| Author | Message | ||
     Tucsonxb9s |
Still just a concept, but we know what Yamaha did with the MT-01 concept. I think this could be a good direction for the Blast to go. Any thoughts? http://www.motorcycleusa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=2029&Page=1#   | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
Looks like a cross between the Triumph speed triple & the BMW F650. | ||
| T9r |
Yamaha WINS!.... oh wait just a concept... then never mind. | ||
| 99buellx1 |
That looks like fun! | ||
| Noface |
that's a cool ••• bike. Looks way cooler than a Blast! | ||
| Newblaster |
Looks more like a Bimmer than a Blast. Not bad, but a little too BMW-esque for my tastes. | ||
| Reepicheep |
The styling is very cool, but from an engineering perspective, it looks like a blast done badly (IMHO). | ||
| Jeremyh |
U....G....L......Y.... give that to some other guy. | ||
| Scitz |
I like that it has a belt drive instead of a chain. | ||
| Ezblast |
LOL  | ||
| Jprovo |
Three Thoughts, 1. That Concept has been out for some time and has stopped looking exciting and is now looking overdone and ugly. 2. The Exhaust is still in the wrong spot and the exhaust path is just plain wrong. 3. If it's anything like the MT-01 concept, the MT-03 will gain another 100 lbs and loose the cool sidemount shock by the time it ever reaches production. Still lovin my blast after 32,000+ Miles James | ||
| Koz5150 |
Looks like a good battletrax bike. I think it looks better then the blast. If I had my choice though, I would rather ride a 250 Ninja over a Blast. The Blast has always seemed like the VW bug of the motorcycle world, durable and cheap, easy to maintain, but not really cool. They never did much for me. | ||
| Jlnance |
The Blast has always seemed like the VW bug of the motorcycle world, durable and cheap, easy to maintain, but not really cool. Thats a great analogy. There are people who really love VW bugs, and I mean really passionatly. And there are people who don't like them at all. I don't think even the people who love them would ever call them cool. The Blast is a lot like that, for probably the same reasons. | ||
| Outrider |
I like Jprovo's comments. I have had the concept art of the MT-03 on my computer for well over a year and I sure wasn't the first to find it. If Yamaha follows the same path of stylin'n'profilin like they did with the MT-01, first it will be intro'd in Europe years before it gets here and second it will be a glitzed out pig. Stick with Buell or KTM if you want some fun that will come out of the box almost the way you want them or expect them to. | ||
| Outrider |
Furthermore...I don't want a belt on a SuperMoto. That is just plain anal retentive. | ||
| Ezblast |
LOL - I've been found out - lol - was a VW Bug fan for years - owned 3 in all, may get another some day - best was a choped 69, Empi swaybars and shocks, X crossed reinforced frame and 8 pt roll bar, Rhyno type 4 tranny and type 4 Okrasa 2210cc built engine with duall 38 webers - later switched to Del Orto's - lol - my first ticket was beating a 914 down the mountain to school - we both got pulled over, but I was in front! - lol - one of the things that made me laugh was folks complaining about VW dragsters winning - the association told them f *** off - if you can't stand the heat - anybody want a fuellie 800+ hp VW type motor to play with - you can order it out of the box! - Aftermarket - thy name is VW Bugs - lol GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Koz5150 |
Yeah, we had a VW as a kid growing up. It really wasn't much of a surprise to me considering I am the first in my family born in America. My Dad is from Austria (yeal like the Govenator) and my Grandfather barely spoke english. I am so German, I can remember going to church picnics that had Beer on tap! | ||
| Glitch |
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| Outrider |
Glitch...Nice Chop Job! However, I prefer the additional ground clearance of an upswept pipe and a skid/bash plate for riding off the beaten path and jumping the bike. Was really glad to see the XB series move the shock to a better location, but realize the conflict (read: Mass Centralization) in moving the pipe. Sort of makes you wonder if Buell can make a real SuperMoto considering this limitation. Ahhh...Time will tell, eh? | ||
| Kevyn |
This discussion is moving in an interesting direction... Kent Kunitsugu(Editor) offers some thoughts in the SportRider May issue concerning underseat exhaust pipes; "The ground clearance benefits are no longer applicable. In the past it tended to be a problem with many bikes, but now sport-bikes such as the Suzuki GSX-R series and Kawasaki's ZX-10R have demonstrated that it's possible to have a low-mount muffler unit sufficiently tucked away to keep it from hitting the deck under aggressive cornering." Kunitsugu continues in his forum questioning the aerodynamic benefits that don't come into play until triple digit speeds---"which a sportbike will rarely venture into.(we go there, we just don't live and work there like a dedicated purpose built race bike)" Kunitsugu begins the whole discussion with a question "Are underseat pipes really functional, or are they a styling trend?" and from there he traces the history of the underseat exhaust systems and systematically lays bare most of the issues like performance potentials, noise issues, weight... "And interestingly enough, in this day and age of "mass-centralization" chassis/engine designs, that additional weight has been placed up high and far away from the motorcycle's roll axis, which runs counter to this design mantra." ...if anyone has ever heard Erik Buell speak at a technical seminar, the whole discussion Kunitsugu offers reads like a ringing endorsement for Buell motorcycles and Erik's guiding philosophy...without ever mentioning Erik or Buell motorcycles... | ||
| Outrider |
Kevyn...Interesting topic. Under seat or under engine are great locations for both styling and lean angle as well as minimal damage in a get off. Never had the pleasure (?) of riding a bike equipped with under seat pipes. So I can't comment on the heat factor. The upswept pipes I was referring to are pretty much dirt track or dual purpose style which are still vulnerable to damage and can burn your leg if you aren't careful. Erik's philosophy of Mass Centralization and the under engine pipe is great for street bikes. Furthermore, I don't see too much else he could do considering the XB frame. | ||
| Ted |
Well Yamaha continues to be the most innovative of the Japanese makers -imho I like that they at least take marketing chances | ||
| Outrider |
Agreed! The best bike I ever owned was a Yamaha FJ1200 and they have come a long way since then. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
In the article they say "But we wonder if there is a sizeable enough market for this type of machine on our shores." That is a stupid statement. Markets don't always just exist, they need to be created. | ||
| Kaudette |
Hi Johnny - I'd tend to disagree - markets "exist" based on demand - now that doesn't mean they are being serviced by an offer - it just means that you don't drop a product into the world and expect it to stick. Buell created a line of bikes that addressed a market that was not being serviced - he in no way "created" a market in and of itself. Semantics but I think that would be the position of the majority of marketeers... | ||
| Koz5150 |
One of the reason I really like my Buell is the under engine exhaust. It saves on burns to both you and your passenger! | ||
| Outrider |
Plus it gives everyone a better view of the bike and makes detailing a lot easier. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Kaudette - maybe I overstated it a bit. I am no marketer so my use of the term market may not be correct. What I meant is that motorcycling has not become so ingrained in the U.S. as it is in other countries (Europe for example). It is a fact of life in Europe that they'll have a whole lot more choices when it comes to bikes. Oh sure Harley's sell like hotcakes, but motorcyclists of all kinds in general are still considered mavericks to an extent. We need a campaign to legitimize motorcycling not as a lifestyle or recreation but as a bona fide alternative for transportation needs. So in that respect, that market needs to be created, but it'd have to be through serious marketing/propaganda. Get Madison Avenue on bikes and the whole country will follow suit. Could you imagine a public service announcement with Wilford Brimley exposing the virtues of the newest offering from Buell or Yamaha? | ||
| Kaudette |
I agree Johnny, but to be honest, I'm not sure I really need to see more riders out there. One of the nice things about the groups of riders (in general) is that for the real ones, it doesn't matter what you ride - it's that you ride that makes the difference and creates the "bond". I don't get that too much in the morning commute with my automobile brethren...  | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
kaudette - If motorcycling ceases to become a "bond" and more an accepted way of life, then all motorcyclists will benefit. Don't get me wrong, motorcycling will still be special, but realistically there are far fewer bikers than automobile pilots. If more people accept bikes as a realistic mode of transportation, then manufacturers will offer more models in the U.S., the demand will breed diversity. Buell will benefit; All brands will benefit. You say that you are not sure you want to see more riders, but I'll counter and say that I would love to see more riders. Imagine a time when you are commuting to work every morning with the guy next to you on a Ducati, a Buell to your left, a Ninja to your right. We don't need any more suburban A-holes in Ford Excursions commuting to work. F the automobile brethren. Make motorcycling more mainstream. We will still wave to each other, but there will be a hell of a lot more people to wave to. I didn't realize you were from France...Vive Le Velomotuer!!!! Salut mon ami!!! (Message edited by johnnylunchbox on April 30, 2005) | ||
| 12bolt |
All I know is if the MT-03 and Blast were in the same price range I would have to go with the yammy. You know that thing is pumping out a lot more power than a Blast and all that ground clearance equals big fun jumping curbs  |
