Yamaha has officially started the process of getting naming rights for their future electric scooter model. Rights have been filed for the name E01 which can effectively be used after May 17th, 2021, on the basis that they have no objections to using the name.
The E01 name will be used for the electric scooter that Yamaha first unveiled at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show.
International Motor Shows like the Tokyo event are often the first place to see brand new concepts and production lines for major players in the Powersports industry. The prospective E01, an electric scooter that Yamaha had on display will inevitably be launched unlike the other scooter (a gas counterpart) they had on display at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show.
Filing for a name is just the tip of the iceberg for Yamaha. They also filed for the design and appearance aesthetics of the electric scooter to thwart anyone planning on copying Yamaha’s innovations. This will also help them for future scooter designs in case they choose to keep a uniform appearance. Similar to Yamaha’s current sportbike models like the YZF-R1 and its smaller counterpart models.
What can you expect from an electric Yamaha Scooter?
According to VisorDown, the E01 will have the same power characteristics as a 125cc gas scooter. It will offer the convenience of recharging at home along with very simple maintenance.
Yamaha has also filed rights for an additional EV scooter named the EC-05, this model will have a removable battery for added convenience. More details to come on these EV’s in the near future.
Bottpower has a sweet new minimal aesthetic bolt-on kit for Yamaha motorcycles featuring their 847cc inline-three engines (MT-09, Tracer 900 and XSR900).
This kit takes the bolt-on principles and pushes them to the limits. For such a radically bike-altering kit, many will be surprised to find out that this kit requires no changes to the existing frame. You can find major overhauls in styling with the addition of a vented fuel tank cover, Alcantara seat cushion secured to a carbon fiber base, a carbon fiber tail unit, side/front-mounted number plates, and a tail tidy with updated indicators. If you’re familiar with the newest rendition of the R1 front end, this motorcycle comes with a set of hidden headlights stowed into the neatly packaged front end.
Bottpower has named this kit the “XR9 Carbonara” kit, and its available from their website for a variety of prices depending on your model and the level of options you choose to add. The base kit for the MT-09 will run you around €4975(~$6000USD give or take) and that price can quickly rise to €7610 with all the option boxes selected.
Although the pricing is steep for this bolt-on kit, it’s important to keep in mind that this weekend project will completely transform your motorcycle with its full carbon fiber construction, and as we know carbon isn’t cheap. If you’re interested in purchasing this kit for your 09-type Yamaha motorcycle, head on over to the official Bottpower website.
With the new 2021 MT-09 being given a complete front-end redesign among many other updates, Youtuber Yammie Noob took this opportunity to pick up a 2019 MT-09 to be given away on his channel (yes, Papa Yams gives away plenty of motorcycles to his subscribers). Although the MT-09 has seen a full update and two years’ worth of models post-dating this model Yams has, the video is still brand new.
Although many people love to see videos about new bikes, I think Yammie Noob makes good enough content to make this worth sharing. The 2021 MT-09 hasn’t seen a ton of updates beyond visuals, so this video is still a great resource for riders looking to get onto an MT-09 from any year.
Yammie has owned a previous generation FZ-09, yet this 2019 model still packs enough punch to completely surprise him. Yams’ takes a lot of great angles for his talking points about the machine and puts things into layman’s terms for everyday riders; which in my opinion is what makes his videos so great. Although he praises the bike, he still has some great unbiased criticism for this motorcycle making this first impression ride honest and to-the-point.
Yamaha announced updates to the NMax 125 and NMax 155 for the 2021 model year. The scooters are now slightly more sporting with a new frame and some finer details being adjusted.
The company also updated the Blue Core engine, which is now Euro 5 compliant, using a variable valve actuation with a new intake camshaft with two cam lobes. This offers higher performance due to the two different cam lobes, one being for lower rpm and the other for higher rpm.
The 125cc bike makes 9 kW of power, and the 155cc version makes 11.1 kW of power, according to MCNews. This scooter can really scoot around. You’ll get good fuel economy, too. The 125 is rated for 2.2-liters per 100 km and the fuel capacity is 7.1-liters, giving the bike a range of 300 km.
There’s a new traction control system LCD instruments, Bluetooth connectivity, SCCU simple communications control unit, and a smart key system.
The bike also gets a 12-volt power socket up front that will help you charge your phone and the brakes are 230mm at both the front and the rear. ABS is standard. I’m not seeing prices yet, but the bike is said to come in Q3 of 2020, so prices should come at a later date.
When we think of custom motorcycles, we think of welding, new parts and components, and high-performance, generally. But George Woodman decided to go with one of the oldest materials known to man, wood.
He calls the creation, Hommage. It’s a Yamaha XSR700 that’s been heavily customized. The chief piece of custom work that stands out on this bike is the beechwood fairing.
According to RideApart, Woodman said he has spent more hours than he cares to admit hand sanding the fairing until it was crafted into the perfect shape. From there, he did an overlay of fiberglass and resin to protect it from the elements.
The fairing is just the most noticeable part of the bike, but it’s all been gone over. There’s Ohlins suspension, K&N air filters, XRace exhaust, Pirelli Diablo SuperCorsa tires, a customs eat, and a custom paint job that compliments the bike’s unique fairing.
You can see more about this unique machine on Woodman’s website. It’s worth checking out up close.
If you want to be the best, you need to learn from the best. That is what Yamaha’s ‘Champion Riding School’ is aiming for. Luckily for riders seeking amazing professional trainers to take their riding to the next level, the 2021 schedule has just been announced.
The riding school events will run from January through until December of 2021 across a variety of different tracks with different riding styles and disciplines also being taught. All courses grant the ability to rent from a selection of Yamaha bikes, and the gear to keep you safe while riding (Arai helmets and Aplinestars racing suits).
The entire year will have courses taking place across the entire continent of America (check out their website for an exact list of all locations and dates) and pricing will depend on the track you visit.
There a ton of courses to select from depending on your skill level and budget, so you needn’t worry if you think this school is off-limits to riders of less prestige. Champ School, ChampDay, ChampGrad, and the ChampStreet are all offered in single or two-day courses. Did I mention payment plans?
If you are interested in this program, YCRS has an early bird special locked-n-loaded on their website if you are trying to secure your spot ahead of time with a 10% course discount running until December 31st, 2020.
Yamaha Motor Australia announced that the Tricity 300 leaning multi-wheel bike will be hitting Australian Yamaha dealerships now. The new bike will be a good option for city commuters and people looking for good everyday transportation.
The Tricity 300 gets an all-new Blue Core 292cc liquid-cooled four-stroke engine that’s mated to a CVT. This means it’s a twist-n-go machine and very easy to ride.
The thing that makes this machine special is its leaning multi-wheel steering. The bike has three wheels but it leans like a motorcycle thanks to the unique front suspension setup. The bike also has what Yamaha calls Standing Assist, which helps keep the machine upright when stopped. This makes it even easier to ride.
The bike has typical scooter styling and design for the most part with generous under-seat storage (43.5 liters) for helmets. It comes with LED headlight, flashers, and taillight. The bike also gets an LCD information cluster that’s easy to read with a digital speedometer, bar-style tach, a clock, odometer, and trip odometer.
The Tricity 300 also comes with lighting for ABS, Standing Assist, TCS, and temperature. There’s also a parking brake to use. If you need to charge a device, such as a smartphone, the bike has a DC outlet for you to use. Disc brakes provide stopping power both up-front and in the rear.
The price of the Tricity 300 is $11,849 ride away. It is available in only one color and that’s the kind of drab Nimbus Grey color you see in the image above.
Yamaha knows how important the WR450F is to Aussie riders. With that in mind, the company has created a special limited edition version for 2021. The Aussie Edition dirt bike features blue graphics with a kangaroo motif and Australian-sourced accessories.
The WR450F has been at or near the top of the sales numbers for dirt bikes since its entrance to the market in 1998. In Australia, Yamaha sells more WR450Fs than in any other place in the world, according to Exhaust Notes.
“The retail success we have enjoyed with this model is down to a number of factors. First of all we have a big brown land covered in fast-flowing trails that is perfectly suited to this model,” Yamaha Motor Australia national sales and marketing manager Matthew Ferry said.
“Plus since its inception, both Aussies and Kiwis have been instrumental in the development of this model. So you can say that the WR450F is a machine created for our unique conditions.”
“Now it is gratifying to see the factory recognize the importance of this model for our market with the release of the limited Aussie Edition.”
The bike is based on the recently announced new 2021 WR450F. This special edition will be limited to only 400 units. Each will be stamped with its own special collector’s number. Special equipment includes Barkbuster handguards and an Akrapovic muffler. The bike is priced at $17,099 ride away with 12-month registration. The bike will come available in December of this year.
The Yamaha MT-09 has been a naked-bike segment favorite ever since it first came on the scene in 2014. With its affordable MSRP and nothing-short-of-brilliant CP3 triple-cylinder engine, it quickly received well-deserved attention. This year, the virtually all-new 2021 Yamaha MT-09 comes out swinging with a heavily updated engine, an all-new chassis, less weight, state of the art electronics and an aesthetic overhaul. Best yet, all of those features will only cost us $400 above last year’s price, with the new bike’s MSRP at $9,399.
Kicking up the power quotient is the revised 890cc CP3 triple-cylinder engine (growing from 847cc) featuring a claimed 117 horsepower and 69 lb-ft of torque. For those keeping score, that’s five extra ponies and two more lb-ft of torque, and this new engine is Euro 5 compliant — kudos, Yamaha. Interestingly, the 78mm bore remains, while the stroke has increased to 62.1mm from 59.1mm. Also, the engine is reported to have shed four pounds despite its displacement bump.
To that end, the 890cc engine now boasts new pistons, connecting rods, camshafts and crankcases. Notably, the MT-09 now has a ride-by-wire throttle, which has opened many technological doors and, hopefully, improved the snatchy throttle response that existed in prior generations. Also, a new slip-assist clutch is included that is said to reduce effort at the lever. Lastly, an up/down quickshifter is standard.
An up/down quickshifter is standard.
One of the biggest highlights this year is a rider aid package derived from the Yamaha YZF-R1 superbike. The MT-09 now features a 6-axis IMU providing adjustable cornering ABS, lean-angle-detecting traction control, slide control and wheelie control.
In addition, a 3.5-inch full-color TFT display will allow riders to choose between three riding modes, 1, 2 and M (customizable). That’s a notable improvement over the LCD instrument panel.
The all-new Deltabox frame, subframe and swingarm are all made out of cast aluminum and feature slightly altered geometry. According to Yamaha, longitudinal and lateral rigidity in the frame is increased by a whopping 50 percent to improve handling characteristics. Claimed curb weight is a nod-worthy 417 pounds, down eight pounds compared to the outgoing model.
The suspension is still handled by a fully adjustable 41mm KYB fork and an updated KYB shock with spring preload and rebound damping adjustment only. While plush and comfortable for street use, the MT-09’s suspension could become bouncy when pushed. Yamaha acknowledges this in the announcement, stating that the bike’s new suspension setup matches the more rigid frame and reduces the suspension’s tendency to pitch.
Also encouraging improved handling are lighter 10-spoke spin-forged aluminum wheels, with a claimed 11-percent weight decrease in the rear wheel. Less rotating mass always translates to quicker steering.
Braking duties are taken up by the same setup as last year, with radially mounted Nissin 4-piston calipers and dual 298mm floating discs up front.
Visually, the MT-09 received quite an overhaul, with all-new bodywork and a redesigned single LED headlight being the most apparent changes.
There are plenty of other changes that we’re excited about, and can’t wait to put the new Yamaha MT-09 through its paces before it arrives in dealers in January 2021.
Valentino Rossi recently tested positive for COVID-19, which caused him to miss the Aragon Grand Prix. As of right now he’s fine and being monitored by doctors so that if his condition worsens, he can be well-taken-care-of by healthcare professionals.
Rossi expressed frustration. The Yamaha racing team performed well at the Aragon Grand Prix, and he was forced to miss it.
“Seeing Yamahas go fast is like twisting the knife in the wound,” he told GPOne.
As for his condition, it was reported that he started to feel bad on October 15. After it was determined that he was sore and had a fever, two tests were conducted by doctors. The first gave a negative result, the second gave a positive result, and he was not allowed to race.
Rossi was home in Italy after the Le Mans race, so he was not in contact with other riders and teammates. He did say it was a little different than he expected.
“I thought it was like the lockdown, but now I’m always alone without seeing anyone,” he said. “It’s quite boring. It’s a pain. Now I’m fine. I’m still a bit weak, but I no longer have a fever. I was sick for a day and a half, then I recovered.
It’s good to hear that he is doing well, and it is a shame he will have to miss more races while he is in quarantine.
