want it OEM, and meant to go there.

Like I said, just a rant and crying. Maybe they're planing on a new touring and I just don't know about it cause I don't keep up with it.

This is EXACTLY why the Gold Wing F6B and Cross Country Tour are on the top of my list…currently, the XC Tour is winning out due to more features, better ergonomics, better value. There is nothing in the Yamaha lineup that has what I am looking for. The closest thing is the FJR1300, and I don't want a bike like that.
Oh sure, the Wing is king. And that's where I'll end up in a few years, or sooner if I could afford it. Just wish Star made something comparable. The CC visions are too futuristic, the Indian Roadmasters are too uppity and pricey, and I'm anti harley, so that leaves me with Goldwing. Maybe if I found one of the last year made Venture S' 2013 or so for a great price. But why, no cruise, no heated nothing? Carbureted, really? in 2013? 10:1 compression, so probably 89-91 gas instead of 87.... no thanks. I just like the way the Venture S looks, Goldwings are wonderful bikes, just look like they are for old farts. Not sexy, but they are damn good bikes, and after 9+ hours in the saddle, comfort trumps looks.
 
#3 ·
"I guess what got me on this tangent, is I'm starting to look at full blown tourings, and Yamaha's selection got me looking elsewhere. Sure there's the stratoliner, but its a Vstar with a batwingl and a big engine. Where's my trunk and plush seats, plush passenger seat, goodies, heated grips and seat, SOMETHING. Sure the Stratoliner has gps and music and crap. All sorta useless with my BT helmet, IMO. Time to get with the times. But no cruise? Maybe I missed it in the features. I dunno."

This is EXACTLY why the Gold Wing F6B and Cross Country Tour are on the top of my list…currently, the XC Tour is winning out due to more features, better ergonomics, better value. There is nothing in the Yamaha lineup that has what I am looking for. The closest thing is the FJR1300, and I don't want a bike like that.
 
#5 ·
Oh sure, the Wing is king. And that's where I'll end up in a few years, or sooner if I could afford it. Just wish Star made something comparable. The CC visions are too futuristic, the Indian Roadmasters are too uppity and pricey, and I'm anti harley, so that leaves me with Goldwing. Maybe if I found one of the last year made Venture S' 2013 or so for a great price. But why, no cruise, no heated nothing? Carbureted, really? in 2013? 10:1 compression, so probably 89-91 gas instead of 87.... no thanks. I just like the way the Venture S looks, Goldwings are wonderful bikes, just look like they are for old farts. Not sexy, but they are damn good bikes, and after 9+ hours in the saddle, comfort trumps looks.
Yeah, the Visions are weird looking. There is a small group that loves them, though. Good thing because it is always the last Victory to sell for that model year on the sales floor.

The Cross Country tour is SWEET. Actually has more storage room than a Wing, and looks less RV-ish. But the Wing has something no other bike can match…a smooth, vibration free, torque and horsepower monster known as the Flat 6.

Yamaha comes up short in the snowmobile market, too. They led the way in 2006 with a bunch of modern four-stroke sleds, but since then, the biggest hit has been their adaptation of an Arctic Cat chassis, the Viper. Seems like they set the pace, then let everyone else catch up and pass them. Happened in the ATV market, too. They started the current UTV trend with the Rhino back in 2004.
 
#8 ·
I've seen the spy photos and don't understand why the Voyager is so immediately discounted as the model. It could be a cross between a voyager and a Royal* but overall it has the lines of a voyager.
 
#10 ·
as of now, only the Bolt is listed on their 2016 overview. i really don't understand phasing out all their touring cruisers. aren't baby boomers among their largest demographic? even if they weren't selling well, Yamaha can afford to keep building them because just having those options in the lineup strengthens their brand.
 
#11 ·
First, it is interesting to note that all Yamaha forums make the same complaints about the company…slow to change, questionable model decisions, old chassis long surpassed by competitors…check TotallYamaha (mostly snowmobile forum) in February after Yamaha releases their "new" lineup of sleds for the upcoming year…those guys are on the cliff every year over there. The Phazer chassis is nine years old; the Vector and Apex are 11 years old, for example.

As for demographic, using my eyechrometer when out on the roads, it seems as though the cruiser category is dominated by baggers up here (upstate NY), followed by show bikes with no storage/all looks, followed by touring cruisers. Perhaps this is why Yammy is not pursuing the touring market? Their competition would be the Victory CC Tour, the H-D ElectraGlide, and the Indian (forgot model name). I don't think a Japanese brand has a full-fledged touring cruiser…do they? (Thinking of Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda - not counting Wing).
 
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