I probably would have jumped all over this had the real Scrambler not been so beautiful. It's a Yamaha - so it's going to be more reliable than the Duc.
But... Even though they got the weight right, it's down 10 ponies to the Italian - and a radiator? Umm.. No!
What Yamaha needed to do was come out with a REAL modern version of the classic XS. I would have bought that.
You mean 1.2 hp? The Scrambler has 75 hp. From the article: "Yamaha Motor Europe claims a maximum output of 73.8 hp at 9000 rpm and 50.2 lb-ft. at 6500 rpm."
The power is being delivered higher up though. I'm guessing it doesn't have the low end grunt of the Scrambler.
Looks like this to me: It's a little heavier than the Scrambler, down on power, taller in the seat. Parallel twins lack the character and music of V-twins, and it's got an ugly radiator. On the other hand, there's this cool accessory side bag, looks like brown canvas and leather, that locks onto its bracket, Ducati take a look please.
I'm kinda into it. I love my bike, but at certain angles the Duc does sort of look like a cartoon motorcycle. I like the raised tank on the Yamaha, makes it a bit meaner. Been wondering if anyone was gonna try that on the Scrambler, could look cool to raise and angle the tank to pick up the line of the swingarm.
I think it looks too bulky and not very thought out. Seems more to me like a bike that someone just stripped the plastics off of and put on a round headlight.
That is the ugliest looking bike I have seen in a long time and just goes to show that Japan still cannot get copies right. They do their own stuff better like big UJM naked fours and utility bikes for the masses.
That said, when Nissan started the crossover craze here in the UK & the manufacturers saw the sales figures they all had to build one.
I love my Scrambler, the looks are what I hoped they would be ( like a modern 60s/70's style IMHO), ok it ain't no super tourer or a rocketship but its light and exciting to ride for me and thats what I wanted out of it.
I'll reserve judgement until I see it in person, but I kind of like it, especially in green. BTW, it wouldn't take much to exceed the performance of the XS650, a friend of mine had one back in the day. Great looking bike, but it shook like a paint mixer, the brakes were wooden, it was slow and the handling was vague (and I'm being generous).
The Yamaha will be less expensive to buy, cheaper to maintain and will have better dealer support. I don't think it will have the character of the Scrambler, but it will have some advantages and if it had been available when I was looking at the Scrambler I would have definitely given it a shot...
I have to agree with what many have already said and I was initially on the fence with the Scrambler and while yes the Yamaha may have a notch up on the reliability ratings it definitely just doesn't do it for me like the Scrambler does. Extra grease or not in the belt cover
I have two Yamaha SR500's. They're awesome little bikes.
This "X-SR700" makes no sense to me. I'd have loved to see a modern SR500 just like Ducati did. Visually it looks like one of those shanty towns where people collect scrap metal to build their walls and roofs. By the time my eyes reached the tank I was wondering what else they could have slapped on top or sides.
Yamaha has a nice looking scrambler/cafe style bike in the XJR1300. The engine looks like an engine. It's just too hefty and not sold in the US. If they built a customizable 800cc parallel twin around this concept I think Ducati would have a lot more to be worried about.
I have two Yamaha SR500's. They're awesome little bikes.
This "X-SR700" makes no sense to me. I'd have loved to see a modern SR500 just like Ducati did. Visually it looks like one of those shanty towns where people collect scrap metal to build their walls and roofs. By the time my eyes reached the tank I was wondering what else they could have slapped on top or sides.
Yamaha has a nice looking scrambler/cafe style bike in the XJR1300. The engine looks like an engine. It's just too hefty and not sold in the US. If they built a customizable 800cc parallel twin around this concept I think Ducati would have a lot more to be worried about.
I don't like to talk down upon things that are generally related to personal opinion but man, that's quite the ugly duckling. It's like it takes up too much space from bottom to top. It looks like a real porker and none of the layout looks thought out. Looks like someone took a full fairing bike and ripped the fairings off but didn't bother to clean up under them to make it presentable.
That radiator is atrocious from a front 3/4 view, too.
Saw an article today where the author said the new Yamaha was even better looking then the Scrambler and sent the author a note asking him if he was visually impaired or just a marketing rep for Yamaha.
This has always been my gripe with the big 4 manufactures. It is a delicate blend of new and old school and though they may have good intentions it seems to always fall short. The big 4 may have better reliability but I think that thing is hideous compared to the Duc.
I don't understand why they just don't seem to have the people in design and engineering to make a respectable looking bike. I was considering a new Yamaha at the time I decided on the Scrambler mainly because the Yamaha looked like something out of a Saturday morning cartoon.
I really liked the looks of the CB1100, I just wanted something under 800cc and lighter. The stock CB is 540lbs, and I wanted something sub-400. The Icon is rated at 410# and 803cc so it fits just about perfectly into my needs (wish it was a teensy bit lighter but still within acceptable parameters).
I'm still surprised that the Ducati Scramblers are listed as weighing only 410lbs (186kg). Every time i look at my Icon it looks bigger (and heavier) until i park it side by side with a larger bike. Must be partly because the Pirelli's are beefy looking shizzles.
I do like the Yamahas round electronic console slightly better than the my Duc. While I am not hating my Icon's handlebar controls and ergonomics, i do believe the Japanese do it better too.
If the Yamaha was available at the time of my Scrambler purchase, i feel i still would enx up with my Duc
For me Yamaha's recently announced XSR700 only proves how great Ducati Scrambler really is. It clearly shows that one is thorougly designed new bike, while the other is quick makeover of an existing bike. Plus I don't like Yamaha's details: front headlight seems too long (or at least length disproportionate to diameter), radiator too visible (why not black?), tail has way too many details one over another, seat looking strange etc. In sum: not neat at all. But then again such tail/seat combo must be Yamaha's preferred style these days, as they brought also similarly pimped up XJR1300 to market earlier (based largely on "Monkeefist" by Wrenchmonkeys while I would have much preferred - and probably bought - one based on Deus' "Project X"; Deus still sells a kit though, so maybe they didn't allow using it?)
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Ducati Scrambler Forum
99.3K posts
12.8K members
Since 2014
A forum community dedicated to Ducati Scrambler owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, accessories, exhaust, reviews, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!