Monday, July 28, 2008
Milville Outdoor National prediction: Dr. D's Ben Evans
I have a bold prediction for the Lites class in two weeks. Making his AMA pro debut, newcomer and former Loretta Lynn's 125A (I think it was that class)/Canadian outdoor winner phenom Ben Evans will make the top 10. And seeing as how Canard won't be there, if by chance Ben gets lapped he should at least be allowed to finish. Kidding, Trey.
Blue Ribbon Coaliton membership giveaway starts now...
This is being posted in the WR Yamaha Thumper Talk forums within moments of each other. The first US resident to answer the question will receive a Blue Ribbon Coalition Gift Membership (which includes a subscription to their magazine). There is no catch other than to answer this….
According to the BRC site, when was the Blue Ribbon Coalition born?
Based on the Thumper Talk time stamp, I’ll contact the first correct answerer via PM to get their mailing address, and we’ll submit the info on the sharetrails.org site.
According to the BRC site, you will be sent a welcome packet with your membership card, pin, decals, and a helpful booklet of information about grassroots advocacy. This may take up to six weeks, so please be patient. You should also be receiving your first issue of BlueRibbon Magazine within 4-6 weeks.
Thanks!
According to the BRC site, when was the Blue Ribbon Coalition born?
Based on the Thumper Talk time stamp, I’ll contact the first correct answerer via PM to get their mailing address, and we’ll submit the info on the sharetrails.org site.
According to the BRC site, you will be sent a welcome packet with your membership card, pin, decals, and a helpful booklet of information about grassroots advocacy. This may take up to six weeks, so please be patient. You should also be receiving your first issue of BlueRibbon Magazine within 4-6 weeks.
Thanks!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Pink Link: Susan G. Komen
Every two weeks we donate money to Blue Ribbon Coalition to help in their fight to keep our public riding lands open. At dinner it was mentioned we should make a limited edition run of YamaLinks in pink....and donate a portion of proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Thing is, our target demographic of Yamaha riders who need/want/would like a lowering link for their bike is small so even if we only make 20 pink YamaLinks it could be FOOOREVER until we sell them. But this isn't about sales when you look at it in the big picture. It's about helping good causes whether they be Blue Ribbon Coalition, a downed rider fund or anything similar.
Or do you think it's better to just keep things non-pink and donate to the Susan G. Komen Foundation as-as if a rider indicates so.
Thing is, our target demographic of Yamaha riders who need/want/would like a lowering link for their bike is small so even if we only make 20 pink YamaLinks it could be FOOOREVER until we sell them. But this isn't about sales when you look at it in the big picture. It's about helping good causes whether they be Blue Ribbon Coalition, a downed rider fund or anything similar.
Or do you think it's better to just keep things non-pink and donate to the Susan G. Komen Foundation as-as if a rider indicates so.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Remember "Coming to America" with Eddie Murphy
Where there was a restaurant with altered golden arches. McDowell's, I believe it was called.
Just received this random email from someone on an extended backroads tour on their WR250....
"The hotel I stayed in was cheap and clean, but kinda sketchy. It was called "Clarino" and had huge letters on the top floor of the building that were illuminated at night. I thought, "hmmm, it's so similar to Clarion." Well, upon walking to my room, there were "Clarion" floor mats and other Clarion signs throughout the hotel. So, this place was obviously a Clarion hotel previously, but who ever purchased it simply switched the large letters on the top of the building to read "Clarino." I was looking forward to the advertised pool, hot tub, and workout facility. Ok, there were some treadmills, that seemed ok and one lady was in there using one, but the multi-use strength machine was so rusty, broke down, and unusable, I thought I would contract tetanus just by looking at it. Oh, then the pool room was locked with a notice posted by the city stating that the facility was deemed unfit/unsafe for public use. Awesome to the max."
Just received this random email from someone on an extended backroads tour on their WR250....
"The hotel I stayed in was cheap and clean, but kinda sketchy. It was called "Clarino" and had huge letters on the top floor of the building that were illuminated at night. I thought, "hmmm, it's so similar to Clarion." Well, upon walking to my room, there were "Clarion" floor mats and other Clarion signs throughout the hotel. So, this place was obviously a Clarion hotel previously, but who ever purchased it simply switched the large letters on the top of the building to read "Clarino." I was looking forward to the advertised pool, hot tub, and workout facility. Ok, there were some treadmills, that seemed ok and one lady was in there using one, but the multi-use strength machine was so rusty, broke down, and unusable, I thought I would contract tetanus just by looking at it. Oh, then the pool room was locked with a notice posted by the city stating that the facility was deemed unfit/unsafe for public use. Awesome to the max."
yamaha lowering link aid
Coming soon to a theater down the street from a theater near you....a surprise! A cool one if you're a Yamaha owner who likes to get all the facts.
Monday, July 21, 2008
yamaha lowering link purchased by the friendly competition
I'm sure Bill Gates has a MacBook, and I'm sure Pepsi has a few empty Coke cans laying around. Now you can add one of our friendly competitors to the list: they ordered an 08 WR YamaLink. Same person who left a naive-sounding voicemail a few months ago placed the order (by far the sweetest voice of all those who called on her behalf). Heck, they didn't even ask for dealer pricing (but we let them know in the invoice that next time we'll cut 'em a deal :P)
Gotta love reverse engineering. Seriously, competition in the marketplace benefits everyone when done respectfully (so says page 4 of our oooold freshman year marketing/business book).
Gotta love reverse engineering. Seriously, competition in the marketplace benefits everyone when done respectfully (so says page 4 of our oooold freshman year marketing/business book).
Away from the phone for a bit...
We'll be test riding/hammering the snot out of some 2009 Yamahas starting Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon. Thought we'd let you know in case the phone kept ringin' and ringin'.
There will be a Blackberry somewhere in the truck, and we'll do our best to keep in touch for the 24 hours; a few YamaLinks will be prepackaged in case we get the opportunity to drop some off at a rural post office.
There will be a Blackberry somewhere in the truck, and we'll do our best to keep in touch for the 24 hours; a few YamaLinks will be prepackaged in case we get the opportunity to drop some off at a rural post office.
yamaha lowering links NOT found in 4 US states
We have been fortunate to have customers in every US state but four.... Louisiana, Alabama, North Dakota, um, I forget the other one.
This concludes today's totally useless YamaLink trivia.
This concludes today's totally useless YamaLink trivia.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
The funniest email we've received about a yamaha lowering link
We read this once, twice and maybe four times throughout the night, and each time we laughed even harder than the previous time!
"Thanks for the speedy delivery! I installed the YamaLink the day it arrived.. Great product! I'm now able to take off my wife's high heels and touch the ground! She still has my balls for buying the WR250R, but she had those on our wedding night!"
"Thanks for the speedy delivery! I installed the YamaLink the day it arrived.. Great product! I'm now able to take off my wife's high heels and touch the ground! She still has my balls for buying the WR250R, but she had those on our wedding night!"
Thursday, July 17, 2008
yamaha lowering link Thumper Talk Part 2
From the WR450F forum....
Hey guys,
I'm 5-9 (well, almost) and ride an 07 450. The bike is great for me EXCEPT when it's tip over time in the tight technical stuff, or even just trying to make a low speed crawling turn. 99% of my get offs are in first gear turning around on a narrow trail.
A more inseam challenged friend of mine recently turned his KTM 450 into a low rider by having the suspension internals modified to accomodate not only his stature (5-6) but his weight (135 soaking wet). I sat on his bike, planted both feet on the ground, and new I finally had to do something about the seat height on my bike.
I had 3 options: cut the seat, have the suspension professionally lowered, or install a lowering link. A couple guys on the forum steered me away from lowering the seat. I've done this for my son's bike and have seen others do it to their 450 and I just felt it would cramp me up in the cockpit and wouldn't achieve the results I was looking for. Didn't want to spend 600 plus to have my entire suspension redone - the suspension capability on the 450 is within my weight range, it was just the height of the bike.
Dan sent me the Yamalink and it was a snap to install. Ten minutes for someone who knows what they are doing, 20 minutes for me. His instructions were very thorough. I reset the sag, adjusted the rear compression and rebound, and raised the front forks a bit also. Took the bike on a two day ride last weekend and would say it is about 80% there. I need to tweak the suspension a bit more to completely dial it in.
Two comments:
1. I LOVE getting my feet on the ground!
2. The customer service from Dan is top notch. He's sent me emails explaining exactly how all this works and because I don't understand the engineering mumbo jumbo (hey, I'm an accountant) he dumbs it down for me. He's also spent a lot of time on the phone as well. AND he always seems available. Wow!
Okay, #3. Before talking to Dan I didn't have a real sound understanding of the dynamics of the suspension and how it all works together, but he's walked me through it so many times now that I think I finally got it...but if not I'm sure he'll explain it again.
Nice job, Dan! Great product and even better customer service!
Hey guys,
I'm 5-9 (well, almost) and ride an 07 450. The bike is great for me EXCEPT when it's tip over time in the tight technical stuff, or even just trying to make a low speed crawling turn. 99% of my get offs are in first gear turning around on a narrow trail.
A more inseam challenged friend of mine recently turned his KTM 450 into a low rider by having the suspension internals modified to accomodate not only his stature (5-6) but his weight (135 soaking wet). I sat on his bike, planted both feet on the ground, and new I finally had to do something about the seat height on my bike.
I had 3 options: cut the seat, have the suspension professionally lowered, or install a lowering link. A couple guys on the forum steered me away from lowering the seat. I've done this for my son's bike and have seen others do it to their 450 and I just felt it would cramp me up in the cockpit and wouldn't achieve the results I was looking for. Didn't want to spend 600 plus to have my entire suspension redone - the suspension capability on the 450 is within my weight range, it was just the height of the bike.
Dan sent me the Yamalink and it was a snap to install. Ten minutes for someone who knows what they are doing, 20 minutes for me. His instructions were very thorough. I reset the sag, adjusted the rear compression and rebound, and raised the front forks a bit also. Took the bike on a two day ride last weekend and would say it is about 80% there. I need to tweak the suspension a bit more to completely dial it in.
Two comments:
1. I LOVE getting my feet on the ground!
2. The customer service from Dan is top notch. He's sent me emails explaining exactly how all this works and because I don't understand the engineering mumbo jumbo (hey, I'm an accountant) he dumbs it down for me. He's also spent a lot of time on the phone as well. AND he always seems available. Wow!
Okay, #3. Before talking to Dan I didn't have a real sound understanding of the dynamics of the suspension and how it all works together, but he's walked me through it so many times now that I think I finally got it...but if not I'm sure he'll explain it again.
Nice job, Dan! Great product and even better customer service!
Thumper Talk yamaha lowering link install report
From the great members of Thumper Talk's Yamaha Dual Sport forum:
I set aside a couple of hours today to install my Yamalink that I ordered.I had seen the video and had a simple set of instructions without photos that came with the link. Well the install took 30 minutes without any hassles. The quality of the piece is superior to the Ymaha casting that you remove. I had previously raised my forks 5/8" in the triple trees and figured on not changing it for the present time.
Riding impression.............besides giving me more footprint (which is nice) the Yamalink is very beneficial in other areas. Highway cruising between 65-75 mph feels much more stable and safe.The suspension soaks up expansion joints and other road irregularities. It feels like the link put my suspension right on the working part of the curve, it also gave me the confidence to do some compression and rebound dampening. A short ride off road displayed better manners, it was much easier to plant a leg and power slide a quick u-turn when needed. Bear in mind that I have no plans to race etc,etc. I simply am working towards making this a safer and quicker bike. To sum it up I am very pleased with my Yamalink, one of those rare purchases that you make that is "spot on"
I set aside a couple of hours today to install my Yamalink that I ordered.I had seen the video and had a simple set of instructions without photos that came with the link. Well the install took 30 minutes without any hassles. The quality of the piece is superior to the Ymaha casting that you remove. I had previously raised my forks 5/8" in the triple trees and figured on not changing it for the present time.
Riding impression.............besides giving me more footprint (which is nice) the Yamalink is very beneficial in other areas. Highway cruising between 65-75 mph feels much more stable and safe.The suspension soaks up expansion joints and other road irregularities. It feels like the link put my suspension right on the working part of the curve, it also gave me the confidence to do some compression and rebound dampening. A short ride off road displayed better manners, it was much easier to plant a leg and power slide a quick u-turn when needed. Bear in mind that I have no plans to race etc,etc. I simply am working towards making this a safer and quicker bike. To sum it up I am very pleased with my Yamalink, one of those rare purchases that you make that is "spot on"
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Paraphrased yamaha lowering link question of the day
Q: Why don't you build a triangular lowering piece for the WR250R and WR250X like you do for the dirt-only models?
A: Our testing shows that the X and R can be lowered a max of 2 inches without messing up the overall handling due to the forks maximum lowering amount. Since the bike can be lowered 1 inch from Yamaha, we decided to build a connecting rod that gave another inch. Yes, we could've build a relay arm for the X and R just like we did the WR-F, but it would've added a lot of cost for the buyer/rider ($145 versus nearly $280). We were basically told by WR X and R riders "we have the inch option on our bike, let us use it, and give us the other inch." And seeing as how 2 inches is the most you want to go for optimal handling we saw no need to produce a 2.5 - 3.5 inch item when 2 inches is all you truly should go.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
YamaLink is the yamaha lowering link of major universities (totally not true)!
This is so very unofficial and not even close to what marketing types call a "trend," but the past two days have seen all our WR250R and WR250X purchases come from students or employees of US 4-year kolledges, um, collejes...damn. Schools. People who go to school!
University of Idaho Vandals.
Purdue Boilermakers
University of Nevada-Reno
School of Hard Knocks (hopefully these riders read the install instructions or we'll be playing "fix the screwed up YamaLink order.")
University of Idaho Vandals.
Purdue Boilermakers
University of Nevada-Reno
School of Hard Knocks (hopefully these riders read the install instructions or we'll be playing "fix the screwed up YamaLink order.")
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Yamaha Lowering Link video WR YZF video complete
Monkey Flip Productions just completed the install video for the YamaLink's WRF, YZ and YZF 125, 250, 426 and 450.
Click HERE to view the video.
Steve and everyone at MFP did another fantastic job!!
Click HERE to view the video.
Steve and everyone at MFP did another fantastic job!!
someone please quit pounding on my brain
Head hurts. Remember we went to a party last night. Woke up. Head hurts bad. And where the heck is our Yamaha WR250X??? Not stolen, but one of our so-called friends "borrowed" it without asking. Guess that's what happens when you pass out before anyone else.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
WR250X versus a frickin' Hayabusa
A) we don't condone street racing or breaking the speed limit or wearing sandals with socks or drunk dialing.
That said, we just witnessed a ballsy WR250X rider try to outgun a Hayabusa in a drag race! The Suzuki rider had his head cranked to the left wondering "what is that little moped doing" before twisting his throttle just a tad. Gone.
But you've gotta give it up to the 250X pilot for toeing the line against one of the baddest bikes on the planet. It'd be like me trying to make Forest Griffin tapout.
That said, we just witnessed a ballsy WR250X rider try to outgun a Hayabusa in a drag race! The Suzuki rider had his head cranked to the left wondering "what is that little moped doing" before twisting his throttle just a tad. Gone.
But you've gotta give it up to the 250X pilot for toeing the line against one of the baddest bikes on the planet. It'd be like me trying to make Forest Griffin tapout.
Big Brown wants to ship yamaha lowering links overseas
UPS is making a pitch to YamaLink in hopes we use Big Brown for overseas orders. They admitted it's difficult to beat usps.com for domestic shipping....and we have a feeling they're going to be surprised how well usps does with their International Express; $24 and you get shipping and tracking and insurance.
But usps doesn't do so well with large(r) orders to a few countries. They've actually returned a big box to us 3 weeks later because they sent the YamaLinks to Ireland instead of Iceland. So UPS was called up. Unfortunately it cost almost $200. Maybe the UPS corporate sales team can give us a way better deal.
But usps doesn't do so well with large(r) orders to a few countries. They've actually returned a big box to us 3 weeks later because they sent the YamaLinks to Ireland instead of Iceland. So UPS was called up. Unfortunately it cost almost $200. Maybe the UPS corporate sales team can give us a way better deal.
yamaha lowering link in Jersey, thankfully not Camden
Today we were supposed to be headed to Camden, New Jersey, one of the nation's most dangerous cities.
Thankfully the trip was canceled. Now I'm sure Camden is a great place, and more than likely we would not have been murdered on the way to the dealership. We think.
Alas, a YamaLink for an 05 WR is headed to a nicer part of the Garden State via usps.com priority mail. Waldwick, NJ, is a beautiful area (we're just pulling that part out of your butts cuz we haven't been back to NJ since our overnighter in Elizabeth...whew).
Thankfully the trip was canceled. Now I'm sure Camden is a great place, and more than likely we would not have been murdered on the way to the dealership. We think.
Alas, a YamaLink for an 05 WR is headed to a nicer part of the Garden State via usps.com priority mail. Waldwick, NJ, is a beautiful area (we're just pulling that part out of your butts cuz we haven't been back to NJ since our overnighter in Elizabeth...whew).
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Yamaha WR250R/X Magazine lowering link pic
This comes from a magazine test on the WR250R/X Yamaha lowering link. It'll be out in the September and November issues. Notice the blue chain (goes with the bike's blue sprocket). As the test reviewer told us, "it's pretty schmick."
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Monkey Flip and the other Yamaha Lowering Link
Monkey Flips Productions is producing another kickass (can we say that on blogger?) install video, this time for the WR F dirt model YamaLink. Steve will receive the rocker in a few days and work his magic. Riders are telling us it is taking them about 10 minutes to install, but the videos are such a hit...and Steve picks out really good music that don't cross that weird line of old TV show stuff like CHiPs or Charlie's Angels.
We'll post it on the main site when things are complete. Woo hoo (we said that in Erik Estrada's voice, btw).
We'll post it on the main site when things are complete. Woo hoo (we said that in Erik Estrada's voice, btw).
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Australia's postal system rocks! Yamaha Lowering Link
A YamaLink can be delivered to the furthest (or is it "farthest"?) outreaches of Australia quicker than it can to the United State's very own Georgia! We asked our local postal clerk why, and she said the Aussies' postal system is a finely tuned machine, and that she's heard the same thing about delivery time: international express to a Yamaha rider in New South Wales or Balcatta - which is, what, 30,000 kilometers away - is faster than sending a domestic priority package to Atlanta, Georgia - which is a 30 hour drive. Unbelievable....and shocking to know our own postal system SOMETIMES runs like a WR250 with it's choke on/gas off/two flat tires.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Yamaha lowering link logo and shoes
Exciting, exciting! Our new YamaLink logo is almost complete. The designer used to work for a shoe company hq'd out of the Portland, Oregon, area. To say she's got da mad design skillz is like saying Martha Stewart is pretentious.
How'd we land a designer with her skillset? Heck, it's not like we have the coin to hire someone of her caliber: she is the relative of a friend's sister whom we met at a BBQ. What would take us weeks or forever to do, she came up with via doodle on a leftover Easter-themed napkin!
"How about something like this," she asked while holding up the drawing.
Swoosh, that's it!
How'd we land a designer with her skillset? Heck, it's not like we have the coin to hire someone of her caliber: she is the relative of a friend's sister whom we met at a BBQ. What would take us weeks or forever to do, she came up with via doodle on a leftover Easter-themed napkin!
"How about something like this," she asked while holding up the drawing.
Swoosh, that's it!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Let's make a deal(er) out of the Yamaha lowering link
New "dealer" page set up on the main site. Hopefully it'll answer some questions (we always get the same two from dealers: do we need to fill out an app, and....guess what the other is.) and get more YamaLinks into the world. Our dealer network grows each day, and we appreciate everyone's patronage from the consumer and retail side!
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