03-07-2014, 11:17 AM
I like it. This is the kind of starter bike the U.S. market needs. The current small starter bikes are O.K., but somewhat stressed at Interstate speeds. That's always limited their utility.
Yamaha has been building variants of this little thumper since the 70s. I fondly recall riding a 500cc version back in the early 80s. It only sold for a few years in North America, but was really popular in the Euro and Asian markets for decades. Looks like the only thing that has changed is the engine was destroked to 400cc and they added fuel injection.
I think you may be right. I was in Portland last summer and couldn't believe how many old UJM style bikes I saw. They were everywhere.
Yamaha has been building variants of this little thumper since the 70s. I fondly recall riding a 500cc version back in the early 80s. It only sold for a few years in North America, but was really popular in the Euro and Asian markets for decades. Looks like the only thing that has changed is the engine was destroked to 400cc and they added fuel injection.
(03-06-2014, 02:36 PM)Guth_imp Wrote: Nice move for Yamaha. Those just might sell well around this town. Surprisingly, I've only seen one FZ-09 out and about here so far. I expected to see quite a few more. Who knows, the SR400 might be just the kind of quirky bike that Portlanders goes for.
I think you may be right. I was in Portland last summer and couldn't believe how many old UJM style bikes I saw. They were everywhere.