Author Topic: Hey, why not in the US? (Read 4900 times)

orionburn · « **Reply #15 on:** June 11, 2007, 10:54:09 AM »

I hate to say this, but do you think Harley has anything to do with it? I'm not sure what there oversea sales are (can't imagine it being that huge of a market), but I wonder that since they do hold a fairly large chunk of the market in the States if that has an impact. Still, you look at the cruiser line-ups of all metric mfgs and they have a ton. But when it comes to sports/sport standards the pickin's is kinda slim.

I've been cursing Yamaha under my breath for the past few years for having such a small line-up of bikes compared to the other Japanese mfgs. I'm not saying the R1 and FZ1 aren't works of art, but they need more variety. Don't care much for the YZF600R, and the R's are way too much $$$.

Red01 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 11, 2007, 11:11:54 AM »

Along the lines of the XJR1300 and GSX1400, the US never got the CB1300 either. Spotted a Repsol version sitting alongside a MT-01 when I was at a Medieval Festival in France last year:

Nitro · « **Reply #17 on:** June 11, 2007, 11:45:32 AM »

Does the Honda have gear driven cams?

Red01 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 11, 2007, 11:56:51 AM »

Quote from: "Nitro_Fluffy"

Does the Honda have gear driven cams?

I don't know, but since it is not an engine shared with a model with racing aspirations and it's an in-line 4, I doubt it.
The CB1300 got it's engine from the X4, a bike designed to give the V-Max some competition... also never sold in the US.

orionburn · « **Reply #19 on:** June 11, 2007, 01:07:27 PM »

That rear suspension set up is slick as hell on the Honda.

Can't get used to seeing the chain on the right side of the swingarm. I looked at the license plates of the cars in the background to make sure the image hadn't been reversed and I was seeing things right.

Red01 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 11, 2007, 01:09:52 PM »

Quote from: "orionburn"

That rear suspension set up is slick as hell on the Honda.

Can't get used to seeing the chain on the right side of the swingarm. I looked at the license plates of the cars in the background to make sure the image hadn't been reversed and I was seeing things right.

Yup, the CB's chain is on the left, the MT's on the right.

The twin shocks on the CB allow it to have a huge underseat storage compartment, like the ZRX, too... ~12-13L worth!

pmackie · « **Reply #21 on:** June 11, 2007, 03:12:26 PM »

If you US guys really want the MT-01 it IS available in Canada. There's been one sitting at my dealer here in little old Cranbrook since late last year. I'm a little surprised it's still sitting. (and just about as surprised that YMC actually decided to sell it here!).

If you want one bad enough, look into buying it and importing it as a "used" vehicle?

orionburn · « **Reply #22 on:** June 11, 2007, 03:23:38 PM »

Found this site about the MT01. Has some cool multimedia. Has some sound clips on it as well. Thing sounds like a beast.

http://www.yamaha-motor-europe.com/mt-world/

Red01 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 11, 2007, 05:29:33 PM »

Quote from: "pmackie"

If you want one bad enough, look into buying it and importing it as a "used" vehicle?

It would be a major league pain in the neck to import a motor vehicle into the US for road use that has never been approved by our DOT & EPA. It can be done, and there are a few who find ways to sidestep the system. It's expensive and drawn out to do it legally (Bill Gates gave up on bringing in a Porsche 959 for street use and brought it in as an off-road only car). If you sneak it thru and they catch you later, you'll forfiet the vehicle and face federal charges.

SteelD · « **Reply #24 on:** June 12, 2007, 03:35:04 AM »

Quote from: "orionburn"

Found this site about the MT01. Has some cool multimedia. Has some sound clips on it as well. Thing sounds like a beast.

http://www.yamaha-motor-europe.com/mt-world/

It is a bit of a beast but in a sanitised Japanese kind of way. It sounds fantastic, pulls like nothing else and just feels like a bike with character rather than just being a samey efficient bike like the Bandit. I'd give one space in my garage if I could have more than one bike. It's expensive and it's impractical but sure is fun. Since I can only have one bike, I need an all-rounder and that's why I have a Bandit.

ZenMan · « **Reply #25 on:** June 12, 2007, 11:16:35 AM »

Some of us may remember these things:

'81 KZ1300 6-cyl. beast... they made great tourers and came in a full touring package called the Voyager, if I remember right.

I had a naked one for awhile... it was liking riding a buffalo. You had to force it to do anything but go straight, But man, it could eat up freeway miles like candy...

leedogg · « **Reply #26 on:** June 12, 2007, 12:04:39 PM »

That thing might have handled badly- but MAN all those pipes are pretty!

Red01 · « **Reply #27 on:** June 12, 2007, 01:12:28 PM »

Yup, I remember the KZ13... and how when it was intro'd with Doug "The Wheelie King" Domokos:

Ever see the one a guy in the UK made into a V12?