Not for US(A), bikes you can't buy: Yamaha

Yamaha has a much wider range of motorcycle for customers outside the US. In fact Yamaha America only seems to offer a couple of sportbikes, a couple of standards, some dual sports, and sh*t ton of cruisers. In Europe it seems, there are more options.


MT-01

We all saw it when it debuted a few years ago, but Yamaha decided that Americans would buy such a beast. They were probably right. Even thought the MT-01 tries to combine a giant v-twin with a sporty stylish chassis, I think it's too different for American consumers. While we seem to buy a lot of cruisers and sportbikes, I don't think we're ready for a combination.







MT-03

A smaller kinder gentler version of the -01 with half as many cylinders.









XT660 Tenere

The XT was available in the US a long time ago, elsewhere in the world it evolved into and adventure tourer not unlike Kawasaki's KLR650.








XT660X

Like the WR250X the big XT660 has a super moto cousin.









FZ1

In Europe the FZ1 doesn't have a faring, and in the states we don't get the "Fazer" nike name.









TDM900

Long ago the TDM model was sold in US showrooms. Like the Honda Transalp, however, Americans just didn't fall in love with the adventure dual sport niche. In Europe however the TDM has evolved nicely.







FZ6

In the US we get the FZ6, but not the naked, naked version.











XJR1300

This is Yamaha's version of the leftover dinosaur UJM bike, it seems ironic that some of the biggest badest street bike Japan makes aren't available in the US of A.






XJ6

This is another case of a long gone US model continuing on overseas. The XJ6 name was used on Yamaha's standards during the 1980's. Today it's still used on their tamed 600ccers.

Not for US(A), bikes you can't buy: Kawasaki

After bringing us the Versys, ER6-n, and the KLX250X Kawasaki doesn't have nearly as many overseas exclusives as Honda. There are a few however.

ZRX1200 DAEG

That's right, they're still selling them in Japan. The ZRX (or "Z rex") has become somewhat of a cult classic after being discontined in the states. In Japan, they got a slight update.

W650/W400

Another classic you could have bought. For a coulple of years Kawasaki offered us the W650, but it never sold very well. It must be a different story in Japan because it comes in 650 and 400 cc sizes.

250 TR

Japan loves retro, here's what appears to be a throw back to those super light bikes of the 1970's.

Z750

In the US we had a Z750, but it went away. In Europe it fared better and lived on as a mini Z1000.