Ya, But....
Look at the Genesis.
There were SO MANY variations on that theme over a 30+ year life cycle.
Yamaha seems to take their ever loving time coming up with something REALLY GOOD and then they stick with it for decades.
Pure Speculation here..
But I think we WILL see this new engine design make its way into the next generation of Yamaha 4-Stroke sleds. Might be a year or two away yet, but that is my best guess for the replacement of the Genesis when the time comes.
What would be interesting is to get some mechanical specs to see the size/weight of the new engine to make some initial comparisons to the "equivalent" Genesis and see if there were any real world savings to be had or not??
Was it Narrower?
Was it Lighter?
Ect..
Just what are the real world possibilities for this new engine?
I know the biker community is liking it.
We drove down to SLC to take the new Yamaha FZ-09 for a test ride.
This bike is a kick in the pants, and the electronic throttle control is something that has to be PLAYED with in person to fully appreciate.
- The ride-by-wire Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T) system senses the slightest throttle input by the rider, relays the data to the ECU, which instantaneously calculates the ideal throttle valve opening based on engine rpm and throttle opening, and then sends commands to a servo-motor actuator that moves the throttle valve which actively controls the intake airflow volume. This is a technology contributing to the rider’s feeling of torque and controllability from the new 3-cylinder engine.
- The FZ-09™ is equipped with Yamaha D-MODE (or “Drive Mode”) variable throttle control system to allow the rider to choose the optimum engine character for their riding situation. The rider can choose at will from three throttle valve control maps (Standard Mode, “A” Mode, and “B” Mode) for different performance characteristics. Operation is performed by a button on the handlebars. STD Mode is set to accommodate a wide range of riding conditions. In this mode the rider can enjoy the 3-cylinder engine’s linear torque feeling from low speeds all the way up to high speeds. A-Mode lets the rider enjoy sharper throttle response in the low-to mid-rpm range than the STD Mode. B-Mode lets the rider enjoy milder throttle response than the STD Mode for more relaxed power characteristics.