Yamaha unveils first 2006 models at dealer meeting

Yamaha dealers from across the country have gathered in Las Vegas for the company’s annual meeting to talk up what new products will be available next year. Celebrating 50 years in the motorcycle business this year, Yamaha has divided the market into three categories for its 51st year: Outdoors, Sport and the new Star line, which are all the cruisers.

The Outdoors segment is all utility ATVs and “Side X Sides.” The “Sport” category is essentially everything that’s not a utility ATV or a cruiser—which means this category includes the bulk of Yamaha’s offerings.

To help get youngsters up and riding Yamaha has introduced the TT-R50 (right). Key features on this entry level bike include a 49cc four-stroke engine and three-speed automatic clutch transmission. The bike also has an electric starter.

MSRP: $1,149 (available in July)

For those who are a bit older and faster, Yamaha has come through with an all-aluminum frame on its updated YZ450F and YZ250F competition motocross models.

The 450 (left) also sports an all-new, close-ratio, five-speed gearbox.

Both bikes use a generous amount of titanium to keep weight low and both are available in 50th anniversary yellow and black.

YZ450F MSRP: $6,899 - $7,099 (available in November)

YZ250F MSRP: $5,999 - $6,199 (available in October)

Some ATVs also fall into the sport category and the sportiest is the all new Raptor 700R (right). Yamaha says the Raptor is new from the ground up and features a new 686cc fuel-injected motor that revs to 9,000 rpm, a competition-spec dry sump lubrication system, and an all-new hybrid steel-and-aluminum frame.

MSRP: $6,999 (available in July)

Also, the Banshee and Blaster (the last two-stroke ATVs in the business) make a final appearance in 2006, bringing an end to that era.

Scooters also fall into the Sport category. New for 2006 is a behemoth called the Morphous (left). At 93.3 inches long, this is one scooter that's going to take up a bit of garage space.

Typical for scooters, the Morphous is driven by a fully automatic V-belt transmission. It’s powered by a 249cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected single. That long wheelbase means there’s voluminous storage under the seat and in a trunk behind the seat.

MSRP: $5,199 (available in September)

Yamaha has spun off its Star line of motorcycles into its own brand—Star Motorcycles—which includes all of Yamaha’s cruisers, and unveiled the Roadliner (right) as the new brand's first bike.

Yamaha decided to create Star Motorcycles to give the bikes their own identity. The tuning fork company has been building Star cruisers for almost 10 years.

The Roadliner's styling is what Star Motorcycles calls ``neo-streamline'' with flowing, air-sculpted shapes and sweeping lines that convey a sense that the bike is rushing through the wind even while standing still.

The bike features an all-new 113-cubic-inch (1,854cc), air-cooled engine, belt drive, and a lightweight aluminum frame.

To keep the styling especially clean, all the wiring is hidden inside the handlebars. This technique has been used for years in the custom world, but is new for a factory production motorcycle.

A tourer has already been added to the new Star family, and it's called the Stratoliner (left). It features a quick-disconnect windshield and passenger backrest. Though both can be removed in seconds, they also feature a keyed lock that matches the ignition.

The bold new look, according to executives, signifies the new direction the company plans to go—which is away from the “traditional” cruiser.

Roadliner MSRP: $13,580 - $14,980 (available in October)

Stratoliner MSRP: $15,180 - $16,580 (available in December)