Yamaha's R&D centre must be a bustling place now as it seems that the Japanese two wheeler stalwart is busy working on an array of compact sportsbikes.
We all know that Yamaha is working on a quarter litre bike that is expected to see the light of day next year. Young Machines, a Japanese magazine, speculates that Yamaha is working on 400cc and 650cc sportsbikes to take on the likes of Kawasaki Ninja ER-6 and the Honda CBR500R. The Yamaha YZF-R400 and Yamaha YZF-R650 - interesting propositions indeed!
The rumor is not baseless as Yamaha had showcased a new small capacity twin cylinder engine a while ago without mentioning its displacement. The new engine could very well be a 650cc unit which could be downsized to 400cc for some markets. This is the similar strategy followed by Kawasaki for its Ninja ER-6 whose 400cc version is sold in some regions like Japan to take advantage of the local norms.
As of now, the details are very limited but we will surely keep an eye on this development and get back to you whenever something crops up! The 650cc sportsbike, if launched, is expected to tuck below the R6 rather than replace it.
The team of new small sportsbikes from Yamaha is sure to enthrall the novice biking enthusiasts who are in various levels of their expertise, looking to gradate to the next stage.
[Source: Naigai-p.co.jp]
