I see that Yami has released the '09 info...nobody's commenting yet?

Any thoughts about the concept of the 550 w/ EPS?

Anbody know any release dates for the competitors?

 

There were a couple threads about them, do a search and you can probably find them. I think things have died down since most ppl don't seem to get excited about a 550, especially since it is just the 700 with a smaller motor. I think it will be a great quad tho and a lot will sell.

2009 Can-am's are out, Honda I believe is releasing theirs in...Sept? I think, Polaris I believe releasing theirs towards the end of July, Arctic Cat has released their 2009's check Can-am & Arctic Cat websites for info.

Don't know about Kawi/Suzuk'.

-Krait

 

http://forums.atvconnection.co...tid/13/threadid/544617

 

It is because Yamaha's '09 line up has nothing new other than the 550. Bold new graphics on all of the other models isn't much to talk about. Even the Grizzly 700, which is their flagship sport-ute is the slowest big bore sport-ute of them all now (with the exception of the Rincon). The Rhino 700 is the slowest big bore side by side. What is there to get excited about?

Our family has four ATVs, three dirt bikes, and a side by side, and typically keep them for about three years each. That means we end up buying two new ones every year for the family. But there is no reason for me to go out and buy a new Yamaha for '09. I'm planning on replacing our oldest Grizzly 700 with a red Renegade 800, and replacing the Rhino with a Prowler 1000 in the next year. I've been a Yamaha fan for decades, but Yamaha for '09 is "same old, same old".

DV

 

"Bold new graphics"

Manufacturer speak for " We got nuthin "

As if people walk into the dealer and look at a bunch of gibberish in some "extreme" looking font scrawled on the side of the tanks and fender and are somehow motivated to purchase one. Sorry but I just don't see the appeal. Then again I think the multicolored motocross apparel and helmets are positively gay looking. Reminds me of when I went to a shop looking for a helmet. The salesman started showing me these helmets that looked like they were designed by walt disney on acid. I told him that these were probably just divine and big sellers with his homosexual clientele but since I was straight I'd prefer to see the helmets for heterosexual men.

I'd be far more impressed if a manufacturer came out with a machine that had no tacky graphics whatsoever. Now that would be something to get excited about.

 

the only real improvement to me is the shocks on the raptor. i think you will see a difference. but other than that nothing really good 2 me. and they really made me mad by not making a efi yf450. i know some people like carbs but efi is the future and i love it. they should have atleast offered the carb and did like a se with efi. that would have been nice

 

I am one of those people who's not a big fan of EFI.....I'm sure they will offer it at some point, but it's no big disappointment for me that the 09 doesn't have it.

There is another new quad, actually - the little Raptor 90 is totally new - very cool little quad for the kids!!

The new shocks on the Raptor are very cool! And the 550 is a great mid-level 4X4 put into a great platform, IMO......these days it seems everyone is all about the fastest 4x4, but I mean.....it's a 4x4!!! What are you guys doing with those things that requires 1000 cc's?? LOL! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

efi is the way to go. everyone acts like its crap but what they dont realize or quickly forget is that yamaha and honda both put out street bikes with efi for years (not to mention cars; yamaha doesnt directly make cars like honda, but they have helped nearly every OEM out there with engine design, foreign and domestic) and the engine that the raptor has since 06, came over from its european lineup in an on/off road bike called the xt660- where it had efi for like 5-6 yrs. they punched it to a 686 when they put it in the raptor over here.

 

Off topic, but Yamaha SHOULD put out an auto line!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

yeah as long as they dont call them raptors!