i know some people who have the 'new' yamaha and they are on the fence about it. when the new engine design came out, everybody was all over it saying how great it is, and now they are saying that it has problems and admitting it has handling issues. the proof will be in the next few years. will yamaha keep the backwards engine with further r&d and testing to work this animal out or will they go back to a normal forward facing engine. will the other big 3 (or 4) go to a backward engine design like the yamaha? probably not. but who knows?

Chad Reed said it himself he didn't like the KX.  So sometimes it is the bike.

Jeekinz, on 27 March 2012 - 10:17 AM, said:

so if you know you dont like the bike , get off it like CR did , dont keep riding one you dont like for the $

ajd187, on 26 March 2012 - 06:10 AM, said:

I'm still waiting for someone to show me the quote from James where he says "the Yamaha sucks and I don't like it".  Why are we assuming he doesn't like the bike?

The bike may or may not be perfect, but that's not his main problem.

He's not the top guy and hasn't been for a few years.   That's ok..   Missed two races, still third in points.     Not bad...  Not what he wanted, but not bad.

mauricedorris, on 27 March 2012 - 11:11 AM, said:

I think we will see plenty of those quotes as soon as he is off the Yamaha

So what would RV do if you put him on the Yamaha? are you saying the Kawi is just that much better than everything else? Just asking??

For argument's sake:

Davi Millsaps was asked what his favorite bike of all-times is.  The default answer would be whoever's bike you are currently being paid to ride.  but he "Didn't want to answer so someone doesn't get ""BUTTHURT"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm guessing his factory Honda was the answer!

Josh Grant said he was at the point where he wanted to quit vs continue riding the Yamaha, this while he was in his prime.

Froggy Pourcel (just havin fun)  quit pretty much immediately after switching to the Yami, and ran screaming back to Europe and Kawasaki.

Will Stewart ride Yamaha next year??

geo-eo, on 27 March 2012 - 11:32 AM, said:

it cant be , CR said he didnt like the Kawi ....hahaha

DH367, on 27 March 2012 - 12:47 PM, said:

But Fro said Reedy and the Kawi were a great fit.

KTMRider4Life, on 27 March 2012 - 02:10 PM, said:

Emig also bleeds green

meyermetal, on 27 March 2012 - 03:39 PM, said:

I'm willing to bet he even smokes it??? Thanks for the setup.

Edited by KTMRider4Life, 27 March 2012 - 03:44 PM.

KTMRider4Life, on 27 March 2012 - 03:44 PM, said:

We already know that to be true

You guys are missing something.  Say for arguments sake JS did not like the Yamaha because the bike did not handle like he would want it to.  The JGR guys would have that bike cut up and back together the way JS wanted it in a couple of weeks.

Davi Millsaps is doing fine on the bike and as others have noted here JS is setting fastest lap times when qualifying.

Maybe JS firing the team manager is the problem? Maybe JS firing his trainer is the problem? Maybe a highly motivated RV is the problem?
The bike is not the issue.  JS is not racing Mini-o-s.

JS has the very best money can buy and maybe being a top five rider in the entire world should be good enough for his fans?

36MotoMarc, on 27 March 2012 - 12:25 PM, said:

so you take advice from 2 of the biggest idiots in mx?  you should probably cite jlaw and get the trifecta

95843, on 27 March 2012 - 04:54 PM, said:

Post of the year IN MY NOT SO HUMBLE OPINION!

I guess even though the riders are saying they don't like the Yamaha thats not enough for you people?
Everyone who says JS is washed up dont forget you were probably saying the same things about Chad Reed when he was on kawis, look at Chad now.

djtroy, on 27 March 2012 - 09:24 PM, said:

And a lot of folks have stepped up and said that Chad has earned their respect. Stewart can do the same, the question is will he? I would guess that he is likely to do so in the eyes of those who value fame, money and superstardom, for die hard motorcycle fans he will go down as a has been that could of been but never did...

KTMRider4Life, on 27 March 2012 - 09:39 PM, said:

   Yeah, James could have been a one of the most successful ever lites champions, a multi-time supercross champion, an ama motocross champion , had an undefeated season, been on several winning mxdn teams and became of the most talked about riders of his generation.

Oh wait..  he was  (and still is...)      

Is it possible that you are holding James to an unreachable standard?

mauricedorris, on 27 March 2012 - 09:56 PM, said:

And he's 3rd in points so far this year on a "crap" bike. I sure hope he doesn't get on a "good" bike.

djtroy, on 20 March 2012 - 06:30 AM, said:

Ivé been a long time Honda rider ( year 2000-2010) Got myself a 2011 yamaha yz450f last year and now own a 2012 yz450f. I love this bike ! My 2012 actually reminds of the 2008 CRF 450 with it´s handling, and that was a damn good bike !

You don´t know what you are talking about sir ! You judge the bike by rumours and gossip ! If the bike was soo crapy that some say, how can it still win races and get on the podium in AMA Supercross  and win GP´s in Europe.

Steven Frossard just won the International Italian MX championship last weekend on the "awful" Yamaha. Completely dominating over many time world champ ,Antonio Cairoli.

Steven Frossard,David Phlippaerts and Gautier Paulin all won GP´s on it last year !

And don´t give me that factory bike craptalk. Rinladi Yamaha has confirmed that they use the stock frame ratios. And even builds their suspension by using the stock KYB SSS as a base !

Edited by HRC, 28 March 2012 - 02:05 AM.