Just a debating point for all of you fellow XT660 fans: At the current prices, how long can Yamaha keep offering the XT range in the UK?

(a) Sales were slow even before the MT-09 and MT-07 were launched. And now??

(b) But as the XT range are manufactured in Europe, I guess that the margin for cutting prices is quite a slim one.

(c) A dealer I spoke to in the UK recently offered me about 10% discount off a new XT660X, so 5800 pounds instead of the list 6500. But my 3 year old bike is only worth about a third of its new price!! So of course even as an XT fan it is not worth changing and I have decided to keep mine for a few more years.

So I can really only see the XT660Z surviving for all of you off road adventure riders, whereas the XTX and XTR where next??????

Simon

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(Now sold on, sob) 2011 Blue XT660X with gold wheels, was 26,500 km.
Engine mods: K&N Stage 1 filter, DNA Stage 2 filter, snorkel removed, Kev fuel mod fitted.
Plus: smoked Puig screen, Yam aluminium sump guard, Yamaha / Acerbis handguards, Givi Trekker aluminium side cases, Leo Vince X3 cans plus Kev front fork mod and Fender Xtender. Just fitted Michelin Road Pilot 3 tyres.

SOLD the XTX for a Super Ten 1200. And just bought a Raptor 700 so staying on here for some tips....

Well, XT660Z and XT660R don't compete with MT-07 or MT-09. Only the XT660X is at risque.

I've got an MT 09, and believe me , I love the xt660x more than ever,

so Yamaha will shot them selves in the foot, if they stop production.

Long live the X

I agree with you Mudrock BUT at the current price levels the sales of the XTX cannot justify keeping the bike in the range.....

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(Now sold on, sob) 2011 Blue XT660X with gold wheels, was 26,500 km.
Engine mods: K&N Stage 1 filter, DNA Stage 2 filter, snorkel removed, Kev fuel mod fitted.
Plus: smoked Puig screen, Yam aluminium sump guard, Yamaha / Acerbis handguards, Givi Trekker aluminium side cases, Leo Vince X3 cans plus Kev front fork mod and Fender Xtender. Just fitted Michelin Road Pilot 3 tyres.

SOLD the XTX for a Super Ten 1200. And just bought a Raptor 700 so staying on here for some tips....

But with the MT-07 engine claimed to be so light, could they and will they slip that in to create a new Z? - If they can come in at a lower weight and price than the BMW parallel twins they could be on to a winner! ?

I would like to see them move the XTR more towards a dirt bike/short range ADV bike with more dirt capability..would be quite simple... USD forks / better rear shock / high pipe & toss those exspensive head light & tail light units away...
And put it on a diet... A big one.. " Maybe a bolt on alloy sub frame"

O well dreams are free..................

here in NZ... the XTR is like $4000 more than the KLR650 or DR650....




..

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Harley Davidson..
The easyest way to turn gasoline into noise with out the side efect of horse power...

Here’s my 2p worth of guesswork…

Bet on an MT-07 based T�n�r� breaking cover next year, quite possibly stretched in capacity (like Triumph did with the 675) in order to compete in the existing 800 class. However, I personally think Yamaha would be savvy to keep it as a 689cc bike and be a bit different – stand out from the crowd – be cheaper and lighter than the competition. That’s always been the trouble with the S10, they tried to be the same as the competition, but too late and not quite as good. A 700 T�n�r� for a thousand pound premium over the MT-07 would be an extremely attractive (and tempting) proposition, undercutting Triumph and BMW’s offerings by more than a grand.

If a �6,199 XT700Z T�n�r� breaks ranks, then it’s going to put a lot of pressure on 660Z sales (only 120 sold in the UK during 2013). I somehow can’t see it staying in the line-up unless they cut the price of the 660Z back to the levels they were when I bought my Z in 2008 (�4899 list). As for the X/R, they only sold 64 Xs and 40 Rs in 2013 in the UK - and that was before the MT-07 came out! That just isn’t enough…

I have a slight inkling though that the existing 660 range might move production for a fourth time (after Italy, Spain and France), this time going to India, which might just save the XT as we know it. If it happens, Minarelli are almost certain to lose 660 engine production to the sub-continent as well. India Yamaha Motors (IYM) have two plants which fit the bill perfectly, one at Faridabad (engines and mechanical components) and Surajpur (assembly). The Surajpur factory currently has the capacity to produce a million motorcycles annually and is expanding all the time. The single cylinder XTs also fit well with the philosophy and style of kind of bikes people demand in Asia. KTM have done it recently, so why not Yamaha?

If production does switch to India, the big question would be, which of the 660XTs will be produced, which will find their way back to Europe (if any) and will they be “cheaper” than they are now? I reckon the T�n�r� might just be the one that does (if adventure bike sales remain buoyant)…

Anyway, just guessing. Only time will tell...

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Hi,

Good direction, Pleiades. I agree with you. The most logical for Yamaha would be to go for a two cylinder 700 or 750 Z, light and competitive. However I come from automotive background and would like to point few little details to your post.
Price wise probably (provided that go with one of the above) I think Yamaha will not be able to afford going below current XTZ even more, I would go for a little premium above. We should not forget that over the last 10 years Yamaha sold huge quantities of 660s around the globe which allows them to keep the price fairly low. A new model though will have the burden of development cost, plus homologation in EU putting pressure on margins. On the other hand though the gap I see for a 700/750 Tenere is just around a grand below BMW/Triumph duo.
Regarding the current x/r Range I think that if Yamaha decides to follow BMW strategy and keep the mid thumper they might just consider to redesign and why not combine the two in one like 19" front wheel similar to GS650. Production in India is absolutely realistic having in mind that the GS650 is produced in China. This will give leverage to Yamaha to keep extended product line in Europe (eventually applying pressure on competition) at a low cost.
Of course this is only guessing from me based on my experience and you cannot be more right - time will tell. I am curious.
Just one last thing - a Yamaha dealer, friend of mine, told me that the launch of the new Ten is expected late this year. Probably in Milan with the new Africa twin by Honda.

Let us see.

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that is how i feel about my XTR
Mods so far:
Hyperpro front springs; Hyperpro rear shock spring; modified air box; LED tail light; LED indicators + new relay; YZ pegs; Lucas aluminum bar; brisk spark plug; snorkel removed; DNA stage 1; second hand DynoJet O2 mod; crash bars; front and rear steel braided brake lines; soft EBC brake pads; mitas 07 tyres, 2in1 Metal Mule exhaust, Blocked AIS, tall OEM screen, OTR bash plate

Just saw a drawing of the new Africa twin prototype on instagram. Looks good. Very curious to see a new Ten.
I'm looking forward to the day a comfortable, reliable, economical, 60+hp, 160kg or less adventure bike hits the market. Could be waiting a long time.

Sent from my MB526 using Tapatalk 2

Isn't the KTM 690 Enduro R that beast? Maybe it's not ticking the reliable box though? I'm really amazed that KTM haven't produced an Aventure version of that bike with a bit of a fairing and increased fuel capacity as they did with the old 640 version. You would have thought they would sell loads and that it would be easy to create that model based on what they already have?

Milan is a great show and I'll be going this November. If yam and honda are both releasing mid size adventure bikes, then that'll make it even better. With the popularity of the MT07 and the great press it has received, I'll be amazed if yamaha don't release an adventure bike based on that platform. If they are brave enough to do that engine size in the road bike market, I would think the adventure bike market is an even lower risk. They must know that market already recognises that bigger is not better for true off road and overland use? And they already have the super ten to try and capture their share of the 1200 market.