First test ride I did on a 660z was when I drove off from the dealer with mine, so I am probably in the target group. =)

Have no idea why they do this online "limited edition" first year and then start pushing the stripped down version to the dealers upcoming year. Building interest? Low production volumes?

+1 on the above comments

I have no idea how they got from the 'desert-Tuareg-Paris-Dakar' bike show concept bike of a few months ago... to this.

If I had ever been seriously interested in this bike I'd be cancelling my order now out of spite! Then again I'm more than happy with the T�n�r� and to be honest I reckon this will sell. I don't like the Varadero either but I see plenty around. These bikes make good road tourers but the RTW bit got lost in translation, I reckon.

Vive la difference.

I definately wont be getting one. I prefer it to the Suzuki and Honda looks wise, but that doesn't mean its good. I personally think it will be too heavy for serious off roaders. Lastly and most importantly its FAR TOO EXPENSIVE. :tongue9:

First off im not getting one as its way too expensive for me and expensive in biking terms (also only 22 so insurance etc would be a killer), secondly the looks are growing on me but the front end still looks a bit wierd to me, thirdly i still think it should be a 1000cc and not a 1200cc, ok 1200cc is nice but when do you ever need all that power and why in an off roader type bike!!

Not too sure they will sell too many as they claim they are not doing demo bikes/rides, so my question is to yamaha would you spend �13000 on something you had only sat on and never ridden?

Test rides are a strange one, back in the day when I could 1st buy a bike new dealers and test rides were like oil and water . Of all the bikes I've had only ducati ever gave a test ride of same model. BMW didn't have a GSA when I got mine (pre Ewan an Charlie) so it was order in, KTM didn't have any advs to test only 1 to sit on (2ndhand sale ex kielder ditch) so maybe over the 20yrs I've become accustomed to not having one? the only change I can see is the online reservation gimmick which they've used for the new vmax . speaking of which has anyone checked it's price �20k+ eek!

Is that all, I shall order one in each of the colours available then.:eusa_liar: :laughing5: Bargain.

Its not a bad looking bike for their chosen market. Its just not my cup of tea. It is very costly thats for sure.

Regarding test rides, I can see why manufacturers are moving away from them in general as I was a main offender in the past of gratuitous test riding just for fun and with no intention of buying. Sorry about that but it was fun. It also taught me that I wanted a bike between 600 and 900 and no more or less.

Each to their own and I am sure there will be some guys out there with a mid life crisis and a bankers bonus who might be very happy and I wish them all the best.

All good points that I agree with, this bike was hyped as a RTW beduin inspired monster that should blow away BMUU and compete with the KTM as a serious all terrain bike. What seems to have been produced is a road leviathan (a quarter ton, really!)

I think this is going to sum up this bike for an awful lot of people. not a bad bike at all, but after all the Yamaha inspired hype. Falls short of expectation, and too pricey, and Yamaha only have themselves to blame.

I'd like to see the initial reports from people who take this serious off roading, I'd like to be proven wrong but fear that I wont.:(

Oi ! ...... I resemble that remark