Slightly Perturbed...

[Dallara]

Okay, I'm mainly here to vent a tiny bit...

But I am slightly perturbed.

Got a call yesterday from my buddy the local Kawasaki-Yamaha dealer. He wasn't calling to give me good news... Nope. It was the *other* kind of news - bad news.

You guys know what this is, right?


http://www.sanjoseyamaha.com/2006/sportbikes/06FJR1300A_blue_1sized.jpg


That's a pic of a bright, shiny, new 2006 Yamaha FJR-1300-A in Cobalt Blue... Exactly what the one that I have the deposit on scheduled for a MARCH 2006 delivery... Ya' know... Like next month.

Only according to the Yamaha dealer bulletin he got yesterday it's not going to be delivered in March... Nope. Now it is *scheduled* for early to mid-April, with the next one ordered after mine (back in October 2005) scheduled for early MAY in the delivery rotation!

It's not really a problem for me, as I still have my R1150R to ride (with precious little time to even ride it these days...), but I was disappointed as I wanted to bring the new Yamaha along on the Spring Hill Country Ride in April, already fully broken-in. That desire may be doubtful now. In all honesty the R1150R is probably far better suited to zapping apexes in the Texas Hill Country, but I had planned to bring both bikes along just for fun, and to let some friends sample the big Yamaha...

But Yamaha is conspiring against me to make that happen.

Dealer was apologetic, and said he already had calls in to Yamaha honcho's he knew to try and correct the late delivery problem... And I am not ticked at him since I am from a dealer background and know he has no control over this kind of issue... But what I simply can't understand is how Yamaha can show a finished motorcycle back this fall, take deposits on them at that time, and can't get any of the damn things built five friggin' months later!

But worse is the other info he dropped on me...

You guys know that trick, new, supposedly high revving 2006 Yamaha R-6 the factory has been parading around?

Well, my dealer buddy is just SICK about those. Why?

Seems like Yamaha has decided to build 20% fewer R-6's than last year, and what they will be making will be coming later and later in the delivery schedule. Yamaha's stated reason for the reduction in R-6 production numbers and later delivery is "supplier issues and shortages" (no reason was given for the FJR delay)... So, essentially Yamaha is blaming somebody else for cutting their dealers' throats!

Why is the R-6 problem cutting dealers' throats? Because some dealers (like my buddy) have taken deposits on these new R-6's, but now they won't enough to satisfy their demand, so they have to give back some deposits on some of the bikes - which certainly won't make the customers very happy, eh?

Yamaha managed to get the new R-1's out on time, and even the Ohlins-Marchenesi equipped R-1 LE's. Seems odd they would have issues getting R-6's and FJR's out on time...

Ok, rant over. I'm not really that mad, other than I'll be getting a 2006 model only a couple of months prior to 2007 models being announced.

At the moment, as far as I am concerned, the following is true:

Yamaha Production Planners = CHEESEDICKS!

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NACD)

[Optimus Prime]

Wow, that sucks. Sorry man.

However, the Yamaha guys may not be lying about the suppliers. My company supplies bearings to just about everyone and we're currently running 18 to 24 month lead times and we're missing those. We're running 140% capacity (basically pushing everything way past spec) Steel has been hard to get and everyone has been ordering way, way more than forcast. With the shorter design time companies are using, it can be a complete guessing game with production planning.

The reason everyone is getting hammered is that China and India have ramped up their import "need" way faster than most industries were ready for. This spreads certain industries very thin and then it's felt in other areas. Companies are doing there best to keep customers from actually experiencing these shortages, but I can tell you it's an immense headache that is being felt all over the industry.

[DJ Down Under]

That's bad news Allan..what a bugger..at least the weather will be better then..one of the guys heading off with us this morning will be on a new FJR..he loves them.

DJ

[Bones]

Frustrating......been there (but not with that bike). For sure, you want all the bearings in place, though.

As you know, I have owned a few Yamaha's (and all the other Japanese brands). It has been my impression, (though it may be wrong) that Yamaha tends to either underbuild or over suggest availability. I do know that around here, unless you have preordered an FJR, there is NO way you are going to get one off the showroom floor. At least not for the past several years. I wasn't sure if they just don't ship many to the Northeast or what. Perhaps this is all over the US.

At least you may get it a month later. Should be a great bike when you do.

You also know about the R6 "issue" as having been billed as revving a couple of K higher than they actually do.

We do want pics once you get it.

Jeff

[Gord]

Allan - I hear ya. You would like to think that a commitment is a commitment. And if one party fails to live up the commitment, there is something in it for the other party other than disappointment. But....

If you were without a ride, I would be really upset for you. But it's not like the R1150R is like settling for second hand sloppies.

I envy the fact you are able to add your stable! Oh to be there - hopefully sooner rather than later.

Sign me "Sympathetic, But Not Overly So!"

[Dallara]

Don't get me wrong, Gord...

I don't need any sympathy. Just wanted to rant and rave a little bit. I found out about the issue yesterday, and at first I wasn't even going to post anything about it... But then I thought there may be some other folks here interested in FJR's (or other Yamaha's) and would want to know about it.

I'm about the luckiest person I know, so shed no tears for me!

Bones,

There have actually been a ton of Yamaha dealers that have had previous year FJR's in stock, and on the showroom floor (My dealer was one of them last year...). They simply order them in their own name, wife's name, employees' names, etc. to get them on the list. Of course, those dealers do end up getting their parts account dunned for the $500 deposit, but they figure it's worth it to have one or two around. All three of the "dealer named" FJR's my dealer ordered that way last year all sold literally before they got here, but two of them did spend a day or two on the showroom floor... That's how I got to get a good gander at a 2005 FJR last year.

I don't know what has happened with Yamaha the past couple of years... Hell, it wasn't too long ago they got caught selling unmanned radio-controlled helicopters to the Chinese. Those were supposedly for "agricultural use" as crop dusting platforms, but they could all too easily be converted to military use... Not to mention reverse-engineered.

How many of you knew that Yamaha builds engines for Toyota?

(and they don't seem to have any supplier or delivery problems there, oddly enough...)

Or that Yamaha owns Ohlins, and was once a large percentage owner of KYB/Kayaba?

Or that Yamaha is helping Toyota develop their F-1 car and engines?

Or that Yamaha is one of the few companies in the world that has a license for Cosworth's proprietary pressure casting technology?

Or that at one time Yamaha did developmental work for Ford, and built both the V-6 and V-8 Taurus SHO engines?

Just more worthless trivia...

Sometimes I wonder if Yamaha doesn't have its fingers in too many pies...

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NACD)

[socalrob]

Dallara,

That sucks, but life goes on. I do remember Yamaha building those Ford SVO engines, 6's weren't they?

I wonder if Yami is having fueling or emmissions related problems with the FJR? BMW had to way delay the new K bikes, remember? I bet Yami gets it right when they release the bike. Does the FJR new model have a new engine? It may still be under new Euro emmissions.

Yamaha also makes or made great electronics, I remember their stereo components used to be about the best of the Japanese, & they still make great musical instruments & pianos. I always liked my little RD350. I think it was a 71 model bought in Japan by a service man & shipped to the US. I bought it in about 78 after it had been in storage for years. It rocked.

[JCsman]

My company supplies bearings to just about everyone and we're currently running 18 to 24 month lead times and we're missing those. We're running 140% capacity (basically pushing everything way past spec) Steel has been hard to get and everyone has been ordering way, way more than forcast.

The reason everyone is getting hammered is that China and India have ramped up their import "need" way faster than most industries were ready for. This spreads certain industries very thin.

Hmmmm. Looks like there could be some investment oportunities involved here. And it sounds like this is more than a short term issue. Bearing makers, steel producers, check....anything else to look into?

[Optimus Prime]

Hmmmm. Looks like there could be some investment oportunities involved here. And it sounds like this is more than a short term issue. Bearing makers, steel producers, check....anything else to look into?

A lot of companies weren't sure if it was a short time spike or a long term issue. We're just now getting capacity added, since the companies making the machines was also back-logged.

It will come into line at some point, it's just how long can China hold their high level of demand. :102:

[Deans BMW]

The demand for goods to include petroleum products from both China and India will increase at an ever increasing rate. What you pay for fuel currently is at the lowest price that you will ever see. The supply and demand relationship is cast in stone.

[BobFV1]

Allan -

That is pretty Cheesedick-ian of Yammie.

I just checked on the 2007 K1200GT that I have the "first in Arizona" deposit on and heard "maybe May, and since mine is the first it has to sit on the floor with a "my daddy loves me" sign for two weeks before I ride it off.

I am SERIOUSLY considering saving about 2K - applying my KGT deposit to a new R1200GS - riding that thing to Glendal, having a bunch of Jesse stuff installed right at the factory, and then just riding off in to the sunset. I sure like that GS. Anybody have any ideas (should this be a new thread ?!&#!)&!!!)

[socalrob]

Bob,

You thinking of the GS or the new GSA? When I test rode the GS1200 if felt like a giant dirt bike to me, not such a bad thing, & when I knocked it up to the low 80's the impression I got was that it was more of a low speed bike than my RR, which currently may be a good thing for me, what I mean is that it might be more fun to ride the GS around at slower speeds, I'm thinking 85 on the GS would feel like 95 or 100 on the RR.

Those wide bars are something. I want to see what the GSA looks like, that giant fuel tank would be trick.

Dallara,

If the Yami is back ordered, why don't you just get one of those big HD Road Kings? Pretty much the same as an FJR, right?, & you could even have floor boards & tassels.

[Deans BMW]

Bob, :028: I happen to know of a dealer that is getting two GT's right off the bat and they are not going to sit on them, one has a deposit, the other not yet. They will be glad to pick you up at the airport.............

April....the new R1200GS ADV
May.....the new K1200GT
June....the new R1200S :)

And the new unknown bike....who knows

By the way, they just sold another HP................

[Sir Limpsalot]

Make an engine for Ford. About 1400cc it's fitted to a couple of basic transportation models over here. The KA and the Fiesta.

Rob, don't be so silly,the Road king wouldn't suit Dallara at all. (The footboards and tassels would be fine but I hear the "Village People" leather bags only hold four quarts of Glenmorangie per side!).

Seriously though Allan, bit of an arse about the delay though.:thumbs_down:
Si

[BobFV1]

Ummmmmm - Glenmorangie..................

[Bill]

:eusa_clap: The Ford Taurus SHO

Ford's Taurus SHO (Super High Output) model had an eleven-year run. In 1989 it was introduced with a Yamaha-built 3.0L V6 and only with a 5-speed transmission available. By the end-of-the-line in 1999 Yamaha was working with Ford on building the SHO's 3.4L V8 motor. Only a four-speed automatic was available in the later years.
Annual sales averaged about 7,000 to 8,000 SHO's a year, or about 2% of the total Taurus production.

I have a '97 SHO ventage that screams.....

[Dallara]

Actually SocalRob...

There were both Taurus SHO V-6's and V-8's. If I recall correctly the first ones came out in 1989 on the "old" body style Taurus, and here's what the cars and the 24-valve V-6 engines looked like...

http://www.klimesgroup.com/showagon/events/shoklahoma/carshow28.jpg

http://www.klimesgroup.com/showagon/events/shoklahoma/track/lk28.jpg

http://advantageautousa.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/92sho.jpg.w560h373.jpg

http://myconstructionphotos.smugmug.com/photos/37736206-L-1.jpg

http://myconstructionphotos.smugmug.com/photos/37734034-L-1.jpg


(Make sure you check out the grill of the red SHO directly above... Some owners did have a sense of humor)

http://www.shopower.com/photos/gallery/gallery59.jpg

http://advantageautousa.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/shomotor.jpg.w560h373.jpg

http://turbovan.com/gallery/engines/fordsho.jpg


You could later even get the SHO Taurus as a wagon, those there were very few of them built and they are ultra, ultra rare...

http://www.klimesgroup.com/showagon/events/shoklahoma/fueling8.jpg

http://www.klimesgroup.com/showagon/events/shoklahoma/thumper_show28.jpg



Then Ford changed the Taurus body style to the "Gen III" (in 1996 if I recall correctly...), and the SHO got a new engine from Ford... Whoops! I mean Yamaha! This engine was a 32-valve V-8. Funny thing was, again if I recall correctly, was that the V-8 didn't make appreciably more power than the earlier V-6. It did rev higher, though.

Here's some pics of the later 32-valve V-8 SHO's and engines...

http://www.klimesgroup.com/showagon/events/shoklahoma/carshow18.jpg

http://tsoc2003.hp.infoseek.co.jp/off/8off/d.jpg

(Notice the eight intake runners...)

http://tsoc2003.hp.infoseek.co.jp/off/8off/c.jpg

http://www.theautochannel.com/media/photos/ford/1997/97_ford_taurus_sho-4.jpg

http://www.theautochannel.com/media/photos/ford/1997/97_ford_taurus_sho-3.jpg

http://www.v8sho.com/SHO/images/RHD/E1.jpg

http://www.jwfisher.com/sec-ford/FMC-engines/8m34d-sho/sho-v8.jpg


The later Gen III Ford-Yamaha Taurus SHO V-8's were also available as a wagon, but again they were pretty rare...

http://www.klimesgroup.com/showagon/events/shoklahoma/gen3showagon8.jpg

http://www.klimesgroup.com/showagon/events/shoklahoma/2showagons28.jpg


There was even a guy who used to produce these for more *discriminating* owners (though he is no longer producing them now...)

http://cohiba.users.superford.org/92yama2.jpg

http://cohiba.users.superford.org/92yama1.jpg



Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NACD)

[BobFV1]

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/55087247-S.jpg