Yamaha Needs this.....are they listening ?

V

Vmax540

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Yamaha needs a True lower cost and weight Beginners sled. They already have the recipe, with the Phazer chassis add the Woverine 340 engine or a 440 version ? They would have a sled that is lightweight ~30+Lbs. lighter than the L.C. Phazer so, junior could handle and Dad could afford ! A manual start version could shave more weight and money to keep the cost around $4999.99 or less ?

Type 348cc air-/oil-cooled 4-stroke; SOHC, 2 valves

Bore x Stroke 83.0mm x 64.5mm

Compression Ratio 9.2:1

Carburetion Mikuni 33mm BSR

Ignition DC – CDI

Starting System Electric

Transmission Yamaha Ultramatic® V-Belt / F,N,R
 

I said somthing like that before the phazer came out...the phazer hits a perfect target market, its awesome...but with all the other manufacturers doing lil 120's...I can't see why Yamaha wouldn't shoe horn a WR250 engine in a smaller frame much like the ole
sno scoot...
But here's another angle from which I think yamaha will and most likely enter this area...mainly because the Bravo sector hasn't been filled...maybe its a waste of time
or not...but for the ice fishing and trapping comunity...they don't need huge CC's...and its a perfect fit.
But overall..I agree with you...maybe the 440 area is tapped by the Phazer...but a 250 or 340 would be perfect...
 
I think they have looked at it and would build smaller sleds again if they could justify doing so but I think the numbers would show that they wouldn't sell enough of them to make it worth while. With all the good used sleds on the market most won't spend $4000 or $5000 on a new sled for their kids and the sales figures from the others that do build them would probably prove it. If they could build something for $2500 to $3000 maby but when you can buy a very nice low miles sled $2000 to $3000 and there are alot of them out there I don't think Yamaha will be playing in that market very soon.

Phil (opsled)
 
opsled said:
I think they have looked at it and would build smaller sleds again if they could justify doing so but I think the numbers would show that they wouldn't sell enough of them to make it worth while. With all the good used sleds on the market most won't spend $4000 or $5000 on a new sled for their kids and the sales figures from the others that do build them would probably prove it. If they could build something for $2500 to $3000 maby but when you can buy a very nice low miles sled $2000 to $3000 and there are alot of them out there I don't think Yamaha will be playing in that market very soon.

Phil (opsled)
Click to expand...

i would have to agree. when i bought my srx 700 i only paid 4,000 USD and it was in mint condition. i also think that it would be interesting to see what yamaha could come up with for a smaller lighter sled then the phazer. i think they should just do a small release of smothing and see how it does.
 
Ah...you guys brought up a perfect point..but would an introductory sled say for a 10 year old be an SRX?...I wouldn't think so..but then again...a 440 would fit nice...so you have a point...I just figured since engines like the wr250 etc exist and could fit into somthing why not try it...Hell...even a snowhawk type direction would be sweeeet...but that's just a dream of course...
Guess we'll hafta wait and see...
 
IMO age has nothing to do with the size of the machine. Its has to with its teacher and explaining to the person(whatever age they might be) what to do and not to do. Basically ride to your ability and dont push the limits till you get some ride time under your belt. I know my buddy TopGunSRX got his 01 SRX around the age of 12(maybe younger) and never had any MAJOR accidents. Which he still has that sled to this day, at the age of 18. If I was buying a sled for one of my kids(Dont have any but if I did) I would buy something he/she would grow INTO not OUT of, cause if your buying something that he'll grow out of your just throwing your money away.

I just picked up a near mint 01 SRX with 2800mi. for $2800 with some extras.
 
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so maybe a smaller sled isnt the answer as much as perhaps some form of throttle restriction that could be adjusted. an add on item. so you still get a sled that can be grown into and not worry about your 12 year old going faster then they can handle. like a parental control type feature? probably a really far stretch.
 
A throttle block can be made by yourself farely ez out of Wood/Metal/Plastic. IMO parental supervison is a must for a kid on any type of machine, up until they have learned what to do and not do like I mentioned before. I started venturing off on my dads 79 Honda XL500 four stroke dirt bike around the age of 12. Only issue I ran into was getting pulled over by the DNR, never once crashed. If I did crash I would have been walking home to get my dad cause that bike weighed an ez 300lbs.
 
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