The European Takeover - Why Japan can’t build Proper Enduro bikes … 

KTM is dominating the offroad segment. Which is why we are seeing Ducati and Triumph building dirtbikes now. Kids growing up riding dirtbikes become adults who want a bigger motorcycle.

The big 4 - Suzuki has lost the plot. Almost every bike they make is powered by the 2005 GSXR1000 engine. Honda has not been the same since Soichiro Honda passed away. Kawasaki has the backing of KHI - Too bad they can't use it. Yamaha keeps building the same thing over and over again. They let the Europeans have the "enduro" market. All of these companies are selling "enduro" bikes in the USA KTM Husqvarna GasGas Sherco Rieju Beta SWM AJP TM You think that Triumph and Ducati are going to stay out of the "enduro" market once their dirt bike programs get going? And you better believe that the Chinese will be making "enduro" bikes that rival the Euro bikes in a few years...

well, in europa you could buy fantic, which are basically rebranded Yamahas, but thats about it. Imagine buying a new DIrtbike and dont even have a 6 speed gearbox...

I watched a review of an FJR recently and I was shocked when they said it was a '22 model. I would have guessed it was a 2012. Their bikes look almost 20 years old.

I feel like every Japanese brand could come out with an enduro if they just made some slight tweaks to their existing offroad lineup. Add E start. Change gearing, and base suspension/ECU tuning. Done.

BRAVO & THANK YOU for taking the time to say it. I hope they're listening

Not just enduros, but dual sports, too. Other than an ultra utilitarian bike like the DR650 for RTW trips, they are dinosaurs and can't justify buying any of them in 2024.

Another great video! Thanks for discussing another interesting topic

Excelent analysis as always. Keep them coming!

Great video 🔥

That thumbnail of the 450RL in the snow with the rising sun is awesome. Motocross is where the $$$ is for Blue, Red, and Green and u can see thats where their R&D goes. And the same platform can easily go towards their GNCC race bikes, cuz most racers prefered modding a MX bike cuz of power/weight. Second, is around 2006-ish in USA a lot of areas to ride started getting closed down, AND emission's started getting very intrusive to their wallet. BUT, these companies are starting to see the value of the small dual sport and they are selling like crazy cuz of their trail bike capabilites and the license plate opens up offroading to everyone again. So, dominating in MX and the affordable dual sport on a corportate level is a wise decision instead of trying to sell a $12k purpose built enduro that might not even match KTM and Beta. I like that these companies all kinda know what niche they own, and continue to improve those models. I applaud Yamaha for the 125x/250x cuz a lot of old school guys appreciate the light weight kickstart. And Honda for putting out the 450L that people immediately put 20k miles on with no issues. And Kawi/Honda improving their 300's. The emissions for new engines is expensive, and they still kept the prices low.

I agree. Although Kawi won the National Enduro Series. Won GNCC races. Yami can win the same. So does Honda. I like cable clutches, carburetors, and Nissan brakes. My CRF450L is 50lbs overweight and needed an ECU, bigger tank, lighter silencer, rim locks, hand guards, and small bits. It is now ok. My 04 CRF250X is perfect just as it is + tank. But I would like to see a purpose built Japanese Enduro.

Perhaps the closest thing would be a hybrid... Fantic comes to mind

Look into fantic and bimota they use japanese bikes and turn them into everything you are asking for?

In 2013 I won the Lazy Sunday SPRING SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP CUP at Pala Raceway in 50+ Expert, and the SUMMER SERIES CUP too. I know a thing or 2 about MX bikes, 4 stroke and 2 stroke. I was racing XR's in desert and MX in the 80's. My XR 280 was a fire breathing MX/Desert monster.

In an Enduro race near me (Corinth, Greece) there were 12 Beta bikes on the podiums, 7 on the top spot of each category! Hell, there were probably more TM and other small European manufacturers bikes than Japanese bikes on the race!

My 04 Honda XR400R is rock solid and reliable...and I don't feel the need to ride Erzberg. Japanese bikes are a great option for dirt muppets such as myself.

It's good to see another movie with the subject that is interested👍

Treaba buna, tine-o tot asa!!

Love to see the Japanese brands make a competitive 2 stroke. Specially Yamaha after seeing what Fantic did to the YZ. That being said you can get a Yamaha with a hydraulic clutch and it’s also standard on Kawasaki X models but then again those are more cross country bikes.

I work at a large dealership that sells all the KTM brands, Honda Yamaha, Ducati, and triumph. KTM has the best bikes to ride, but easily the worst, as far as quality control and parts support. If it breaks, don’t expect the parts to be available. Especially if it’s engine parts. Even when things are covered under warranty, they don’t have parts available anyway. Orange bikes everywhere. But no parts to keep them going.. not good for a brand claiming premium prices.

You know you're going to be finding those candies on your kitchen floor for next five months at least.

I know the frustration. For years I have been looking for a decent enduro and I feel almost forced to turn to less well know brands. Reluctantly! And what really gets my goat that North America is being serviced with good options!

What about the brand new 2024 Yamaha wr450f, ment to be a more enduro set up + electric start and more. What do u think of that bike as I'm seriously contemplating buying it after the new year?

what about the Italian Japanese bikes like hm or red moto or vent or valenti

WR250F and 450F.... They are as good or better than the Euros. I love my WR and yes, I've owned several from Austria.

Great video. Maybe if we make enough noise we'll get the 300 lbs Japanese Enduro we all want

As a long-time professional in the motorcycle industry with over 3 decades experience with and in Japan I can say: You nailed it! Obviously, you did a lot of research combined with deep interest, thus your holistic approach. Chapeau! You did not condem the Japanese as you appreciate the quality and reliablity. And you mentioned a very important part of Japanese culture, i.e. to be afraid of the unknown, the unproofed, the not-totally-confirmed issues. KTM and other EU-manufacturers do exactly the opposite. As you mentioned, there are people working (up to the CEO) who really love motorcycles and everything which has to do with it. Also, I believe, the EU-manufacturers are so much closer to actual customers´needs and desires. Whereas Japanese manufacturers generally are just a small part of something bigger, industrial. As you pointed out, KHI (Kawawaki Heavy Industries) literally builds anything, from Helicopters over drilling plattforms, ships, robots....plants....name it, they do it. Their motorcycle biz was always (!) red ink, so you can imagine, the development of a real modern offroader is the last issue they are thinking about. And, from the viewpoint of a giant maker like Honda, the EU-market is not so important as we think it is. Yes, the EU and the US are important in terms of selling their technical top-notch bikes, but this is only a small piece of the cake.

I agree with your assessment of Honda. What I don’t understand is why they apparently spend millions of dollars to develop a new Dakar killing bike for 2024 but the rumors are they have no intention of bringing that bike to the public 🤷‍♂️ Why Honda? Why?

Japan has ignored the US market too. I was in the market for an ADV bike in spring of '23. Wanted a T7 World Raid or Extreme. None available because these are produced in France Yamaha factory for euro market. Decided to settle on a base T7. These are made in Japan factory for US market. The biggest Yamaha dealer in Texas was HOPING to get TWO bikes in 2023. Looked into a non-DCT Honda Africa Twin, local dealer had a 2022 model coming in, it never showed up. Then Honda notified ALL US dealer's that NO 2023 AT could be ordered. I went to AMS Ducati Dallas and purchased my DesertX. Hey Yamaha and Honda. Ignore your customers and they'll go away! 😂😂😂 The new Ducati single will usher in the end of Japanese dominance in MX.

I would really like to see, what you think of the Kove Really.

Hmmmmm, my '24 WR450F would have to disagree with you. It has a hydraulic clutch, just a $250usd extra option.

Number one trick., This one's easy, " stay sober ".

I don't remember proper enduro bikes from the japonese, in the past they're all from motocross with modifications, they had good, almost competition dual sport bikes, like honda xr, kdx and klx, It, etc recently honda had crf450l before euro 5, i would like to know how many they sell in europe... You can buy a CRF RedMoto, in some countries you can get a license for the wr450f, and kawasaki i think they will show a enduro lineup. But i agree, the european are better enduro, they are made thinking on enduro, it's different when you made changes to a motocross bike.

Do not agree that much. Swiss MX and Enduro scene is basically built on Yamahas. And i heard that jeremy Seewer guy is pretty decent. And Honda is one of the greatest forces in the Dakar right now. Yamaha redefined the Rally Touring segment with the T7. As i said, can only agree partially when it comes to enduro/hard enduro bikes.

The european bikes are very good.I have a 20 year old KTM excf,its smooth reliable and really good on the dirt

Same goes for FIM S1 Supermoto racing - KTM, TM, Husky etc.... In my opinion the older bikes are far better as they use top shelf components - this was back when all brands were true to their name, not owned by anyone else - parent companies etc.... and not being tight and making things for cheapness - just the best quality bikes that could be produced and to create the best performance for each and every customer - no emissions crap either. The 90's and early 2000's was the best time for all types of bikes - they had the best styling, quality and performance without a doubt. Just my opinion but this is the truth I feel - combustion engine motorcycles today are beginning to go down hill, especially now that electric bikes are coming in.

they just switched over to the larger market, dirtbikes just dont make sense for normal people. your money goes way further on middle weight advs than on dirtbikes anyway. like you can get a new transalp for less then a 300xcw and its like double the bike. reely its only the us with tons of trucks, riding areas, and money where pure dirt bikes make any sense. everywhere else middle weight adv crush it. that's where all the manufacturers are and the bitter competition reely is, suzuki vstrom 800, honda transalp, ktm 690/790/890, yamaha t7, Kawasaki versys or updated klr, triumph tiger 800, even aprilia who havent made a new bike in forever made the tuareg, BMW with f900gs, ducati desertX. this is where motorcycling is if you want to do offroad stuff. with the upshot that you can comute to work and ride to the trail without having to truck it.

No motorcycle company in the world can produce and successfully sell all kinds of motorbikes with top-level technology. For example: BMW never had real competition dirtbikes. Nor did Ducati or Triumph (until now). On the other hand KTMs record of reliable touring bikes is not so great. Japanese brands always tried to offer every type of motorbike for a global market. With proven solidity and reliability. That's simply impossible nowadays ...

That “beard”, bro…

Nothing better than a kick start because you can always drift down the hill and Pop that clutch and get it started

China is close enough and ready to save us. I LOVE my future Kove 😂

why would you need an electric starter when you have at least 1 leg?

KOve: hehe

Cue the YZ fanboys who claim to like cable clutches and kick starting their bike while holding it above their head in an off camber rut on the side of a cliff, haha.

What better bike for the dirt than a mx bike? Put a large tank on it.

Nobody cares about enduro The show and sales are motocross

The Japanese focus on the American market. Americans don’t ride hard enduro. We ride MX and trails/dualsport. Pretty simple answers. Americans travel far. 1,000 mile days are normal for us. Most Americans don’t live anywhere near a hard enduro location. It just doesn’t make sense to waste the R&D budget on making hard enduro bikes that don’t sell in the USA. I can flip this and say, how come the Europeans don’t make any decent long distance touring bikes? How come you never see a KTM 1290 with more than 50,000 miles? Why is every post on r/KTM a nightmare of their 890s cam shaft burning up and KTM corporate not honoring the warranty? KTM dominates hard enduro but they hardly make a splash in American motorcycling overall