I think you guys are kidding yourselves. Not only was the price point an issue, but the whole front end was an issue as well.
My bike has come close to being the "slut bike" at our continuing DOD events. Some people some back and say that it is very "interesting" and they could get used to it. Most people don't like it at all. Lack of feedback is the biggest complaint. > -----Original Message----- > From: Crisler, Jon [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 12:30 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: GTS vs. FJR1300 > > > I will make it easier on Yamaha. Take the same basic design, > reduce the weight by 75-100 lbs, increase power by at least > 20%. Minor tweaks and suspension changes, and viola !! > Instant best seller. > > The FJ1200 was a money maker for Yamaha (same with the > VMAX) because the same basic bike was in production for many > many years. The design and production expensis were already > paid for, so in later years they could make a good profit on > the bikes, even if they sold in limited numbers. > > I remember a conversion with a VP of General Motors, who was > asked what the best car was for GM from a financial point of > view. His answers suprised me at the time: The Chevy Nova > from 1968 to 1978, the Camaro from 1967/81 (1st > gen) and 82/92 (2nd gen), and the Chevy pickup from 1988 to 1998. > > The Nova was basically unchanged (except for 1 major > restyling) during the production run, so after 2-3 years in > the begining, they made a lot of money on the car. Plus, the > basic chassis was a Camaro with a sedan body, so it had many > many parts in common with other models. Same for the 1st and > 2nd gen Camaro, even though it sold in few numbers towards > the end of each run. The Chevy pickup was a real money maker, > because its sales did not ever really drop off towards the > end of the run. And the Chevy small-block V8....he said the > original design team back in the 50's should have a shrine > built to honor them for their vision. > > Thats why Yamaha continued to sell the FJ1200 and Vmax. > Same for Kawasaki and the Concours, and why the bike bore > Ninja keeps coming back in various incarnations. > > As for the project that should have gotten the design team > shot, he mentioned the ill-fated effort to convert the > small-block V8 to diesel, and the Vega aluminum I4 engine. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Thor Metzinger [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 12:03 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: GTS vs. FJR1300 > > > We all know they should revamp and update the GTS back into > circulation. > > Times have changed. People want a high-power, smooth ride, > luggage space, sport, tour, sporty-tour, quick acceleration, > stopping power, light, easy, stylish, respectable two-up > ride, great gas mileage, safety-feature rich, great lighting, > smooth handling bike. > > We all know that the GTS served this purpose, now people are > laying down nearly $23K+ for a BMW/Honda/Ducati tour > bike...but come on...who want to ride a bus-bike to the local > store, or to hop around town on errands for the HONEYDO list > in a bike that needs its own reverse gear! > > If Yamaha would wake up and realize that they had the answer > in 93-94, and improved it to compete with BMW/Honda/Ducati, > electric windshield (very rider friendly) and a shaft drive > (very reliable, quiet), HID lights, Optional riding lights, > front/rear ABS, EFI, Options for new PIPES/CANS, GPS-LCD > built in....Hell, Ill add one more cylinder for the fun of > it, Inline 5, shave off 100+lbs, they would have a market > killer....In metallic-eggplant purple (almost purple-black), > A deep ocean blue-green, and of course Red - a nice Malbec. > > but here is the catch, they also need to shave it below > $10K, that, that would be a bike that would fly off the show floor. > > List it for $9990.00 > > Sorry...I just had the most wonderful dream! > THOR > > The information contained in this e-mail including any > attachments may constitute Corvis Corporation Proprietary > Information that is subject to Non-Disclosure Agreement and > cannot be disclosed to any other party without the express > consent of Corvis Corporation. If you are neither the > intended recipient of this e-mail nor responsible for > delivering this e-mail to the intended recipient, note that > any dissemination, distribution, copying, or retention of > this e-mail is prohibited. If you believe you have received > this e-mail in error, we request that you notify the sender > by return e-mail and then delete this e-mail and any return > e-mail immediately. >
