Yamaha Adventure Scoots

[MrGrumpy]

For anyone who hasn't noticed, Yamaha have decided to enter the Adventure Scooter sector, with 3 (really 2) new designs (both christened RW) unveiled at EICMA. See MCN write up
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new ... aha-rw350/

The RW700s are really the current Tenere 700 bike repackaged as a scooter. Features the current Yamaha 700cc twin engine with 69bhp, comes with an automated manual gearbox and looks like chain drive. Not a lot of weather protection, though there is an underseat storage space big enough for a full face helmet. Personally, looks like they didn't put a lot of effort into this

The RW350 might be slightly more interesting. Clearly aimed as a competitor to the Honda ADV350, it is unusual for a small scoot in having a chassis mounted engine, with the CVT forming the swing arm. This should reduce the weight handled by the suspension and give it superior ride and handling. Again, room for a full face helmet under the seat.

No word on prices, though I suspect the 700s won't be cheap!

[mottza]

7500-8500 apparently

[mottza]

Cp2 engine will be great. It's a lovely engine.

[Andym]

I was pretty meh about the 700. Doesn't seem to really advance on what the Forza 750 offers, so we'll see how they price it, if they fixed their theft issues and if the connectivity or more enclosed final drive offers any big advantage. No electric screen either.

The 350 seems to have actually been thought about. Lots of choice now if you are OK at 30-40 HP.

If the 700's are £11k to even match the Honda, they're really going to struggle to sell the Tmax at £14K.

Andy

[MrGrumpy]

Thinking about it, you wonder why Yamaha didn't forget the Adventure bit and go for a Super Tmax, with the CP2 engine and AMT, but with better bodywork and a belt drive or something. It would provide a step up from the Tmax for those who wanted a scooter, but more power than the Tmax, and it would have a significant power advantage over the X-ADV / Forza 750, and wouldn't cost much to develop as most of the components are already developed.

[Bellman]

I personally can’t see the point of the ‘adventure scooter’. Their styling means less wind and rain protection and probably less under seat storage. I like the Yamaha range generally and was impressed by their new touring motorcycles when I took my XMax 300 in for a service last month.

But as we creep slowly into another winter, my XMax is better equipped for it than any current or new for 2027 adventure scooter. A high and wide height adjustable electric screen and wind deflectors, knuckle guards covering 3 stage heated grips, and a 3 stage heated seat if I need it. All controlled by a few movements of my left thumb via the comprehensive info display. Another advantage of all this frontal wind and weather protection is far less damaging wind noise.

[MrGrumpy]

To an extent, the smaller adventure scooters offer a useful alternative for mid sized scoots especially with our increasingly dreadful roads and in the countryside. They have at least in principle better suspension (eg better shocks and longer travel suspension) that works better in the sticks than many standard scoots. For instance I used to have a Burgman 200 which was nice in town, but completely unrideable in the countryside - its softish suspension would bottom out on the first bump and the whole thing would wallow and lurch! My Beverly 350ST was better but still hard work out of town. In contrast, my ADV350 works much better - perhaps not as well as a proper bike chassis (Tmax) but it works well enough, albeit with a ride thats a bit firm.
Where that leaves bigger Adventure scoots like the X-ADV and the new Yamaha 700s, don't know, but Europeans can't get enough X-ADVs, so what do I know?
I'm looking at the forthcoming Voge 450 - again an adventure style scoot, but laden with every conceivable luxury gadget, including elec screen, grips & heated seats, radar, plus handguards, running lights, handguards. Weather protection looks OK

[velocipede6295]

The 2027 Voge SR 450X has it's weight listed at 220kg which is too heavy for me.