New 06 Bikes are here

[OcotilloWells]

The motorcycle forum is dead, so I'll post this here.

Yamaha comes out swinging, managing to both rip off Honda and Kawasaki in their frame design and still not infringe on any copyrights. Amazing, truly.

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/13june05_yami2006yz4strokes.html

But of note is the specs, which include pro tapers stock, adjustable triple clamps, TI SHOCK SPRING, and claimed dry weights of 220lb and 206lb for the 450 and 250, respectively.

Ironically, Kawasaki scraps their own perimeter frame design they've been using for years and that yamaha copied, and blatantly rips honda once honda got it right. Gotta love those japanese manufacturers.

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/10june05_06kxs.htm

Interestly though, THERE WILL BE NO KX125 IMPORTED TO THE US FOR 2006. Looks like it's the beginning of the end for 2-strokes.

And Honda just keeps plugging along.

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/01june05_hondas.htm

Oh yeah, anyoune out there know that Yamaha cut off their cruiser line and created a new manufacturer named "Star" to sell them under? Yeah, I didn't care either.

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/12june05_yamaha2006star.htm

[jmelrose]

A 206 lb 250 :shock: :shock: That is why I want a new yamaha billy

That frickin kx looks like a carbon copy of the hondas, that's messed up

[OcotilloWells]

Yeah, it's total crap. I've heard people say that "Well, those other manufacturers have been making streetbikes for ages, so they're not strangers to aluminum frames." Well, funny how the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world didn't really get the frame right until the third generation of the frame, and even better until the fourth generation, and then once they get it right everyone else has all of this inspiration. Kawasaki has been using their perimiter frame for years (including on their KXF 250 for the last two years in aluminum form, no less), so it's pretty odd that they scrap their frame design used for the last 15 years now.

Anyway, on a positive note, now that every bike looks almost the same and will probably handle like carbon copies, it'll mean that used CRF prices will be driven down to a sane level.

[RIDEitINTOtheGROUND]

dude that light a 2fiddy will rip ur arms off!

why no big rip AL for the 2stroke kawi?

and sean, if you dont post moto stuff in moto, it will stay dead :wink:

[brian]

mmm...yesh, KLR650 :D