It's A....Dirt Scooter !!

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 3:52 am

Ok guys and girls, wtf?

http://www.gizmag.com/yamaha-off-road-s ... how/21978/

I was lurking another forum and someone posted this. Thought I'd bring it here since as you know, their really are no other forums besides the illustrious MB

Looks fresh off the presses though as it's dated 3/30. So, any interest?

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 5:01 am

It looks pretty cool, but dirt needs low speed control. That's something you just don't get with a CVT. Don't get me wrong here, CVT's are great, but the way they engage a clutch is too sudden to make low speed maneuvers in slippy terrain ideal. On the other hand, the extremely low center of gravity might make up for it enough to validate it for light off-road use.

All that aside, it definitely hits the sweat-spot in dualsport/utilitarian looks.

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 5:26 am

yes i found it interesting in look and concept. looks like its fully executed, to me

i have no experience riding MC's so don't know what those with experience with both MC's and scooters would make of this upon first sight?

sure is a curious thing to my eyes

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:54 am

seems similar to an X-hot

brianwheelies · Post by **brianwheelies** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 8:32 am

I would say they can fill a huge hole in the market.

Sign me up!

I disagree about the CVT with slow maneuvers. Less throttle. I had no problems with my scooter riding slow and this rig looks fully set up for the off road scene.

redhandmoto · Post by **redhandmoto** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 12:37 pm

Hunh. Well, as the article points out, the thing was put together with an eye toward riding in Thailand, and it don't get much more slippery and monsoony than that. Yamaha has considerable experience in off-road/DS/dirt - I immediately thought of Lois Pryce on her 225 Serow.

That's a real small engine by "our" usual ADV standards, but I'm guessing it'll serve Thai needs well. Now a 225-300 CVT Yammie ADV bike...hmmm...I'd be tempted...bet it'd come in at an attractive price...gonna watch that space, ok...

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 12:44 pm

Love the design, hate the digital camo, but it'd look awesome in flat black or olive drab. I also don't understand why it's so under powered. They need to make it at least 250cc if your really gonna turn this in to a zompocalypse scooter.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 12:52 pm

I've never understood the use of camouflage as an "accent" color/pattern. All it does is draw attention to itself, which is a little too ironic for me. And don't get me started about the retro-16-bit-video-game version of camouflage that's currently fashionable.

But otherwise kind of a cool-looking scoot.

redhandmoto · Post by **redhandmoto** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 1:21 pm

ya know, if it moves into production, it'll likely be for SE Asia only, where very small displacement makes sense, and not in digital or any other 'camo' finish, which would seem to be merely an attention-getter for the press anouncement.

I'm thinking of that couple on their "underboning" tour just now - they're on SYM Symbas...think this Yammie would compare favorably for that tour, on bad roads, mud, paths and trails, etc...

As far as the cvt thing goes...the little off-road I did on my Z125 was great fun, and the cvt transmission no bar to low-speed, rough/wet conditions...only shaky thing about it was the small tire/limited suspension travel...

rkcoker · Post by **rkcoker** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 1:48 pm

"Adventure", huh?!
Never forget that adventure is hard, dangerous happenings that afflict strangers far from home.

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 2:32 pm

How the hell does a scooter have enough juice to power those PIAA's?!!!!
I just can't get past that!

If it truly does, I am further maddened at PGO's poor electrical abilities.
I was riding home about 10:30 last night and hit some pretty rough patches of asphalt and was wishing I could see it better. And yes, my headlight is properly adjusted

(unlike me).

Raiderfn311 · Post by **Raiderfn311** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 3:19 pm

As if you can "ride up" on a deer. F'ing Japanese are funny.

laxer · Post by **laxer** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 3:35 pm

Raiderfn311 wrote:As if you can "ride up" on a deer. F'ing Japanese are funny.

I have buddies who ride their motorcycles deer hunting all the time. I also have deer wandering around in my neighborhood during the winter, despite loud things like cars and trucks.

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 6:07 pm

I'd buy one. It looks like a great bug-out vehicle. But I'd want one in foliage green or multicam.

kmrcstintn · Post by **kmrcstintn** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 9:43 pm

Three Mile Island Scooter Club runs the gymkhana at their Meltdown rally in the grass...this thing would excel at that

roasteroo · Post by **roasteroo** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 9:58 pm

How the hell does a scooter have enough juice to power those PIAA's?!!!!
I just can't get past that!

if you look close, i dont think they say PIAA

DIAA

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 10:02 pm

That's just freakin' hawt.

Engine size could be near a cut-off for licensure in some countries.

Them there ain't no PIAA lights; look again.

Absolutely love it. If I lived somewhere with crap dirt roads that get washed out every year, I'd be all over it for everyday transport. What an absolute hoot.

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 10:22 pm

JHScoot wrote:

If the model is part of the accessory package, I'd have to give it serious consideration.

2wheelNsanity · Post by **2wheelNsanity** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 1:04 am

Scooter, what scooter? I don't see no scooter

.

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 2:10 am

2wheelNsanity wrote:Scooter, what scooter? I don't see no scooter .

It's the thing blocking the view of her legs dammit!

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 3:28 am

I love it. Does it come in black?

Lokky · Post by **Lokky** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 5:11 am

Well technically all scooters are dirt bikes... I mean the Vespa's legshield was designed for people to be able to commute across Italy's unpaved roads without getting your work-clothes dirty...

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 5:38 am

Lokky wrote:Well technically all scooters are dirt bikes... I mean the Vespa's legshield was designed for people to be able to commute across Italy's unpaved roads without getting your work-clothes dirty...

Not quite the same…

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 7:18 am

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 7:22 am

Uh....

No thank you!

What I want to know is why are there footpegs on the front axle? Is it a freakin' BMX bike? And those panniers are nothing more than cheap gear boxes you'd find at guitar center painted with bad camo. There's nothing appealing about this scooter in the slightest. If I want a scooter with some more rugged credentials, I'll take a Rattler, Zuma or a Piaggio Typhoon with more aggressive tread.

As for digital camo, it's actually a far more effective modern pattern for actual soldiers and hardly a fashion statement, but don't tell the Chinese manufacturers that. If I need to have my scooter lost in signal noise from a drone's camera, then it's a total sale. Otherwise, I'll pass.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 7:25 am

ericalm wrote:
Lokky wrote:Well technically all scooters are dirt bikes... I mean the Vespa's legshield was designed for people to be able to commute across Italy's unpaved roads without getting your work-clothes dirty...
Not quite the same…

THIS is still badass! Who cares if they finished last in the pack. If you run Dakar and *survive* Dakar, you get lifetime respect from me! Don't care how you do it or what you drive/ride. I actually remember when Suzuki put their Samurai in the race. They came in dead last but the Japanese team who did it had such a blast that everyone came out to see them cross the finish line. It may of been slow, but that 1.3 liter wonder finished the race with very little modification.

A Vespa finishing, and a PX at that? That's a testament to the riders and the team who built them

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 7:29 am

what if this thing finished Dakar, 'neo? would you respect it then?

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 7:55 am

TVB wrote:I've never understood the use of camouflage as an "accent" color/pattern. All it does is draw attention to itself, which is a little too ironic for me. And don't get me started about the retro-16-bit-video-game version of camouflage that's currently fashionable. But otherwise kind of a cool-looking scoot.

This.

Except I'm not sure I think it's cool-looking, camo or no.

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 8:29 pm

neotrotsky wrote: What I want to know is why are there footpegs on the front axle?

Foot pegs? No, although I've seen them used as such.
My son's sport bike has them as well, they serve a similar purpose as crash bars do on our scooters but I think just for the wheels.

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 8:43 pm

neotrotsky wrote: As for digital camo, it's actually a far more effective modern pattern for actual soldiers and hardly a fashion statement.

Something I don't quite get, however.
I personally see no concealment factor with the Army's ACU pattern, they've sent my kids to the desert wearing shades of green!!??
I'm 'old school' (OK, maybe just old) the desert is basically tan, wear tan. The woods are green, wear green. I wore one color green, when I was sent to the desert I wore one color tan (khaki)

Cammo should not be a fashion statement, period end of story. Although many wear it as such... When my daughter was just home from her deployment she was still required to wear her uniform for some unbeknownst to me reason even when going to school, (college) one day one of her class mates, a brainless blonde bimbo (daughter's words) came up to her and said "Ooooooh where'd you get that outfit, it's sooooo cute" My daughter's response was un-printable especially when 'bimbette' asked about the "Oh so cute" purple ribbon!

Raiderfn311 · Post by **Raiderfn311** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 9:16 pm

laxer wrote:
Raiderfn311 wrote:As if you can "ride up" on a deer. F'ing Japanese are funny.
I have buddies who ride their motorcycles deer hunting all the time. I also have deer wandering around in my neighborhood during the winter, despite loud things like cars and trucks.

Obviously Im dealing with a different breed. Ive killed 3, and those animals were quite different from the ones who can be "ridden up" on.

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 10:07 pm

Raiderfn311 wrote:Obviously Im dealing with a different breed. Ive killed 3, and those animals were quite different from the ones who can be "ridden up" on.

In my neck of the woods, you can shout and throw rocks at them, they don't care. They'll take the pelting and just keep munching away and ignore you. If you make a run at them, they'll sometimes charge you with their antlers. The turkeys are pretty bold too. At least they move on when they get pelted.

Raiderfn311 · Post by **Raiderfn311** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 10:32 pm

Good for them.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 1:10 am

JHScoot wrote:what if this thing finished Dakar, 'neo? would you respect it then?

Yes. Yes I would!

But, it would have to finish under it's own power with a breathing rider. Even the best of machines have a hard time doing that from the likes of BMW, Volkswagen, KTM and the like. Show me a finisher's medal and then I'll re-assess

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:20 am

neotrotsky wrote:
ericalm wrote:
Lokky wrote:Well technically all scooters are dirt bikes... I mean the Vespa's legshield was designed for people to be able to commute across Italy's unpaved roads without getting your work-clothes dirty...
Not quite the same…

THIS is still badass! Who cares if they finished last in the pack. If you run Dakar and *survive* Dakar, you get lifetime respect from me! Don't care how you do it or what you drive/ride. I actually remember when Suzuki put their Samurai in the race. They came in dead last but the Japanese team who did it had such a blast that everyone came out to see them cross the finish line. It may of been slow, but that 1.3 liter wonder finished the race with very little modification.

A Vespa finishing, and a PX at that? That's a testament to the riders and the team who built them

This photo isn't from Dakar; it's the Pharaohs ross-Egypt rally. Vespa PXs have run and finished Dakar, though. Twice, I think.

TVB wrote:And don't get me started about the retro-16-bit-video-game version of camouflage that's currently fashionable.

It looks silly on the Yamaha, but I actually kind of like it on this Italjet Dragster custom. It's so exaggerated it becomes a cool abstract pattern.

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:37 am

ericalm wrote:It looks silly on the Yamaha, but I actually kind of like it on this Italjet Dragster custom. It's so exaggerated it becomes a cool abstract pattern.

That paint reminds me of the battleship Tirpitz:

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:53 am

k1dude wrote:That paint reminds me of the battleship Tirpitz:

Dazzle camouflage!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dazzle_camouflage

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 4:42 am

KABarash wrote:
Cammo should not be a fashion statement, period end of story. Although many wear it as such... When my daughter was just home from her deployment she was still required to wear her uniform for some unbeknownst to me reason even when going to school, (college) one day one of her class mates, a brainless blonde bimbo (daughter's words) came up to her and said "Ooooooh where'd you get that outfit, it's sooooo cute" My daughter's response was un-printable especially when 'bimbette' asked about the "Oh so cute" purple ribbon!

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