Among Japanese manufacturers, Yamaha might be pushing hardest concerning the market for customization of non-cruisers. It recently announced a relatively sophisticated app for both IOS and Android devices that allows consumers to modify existing Sport Heritage European models with various parts available from Yamaha, such as seats, pipes, luggage, etc. Check out the video below, and follow this link to the British site which contains the links to both the IOS and Android apps. We expect U.S. models will eventually become part of this program. Here are the European models currently supported by this app.
– XSR700
– VMAX
– VMAX Carbon
– XJR1300
– XJR1300 Racer
– XV950R
– XV950
– XV950 Racer
Build a custom with off the shelf parts. In the ADV world, this is called farkeling.
I’m not exactly a huuuuuuuge (Jimmy Fallon Donald Trump voice) of HD but HD has been doing this for a while on their website. And you don’t “need an app for that” with HD either.
Plus, when you buy a Harley they hand you a 700 page catalogue full of farkles.
This seems to be a useless app. 8 purchases is all that is available, that would be better served as a website then having to download and delete a separate app that you will likely never use again after you make one purchase. Sure cool idea for the customization but a silly way to implement it.
I’m confused. The video says you send the information to your dealer. So do you get the bike you designed or do you have to toss out all the stuff (seat, exhaust, etc.) on the stock Yamaha factory-built model? Tossing out stuff always seems so wasteful and I have stock stuff hanging from the rafters in my garage from a Sportster I bought twenty years ago. I’d be reluctant to do that again.
Wow! I’m impressed, no sarcasm. Harley Davidson eat your heart out! That 1300 looks absolutely deeelicious!
If you could use the app to order a bike modified to your desires, then it’d be cool. Of course, people would immediately abuse the service and back out on what they’d ordered.
“Non-cruisers” strikes me as funny. Does that mean that there is really only two market segments?
Judging by sales figures here in the US, you could say that.
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I tried it the other day. Really, really boring. And really, just a way to get all of your information. I recommend against it.
Could be? In this day and age we are all marketed to, it’s a science. Notice when something on a web page catches your eye, you click on it and from that moment on you are reminded of that product constantly in sidebar advertising? It’s a bit much at times isn’t it?
I think it is a good approach for Yamaha. Why leave those kinds of high-margin products strictly to the aftermarket? More than just supplemental revenue for Yamaha and its dealers, I wonder if a program like this might get customers more involved with the brand, creating a stronger culture around the Yamaha name over time. Tuning fork tattoos anyone?
Taking another bite out of the Harley Pie.
Or is it a swig of Kool Aid ?
Hell, I forgot what we were talking about.