I just heard from the Yamaha dealer that the latest rumour is that the Wolverine is not going to be merely updated this year, but is going to grow to a 660 liquid!!!
That's right! Just as years ago they turned the Warrior into the Wolverine, now they're going to base the Wolverine on the Raptor.

I was sceptical at first, because they already have the 660 in a 4x4 chassis, but the Wolverine is going to have a 5-speed auto-clutch tranny, and likely won't have the IRS, the goal being to keep it as light, small and sporty as possible.

The dealer said he heard this from the regional sales rep, but that it was still all a rumour, and that details were very scarce, as getting information was like pulling teeth.

The other rumour was that the Kodiak is going to be completly reworked, and will recieve the IRS this year. He didn't have any details on the motor changes.

If the rumour about the Wolverine is true than that's fantastic. I was expecting selectable 2/4wd, and maybe a 400cc liquid cooled motor, but this will be much better.

The dealer said that it will also stay a Sport-Utility, and not become a full on sport, which I think is a good thing, for me at least.

Keep your fingers crossed everyone!!

 

if you believe that.... you would believe anything that's ridiculous.


now the part about the kodiak i can accept. the rest is garbage!!

 

Why NOT?!! The Sport/Utility market is wide open. The new Rincon, 650 Prarie, the old Wolverine, the Scrambler 500 4x4...I think that's it.
The 660 Grizzly is certainly NOT a Sport/Utility, though it has the power and the weight is reasonable, the handling is just not there. Way too top-heavy. SO why wouldn't Yamaha split the difference. Remember last year when we thought the new Grizz was the new Wolverine? Maybe there was some truth to that rumor after all. More is better. Bring it on. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

If Yamaha would make it I think they would sell every one. The Wolverine is a nice machine for the woods and for just riding around and with a 660 motor and raptor chassis in its future, hey that sounds great.
Chet

 

bunoffski,
Why is it so unbelievable?
There are alot of people on all the forums complaining that there are no big bores with manual transmissions. Do you think that the manufactures don't read the forums to see what people want?

I really don't see what's ridiculous about it.

Like I said, I was sceptical at first because there is already a 660 in the Grizz, so why another one?

Well, when the Wolverine was introduced there was already a 350 in the Big Bear, so why did they need another one?

Because they're aimed at different segments of the market place.

I agree with Raptorfm660, if they build a 660 Wolverine, they'll sell every one. It makes sense from their pespective because of shared components, and it's perfect for the aftermarket producers because there will already be a bunch of performance bolt-ons available for it. Both of these factors make it more attractive to the consumer because it will keep costs down.

You might not think that the aftermarket is of any concern to Yamaha, but do you think they'd still be making the Banshee if there were no aftermarket parts for it? Not a chance. Even the Warrior would've been shelved long ago if not for the performance upgrades available.

Anyway, whether the rumour is true or not, I'd love to have a 660 Wolverine. I want a Raptor, but need a 4x4, so it would be perfect for me, and lots of other people.

 

Anyway, whether the rumour is true or not, I'd love to have a 660 Wolverine. I want a Raptor, but need a 4x4, so it would be perfect for me, and lots of other people.

Ditto on that.
I would love to have a Raptor but need 4x4. They would sell me one.

 

If they put the 660 in a Wolverine and give it REAL 4WD, I'd sell my Scrambler in a heartbeat to get one. I'll believe it when it see it though.

 

I just don't see Yamaha adding another $7000 dollar machine to their line up. They need a sport/utility machine in the $5000 dollar range for all the people who don't wamt to spend or can't afford a Grizzly because no matter what fourlix says the Grizzly is Yamahas big bore 4X4 sport/utility.

I do agree with you all that it would be awesome to see a 660 Wolvy. I'm partial to the Wolverine. I own a 1998 Wolvy and love it but I out grew it and got the Grizz. Which in my opinion is the ultimate big bore SPORT/UTILITY 4X4!!!

 

And another thing to think on.... the market Yamaha needs to bust in on is the 500cc machine. Every other manufacture has one but Yamaha and I believe that market would be alot bigger especially like I said before about the Grizz and Raptor covering Yamaha in the big bore arena. I think that is where they should go with the Wolvy. A 500cc motor and give it in out 4X4 and a diff locker like the Grizz and keep it manual maybe even with a clutch now to me that would be much more believable than a 66o Wolvy. Shoot if they had that quad when I got my Grizz who knows I might have baught that instead of the Grizz.

 

I agree that a 500cc Wolverine would be nice, and that's more of wht I was expecting/wanting.
However, I think their current 400 Kodiak competes very nicely with competitors 500's, and anyway, the Kodiak is likely to grow to a 450 or 500.
But if they've already got a 660 motor it might have been just easier and cheaper for them to base a new Wolverine on that then to start from scratch to get a 500.

Anyway, I'll keep my fingers crossed, because I was seriously considering a new Grizz, but if they're going to a lightweight 660 4x4 I would not bo able to pass that up.

One way or another, I want to have a 660 in my garage by the end of the summer.