Possibilty of new Yamaha SR400 in the states

[JBSmith]

I've been looking for a second, smaller bike to park alongside Jumbo, my GL1800. I had an SR500 back in the mid-1980s (currently number 2 on my Should Never Have Sold It list) and now I have an SR500 in boxes out in the garage that I never seem to get around to restoring, so the idea of a new, assembled one appeals to me, even if it's 100cc short. I gotta believe that if it ever came here there'd be 500cc kits for it in a heartbeat.

[JerryH]

That is a beautiful bike, and it looks like it even has a centerstand. I would also like electric start, but only if they left the kickstart. If not, I would rather keep the kick start. And of course no ABS. As it is, that is a bike I would definitely buy if I could possibly come up with the money. But I really doubt it is coming here, at least in it's present form. Yamaha would have to mess it up by removing the centerstand and kickstarter and adding ABS. And if they did, I would no longer find it desirable. Just the look without the important stuff.

But, such things have happened. The W650 came here for a very short time, with a kickstarter, centerstand, and no ABS. I missed my chance to get one. If this one comes here, I will get one if I have to remortgage the house.

[gumshoe4]

It's a handsome, basic machine and I'd be interested...as long as its performance was significantly better than the Suzuki S40...their 650cc thumper...weak on power...

[TRRcheck]

Originally Posted by gumshoe4

It's a handsome, basic machine and I'd be interested...as long as its performance was significantly better than the Suzuki S40...their 650cc thumper...weak on power...

Why would you expect a basic 400cc bike to be "significantly" more powerful than a basic 650cc?


Ain't gonna happen with this bike; some of you are expecting waaayy too much

[Gregster]

What a cool little bike

[fragile_this_side_up]

http://www.cycleworld.com/2012/12/17...ied-in-the-us/

wouldn't mind one for a commuter.. hehee.

[zozie]

I absolutely love the look of this bike. In fact I love all retro looking bikes and this is a right size. Anyone from Europe remember the ETZ-MZ 250 from the DDR?
Heck I'd have one for commuting. Probably runs on the smell of gas only and should have enough power for some hwy.

Just to piss people off:

It is very nice but too bad it doesn't have EFI, electric-start, adjustable suspension, ABS, traction and launch control

[SCQTT]

Originally Posted by TRRcheck

Ain't gonna happen with this bike; some of you are expecting waaayy too much

This.


But it is interesting to see how out of touch some of you are.

[eakins]

ok here is a srx-6 for sale
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=849534

Originally Posted by L.B.S.

I'm the age where most of these "retro" bikes are too retro...

I couldn't wait for the bikes of my youth to get rid of chromed fenders, long, low chromed mufflers, spoked wheels, rear drum brakes etc.

That SR400, no, I would not really want. Neither would I want the CB1100 in it's as sold form, the way it sits. Close, but not quite.

I *would* want one of these:




And I'd prefer one of these:




(Well technically, I'd want THIS one, but...)

[eakins]

i guess this bike silences the argument of the anti/can't do it/mfg won't do it EFI crowd on adding EFI to existing bikes. this bike is air-cooled and kick-start and yet EFI.

[bk brkr baker]

It'll be nice , if it happens. I'd rather see it as the 500 though, I have several and they're great 50 mile radius bikes. By that I mean if your aren't going more than 50 miles from home the SR is more than enough bike. I've been further but a 400 mile day is tireing on the SR. I know others have done big touring miles, including the guy who won the Hopeless clas in the Iron Butt Rally one year. Not me , horses for courses.
While Yamaha's bringing in the Great Simple Single , how about Honda bringing in this ?



VRX 400 , a nice standard . It looks like a good all rounder that could also be built in 600-750 sizes out of Hondas vast parts bin.
What do you think ?

[SCQTT]

I'd take that CB1100R or one of the retro Ducatis.

I'd buy that Honda toady if it were for sale....no "Ifs"

[chazbird]

I've owned two SR500's. They have their charm, but.....? If it comes to the US what is Yamaha trying to do? Compete with the CBR250R? I don't think so. The SR, when it came out in 1978, was a replica retro bike then, like a 50's Goldstar. Does Yamaha hope to compete with Honda or is it Enfield they have their sights on? Then, sure, they'll have a winner. And the kick starter only on the SR & SRX did hurt its sales back in the 70's 80's, but I suppose with FI the kick starter might not be as bad a sales killer. Making it a 500cc isn't going to do much either, what's 3-5 hp on what was already an anemic bike? In any case, while my 250cc scooter is twice as comfy and more capable as a old SR, I hope it comes to the US. If Yamaha wants to do ADV rider types a favor and get a miniscule slice of the small street bike market then its great if they bring it. But there are other less connoisseur types out there who will give it a pass.

[Ginger Beard]

I do have to wonder why so many "need" electric start? Are there that many people that can't kick over a small CC thumper ? Hell it only took five minutes to teach my then 12 year old daughter how to kick start a bike and my buddy's 3 year old son already hops up and down on his KTM's kicker. Hell, he probably would have started it on several occasions had the run switch been on. To me the notion of ditching the extra weight of the Estart as well as lessening a bikes complexity is a selling point , not a con.

[fragile_this_side_up]

i had a kickstarter on my honda Metro scooter.. i used it once.. it was a pain. my dad uses his occasionally on his W650.. but still he has an electric start..