Yamaha Viking

http://www.utvunderground.com/new-2014-yamaha-viking-6007.html



For years the industry has patiently waited for Yamaha to introduce a NEW UTV, that day has finally arrived! The Yamaha Viking is Yamaha’s latest entry into the SXS market and was created to give the hard working UTV enthusiast a well built, reliable and functional machine that can truly do-it-all! What you will not see is a new Rhino, unfortunately for many of us, the machine that started it all will now be discontinued. Yamaha has vowed to continue to service and make parts but no longer will we see a Yamaha Rhino be manufactured. RIP Rhino, you were always good to us……

Right away we know that many of you have skipped ahead and scanned through our 100+ images and have already all but shunned this new machine. It doesn’t have the 1000cc Apex Turbo motor, it doesn’t have 20″ of wheel travel, and its not available in carbon fiber, BUT this is Yamaha’s first entry BACK into the UTV market. So before you sport minded guys here on UTVUnderground.com begin to type up your rants on why you are so disappointed with Yamaha hear us out and give the Viking a chance.

Yamaha just shouldered the load of what has surely been the darkest period in powersports since the ATC debacle back in the 80′s. The lawsuits that stemmed from ambulance chasing, irresponsible and down right nasty people and their lawyers over the Rhino not only have changed our sport, it almost ruined it! While Polaris, Arctic Cat, Kawasaki, and Can-Am enjoyed the freedom of development it was all being done at the expense of Yamaha dealing with hundreds, maybe thousands of frivolous claims agains the Rhino. Now, I am not trying to knock the other OEM’s for moving forward and pushing the envelope, I am just trying to shape some reasoning behind what has taken Yamaha so long to get back in the UTV game. These lawsuits all but stopped development of new UTV’s at Yamaha. I can promise you, had these lawsuits not taken place, I am sure Yamaha would still be sitting near the top of the food chain as it pertains to UTV’s in sport, recreation and utility. But as they say, it is what it is. While the industry continued to ride the wave of success surrounding this new sport that Yamaha helped kick start, Yamaha was left to defend itself and thus all but stop even thinking about anything new.

With that said, Yamaha isn’t looking for any sympathy. Meeting with their team, they couldn’t be any more excited about the brand, their new Viking, and this industry in general. While 2007 seems like eons ago, reality is, its only a few years and so for Yamaha they feel primed and ready for a comeback into the UTV market. The Viking is Yamaha’s FIRST new entry in what we hope will be many more. Its target market is the hard working utility enthusiast who enjoys a good trail ride and hunt all while getting work done with his/her machine. What the Yamaha lacks in power and suspension, they made up for in design, strength and ergonomics. They know this isn’t a XP900 or Maverick killer, nope, their saving that for later!

What the Viking is however, is a creatively designed utility machine that was created to go after the 66% of SXS utility enthusiasts. Sure, the sport market is huge for us, but as a company looking to get back into the game Yamaha made the smart choice to do so by first offering the largest segment of UTV users a machine to be excited about. At a glance its easy to see that while the Viking still retains some of the Rhino’s look and feel this machine is really completely different. Its the industry’s first true 3 seat vehicle designed to hold large adults comfortably. The seat’s have been designed for a lower CG making the Viking feel stable at speed and comfortable to drive over longer distances. The center seat is set back as to keep shoulders from bumping when having all 3 seats occupied. Wheel base rivals that of a Kawasaki T4 which in our opinion is just perfect for all sorts of riding. The dumping bed is large enough to put a full size pallet in and with a 600 lb. capacity you are able to get the big jobs done quicker.

Its with great excitement that we here at UTVUnderground.com re-introduce Yamaha back into the UTV game with the new Yamaha Viking! Embrace it, enjoy it, respect it, and prepare for the new line of Yamaha UTV’s that we can only hope begin to flow off of Yamaha’s American assembly lines! Thats right, we said American. Yamaha has relocated their UTV assembly to the United States giving them even more control over design and development! So while we sit back and wait to get out and enjoy the Viking out on the trails, we will also sit and wait patiently to see what else Yamaha has up their sleeve for us in the near future!!!



what a total disappointment

I told you guys.......700????? Man, what a mistake....

That's pitiful!!!

It should have been called, "Rhin-O-My-God".

Like I said before...............

If it had 12 to 15 inches of wheel travel, some big azz tires, pitch the mid seat, and put some man size chairs in, chop the bed, build a custom cage...I say maybe. But, my money waits to see what is next.

ridepate wrote:

I told you guys.......700????? Man, what a mistake....

I respectfully disagree... a disappointment to some, most definitely.... but:

As I stated earlier, they're trying to reestablish themselves in the market that they defined, the dual-use, sport-utility. The same market that Honda is targeting with their new Pioneer... that John Deere has targeted with its newest Gators. That's where the numbers are, and that's where the majority of the money lies. Not with guys that want to go down tight trails at 50MPH or catch air in the sand dunes at 70MPH... those are entirely different markets that they may choose to play in later, or not...

Look at that they've done with the newest Rhino (even if their lawyers likely required them to change the name):

Increased cargo bed payload by 50%
Increased towing capacity by 25%
Increased passenger capacity by 50%
Increased ground clearance slightly
Increased wheelbase slightly
While increasing fuel economy 30%
And, keeping the price essentially the same, the size and weight essentially the same...

You guys are lamenting the fact that it doesn't have a 900cc or 1000cc twin, while I'm waiting to see if they'll offer a 550fi single version. It will certainly be interesting to see how they fill out this product line, or introduce a new one. For example, do they even bother with a 4-seater since they have a 3-seater. What's the market for a 6-seater? Will they introduce a less expensive intro model, like a 550? Or, does this become the "base model" and they offer one with a 900-100cc twin? Will they offer a pure sport machine like you long for?


If this were 2010 or 2011, this would have been received totally differently. Sad that the lawsuits delayed this...

But, overall, it appears to be a decent evolution to a second-generation Rhino...

Ironically, no one mentioned a weakness that other, more utility oriented forums have harped on... there was no mention of an unlocking rear axle so it doesn't tear up the turf so bad...

It's all in the perspective that you look at it from. Time will tell....

I just don't buy the utility market is where its at.. And even if it is a ranger XP900 walks all over the viking.. Look at Yamaha's facebook or any of the Rhino forum. Its 50 negative remarks to every half positive one.. Almost everyone expected something better.. Ateast a stronger engine even if it was a utility..

It's the sport-utility market, not the utility market. That's where the volume of sales and majority of the money is... that's why John Deere went after it with the 825 and Honda is going after it with the Pioneer...

(The utility market is where Kubota is king of the mountain, with John Deere close behind, followed by Kawasaki Mules and then a whole laundry list of others that you can buy anywhere from the local farm store to a hardware store...)

Yes, there's a lot of gnashing of teeth out there. But, having essentially defined the market that wasn't governed to 25MPH (to keep it's Slow Moving Vehicle sign and protection), then spending hundreds of millions of dollars defending the Rhino (and the whole industry), did you really expect that they'd jump right out with a 100MPH, 150HP machine or something, and do it all over again?

This thing is designed to compete with the Teryx, Gator 825 and new Pioneer -- not head-to-head with the Ranger, and certainly not the RZR.

i like the looks and the idea of it. it will take some sales away from the ranger 800s and the hondas but they are not going to get back on top of the sport utility market with the same old 700 single. if it had a bigger more powerful motor i might had got one but i have time before i need a 3 or 4 seater so i will seat back and wait. yamaha will be back on top just hope they dont wait 5 years to do it.

bush wrote:

i yamaha will be back on top just hope they dont wait 5 years to do it.

I hope so, but I'm not so sure of that.  Meanwhile, Polaris had significantly increased their product line (400, 500, 800, XPs, etc.) and improved their reliability, I understand. Arctic Cat is trying to be a player, Kawasaki has the nice T4, Honda threw their hat in the ring, John Deere is selling 825s and advertising heavily, etc.

I think Yamaha will be a player (if they really choose to be), but I personally doubt that they'll dominate the industry like they once did...

Can you imagine how many safety stickers and Owner's Manual warnings they'd have to put on a V-twin pure sport machine to play CYA from all the freaking lawyers?

BTW, their actual product pages are up. One for the EPS model, one for the standard model.

http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/outdoor/products/modelhome/686/0/home.aspx

150 hp no.  Something besides that weak 700 single cylinder........hell yes. Rhino is a fine machine no doubt. But it would not kill Yamaha to shake it up a bit ( just a little bit).  There is no way this thing will dominate any market.
I wish Suzuki would come out with something in this market. If the Jap machines ever get their shit together and make something that can truly compete with the RZR, trust me, I will not be far behind in getting out of the Polaris and back into something else. The TERYZ4 is on the right track, but would need more travel before I would be interested.

Clearly I was exaggerating to make a point.  But, 50 MPH and a 30% improvement in fuel economy is not chump change from that "tired old 686"....
 

 
Supposedly, they're on a 5-year plan and will introduce a new model each year...
 
Meanwhile, from RhinoForums.net --
 
Spy photo of Polaris executives outside the NY stock exchange this morning:
 

2Slow4U wrote:

Clearly I was exaggerating to make a point.  But, 50 MPH and a 30% improvement in fuel economy is not chump change from that "tired old 686"....

Supposedly, they're on a 5-year plan and will introduce a new model each year...
 
Meanwhile, from RhinoForums.net --
 
Spy photo of Polaris executives outside the NY stock exchange this morning:
 

Now that's funny right there

All good/valid points Kent.

Well, the RZR4 is under warranty for 2 more years. Maybe by that time Yammy will have a machine that I am ready to jump into.
Don't get me wrong, I would gladly take one of these Yamahas for deer season and working around a camp, but just not what I expected them to unveil as a new groundbreaking SxS.

AIRBORNE wrote:

Well, the RZR4 is under warranty for 2 more years. Maybe by that time Yammy will have a machine that I am ready to jump into.
Don't get me wrong, I would gladly take one of these Yamahas for deer season and working around a camp, but just not what I expected them to unveil as a new groundbreaking SxS.

But, that is EXACTLY the turf that they are trying to defend.  Notice how they're targeting farmers and hunters who also want to play a bit?  Just like they always have... it's the aftermarket that turned them into serious trail and dune machines, not Yamaha.


Meanwhile, did anyone else pick up on how they're trying to redefine the "class" of sport/utes to mean 3 or more seats?  They defined the original sport/ute class of machine, and it will be interesting to see if they can redefine it...

they may not call it a rhino, but thats all it is, a super sized version, and with the same old tired single cyl motor. They only did this to end the rhino fest the lawyers had.

GunRunner wrote:

they may not call it a rhino, but thats all it is, a super sized version, and with the same old tired single cyl motor. They only did this to end the rhino fest the lawyers had.

Yep, it's the Rhino II, just like the current Teryx is the Teryx II (not to be confused with the T4) that improved upon the original.  Now we wait to see what comes with their new model per year for five years.  I doubt they'd make that claim if they weren't already planning what the next four SxS vehicles will be...

Okay, so Yamaha is trying to appeal to 2/3 of the market with this new (sorta) machine. But is it really a good idea to ignore the other third? We know that a corporation like Yamaha has the resources to develop multiple products at once, why wait to introduce a product? To see if the market even exists in five more years? While in the meantime your competitors continue exponential growth. I dunno, it doesn't seem smart to me.

In my opinion Yamaha really missed the boat here. How many years did they have to develop something new? It looks like they really don't care about UTVs at all, because all they did was to stretch and widen a Rhino (to appease the lawyers, no doubt), used the same damn components they always have,, and give it a new name with great fanfare. I don't want to hear that crap about how they increased payload, more efficient, blah, blah, blah. How do you think they made a machine 50% bigger with the same weight? Less materials brother. I hope whatever it is they have in the pipeline is something special, otherwise they may never get their market share back.

If you use the compare tool on Yamaha's site, and compare the 2014 Viking EPS to the 2013 Rhino SE specs, it isn't 50% bigger -- it just has increased capacity/capability. 
 
The Viking is:
8.4" longer
5.2" wider
1.1" taller
And weighs 143 lbs more...
 
That makes the performance gains (50 MPH indicated) and 30% claimed increase in fuel efficiency even more impressive, IMO.
 
They're playing defense. Sounds like we all have to wait to see what happens when they go on offense...

Kinda disappointing but it looks like they are just dipping a toe in the pool, hopefully they will become the player we all want them to be soon.

wonder if you will be able to hear what your passenger is saying in this one