On the Yamaha USA website: http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport/products/modelgallerylib/718/1/0/gallery.aspx 321cc, two cylinder, $4990.
41mm forks vs. 37, better. 10 lbs. lighter, better. Otherwise another Ninja 300. Too bad. I was hoping for much better from them here.
Uh...you forgot the extra 25cc's. I'm afraid to say it but I think I like the looks better. Maybe a little cleaner and classier...but just. Wish the tank were a little bigger.
Well, but what were you expecting? This is a hugely growing sector of the market, but the cost/benefit analysis can only give you so much motorcycle, especially with prices dropping.
<object width="853" height="480"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/c9cnbzaBBI4?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/c9cnbzaBBI4?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="853" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
I was expecting to be disappointed. The ship to beat the 2012 Ninja 250 sailed in 2013 with the Ninja 300, so I was hoping for a Ninja 300 beater, not an also ran. If it is better than the Ninja, it will be only slightly so. I see nothing Earth shattering there. 2p sliding pin front brake caliper, I'm told the swinger is steel. If it had come out in 2013 I might have picked it over the 300. Might. My Kawi dealer is excellent so that could have kept me on the Ninjette. The 41mm forks could have been a factor though knowing how bad the 37s are. The CBR250 suffered the same fate, looking to be better, marginally, than the 2008-12 Ninja 250. The KTM 390 is what they should have been shooting at IMO. 21cc? Wish I thought the 300 needed more but it isn't the engine in it that holds it back!
But I wasn't expecting $5k. I was expecting a 300cc engine in the 250R chassis (first class sporting chassis), for about $7.5-$8k. STOP dumbing down EXISTING EU and Asian motorcycles - just bring them HERE!
There is no such thing as a 250R Yamaha... They have the R125 and then the same R3 as in Asia. You guys are hallucinating non existent bikes.
Uh no...ain't the Ninja 296? C'mon man this is 4cc's we are arguing about here. That's .1 hp, that's enough to transport the brake dust on the front wheel around without affecting the top speed any...Jeeezzzssshhhh get it right. Here is another vid for those who can't get out to AIMEXPO...I still like it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWA_LaZYHeE&list=UUUJeW9pnxhDZ5GA0TNRl4zg
i like it. i don't think we can expect higher spec, mass produced small motorcycles from mainstream japanese makers. they would charge more and bump up against their higher spec, bigger motorcycles. and it would satisfy a very small amount of customers as most looking at smaller bikes just want something entry level and fun to ride or learn on. and this bike has the real sporty looks many want in the class. if a rider wants a more kickass small displacement bike and is willing to pay thousands more for it get this bike and mod it out. i am sure an additional $3000 in the aftermarket will give all a more particular rider wants but imo this bike stacks up well against the Ninja 300 and new Honda 300. its priced right, looks the part, slots in nicely below the naked FZ-07, and says "320" on it. which i think is funny and cool its another good small motorcycle and i am pretty sure Yammy's first small sportbike in the U.S. in many years? should do well with those dreaming of an R6 but not ready for one. yet...
You aren't really a "people person" I guess Tosser Tod? I've been thru the shatty guts in my forks, I'm having fork and frame flex issues, but thanks for being so helpful. What was I expecting for $5000? About this level of junk, just like the Ninja. Thing is, There wasn't a $5000 price in the R25 intro vids, just a 4p caliper and sweet GTYR parts. I'd pay more for more. I don't know how many times they can cut the Ninja250/300 pie and still make sense to bother bringing them in. As to low volume sales, seen the H2??? Nobody here buys premium small bore bikes here because they aren't sold here. There are things a premium small bike would do better on the street than the 600s-1400s. I have a $10,000 dirt bike in my garage and they can't keep those in stock. Bring the right bike and it will sell. Not a de-bored 600, a true 50HP 300 lbs. 250cc Moto 3 street replica. Whoosh!
Isn't that ^^^^^ a 250cc version of the R3? Looks exactly the same, wheels, tires, exhaust, fenders, etc. etc....specs are essentially the same as well.