Yamaha recently launched the XSR700 and XSR900 internationally, and hinted that they could have a similar motorcycle with smaller capacity. A DT400 could join Yamaha’s rapidly expanding Sports Heritage range.
The DT series ran from 1968 to 1995; it was a successful series from Yamaha at the time. The DT series was created by Yamaha when the United States motorcycle market was down. Market research by Yamaha indicated that despite slow motorcycle sales, there was a largely untapped market for off-road motorcycles. At the time, only a few specialty European manufacturers such as Bultaco and Husqvarna made motorcycles specifically for off-road use.
Speaking at the launch of the XSR900, Yamaha’s Product Manager, Shun Miyazawa said, “Now we have the 700, 900 then I think we can definitely do something similar with smaller capacity. It could be DT. After having found SR400, a similar capacity could be interesting.”
Laughing off criticism that Yamaha is copying Ducati, Shun Miyazawa said, “Honestly we don’t care - there’s always somebody who wants to say somebody is copying somebody. If we do it, then our bikes will be probably 150 per cent more fun compared to that nice Bolognese Scrambler.”
The DT400 will most likely be the single-cylinder 23bhp air-cooled engine from the current SR400. It will take on Ducati’s 399cc twin-cylinder Scrambler Sixty2.
Picture Courtesy - MotorcycleClassics
