'06 Yamaha

[Dave]

Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, revealed a number of business initiatives and new products this week at its annual dealer meeting, held in Las Vegas.

One new business initiative involves the company splitting its product offerings into five categories - Star, Outdoors, Sport, Watercraft and Marine. The Star line now represents Yamaha's entire selection of cruiser bikes; the Outdoors segment relates to utility ATVs, the company's Side x Side vehicles such as the Rhino, and generators; the Sport category includes street motorcycles, off-road and dual-purpose bikes, sport ATVs, scooters, snowmobiles and kart engines; Watercraft covers WaveRunners and boats; and Marine deals strictly with outboard motors.

New Star motorcycles introduced at the event included the 1854cc Stratoliner and Roadliner series, both of which are represented by three distinct models: the standard, the “Midnight” and the “S”.

While the base Roadliner ($13,580), Roadliner Midnight ($13,880), and the Roadliner S ($14,780-$14,980) are expected to be available by October, the base Stratoliner (MSRP $15,180), Stratoliner Midnight ($15,480), and the Stratoliner S ($16,580) are expected to be in dealerships by December.

Motocross enthusiasts can look forward to newly developed YZ250F ($5,999-$6,199) and YZ450F ($6,899-$7,099), which both get new aluminum frames and suspension components. The 450 also receives a newly developed engine and transmission. The 250 appears in October; the 450 in November.

Other new products introduced for 2006 are a Raptor 700R sport quad (MSRP $6,999), available as of July; the Wolverine 450 4x4 ($5,999), available in September; a TT-R50 ($1,149), expected in July; and the 250cc Morphous ($5,199) and 125cc Vino ($2,499) scooters, both scheduled to arrive in showrooms in September.

Yamaha's Side x Side line also expands for '06. In addition to the returning Rhino 660 Auto. 4x4 ($9,199), the company plans to retail the Rhino 450 4x4 ($7,999), scheduled to arrive in dealerships in October; the Rhino 660 Auto. 4x4 “Special Edition” ($9,899), planned for August; and the Rhino 660 Auto. 4x4 “Exploring Edition” ($10,149-$10,599), also available as of October.

One best-selling Yamaha vehicle not returning for 2006 is the 50cc two-stroke Zuma scooter.