The popularity of quarter-litre motorcycle is growing in India. However, there aren't many options to choose from in this segment since only a few manufacturers offer products in this segment. Yamaha offers the YZF-R3 in India and now the Japanese manufacturer is working on a new motorcycle. Spy images of a motorcycle being tested on a highway in Delhi have appeared on the Internet. The spotted motorcycle looks similar to the current naked bikes from Yamaha.
The first noticeable thing seen in the spy shots is the different engine on the bike. It seems that Yamaha has mated the bike with the same motor, powering the Fazer 250 that is sold in the Brazilian market. The 249cc oil-cooled, single-cylinder, fuel-injected motor churns out 20.7PS of power and around 20.4Nm of peak torque and comes coupled with a 5-speed constant-mesh gearbox. Keeping in line with the upcoming emission norms, the engine will be BS-IV complaint for India.
The test bike featured telescopic forks at the front and a mono-shock at the rear. Braking duties were handled by disc brakes at both ends. However, on a closer look, it was observed that the bike missed out on the ABS pulse-plate and sensors which we feel could be included in the production-spec version.
Sporting a diamond type frame, other noticable elements of the bike were a flat handle bar for upright and comfortable riding dynamics and an upright riding position. Other highlights include an LED headlamp unit which has been borrowed from the M-Slaz, fuel tank with extensions which give the bike a rugged look, split-seats, an LED tail lamp unit, and a stubby exhaust with a silver-finish panel.
From the test mule, it is safe to infer that the bike might be close to reaching the production line and Yamaha might also export the motorcycle to other international markets. The price is expected to be around the Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 lakh mark (ex-showroom). Once launched, the quarter-litre bike will go up against the likes of the Honda CBR 250R, KTM 200 Duke and the upcoming Bajaj CS400/Kratos.
Source: BikeDekho.com
