Yamaha fans have a special treat at hall no. 6 with the showcase of the R25 concept motorcycle at the 2014 Auto Expo. The R25 concept will be basis for the upcoming quarter-litre motorcycle from the Japanese manufacturer with a super bike like styling and exhilarating performance. Yamaha has also launched the Cygnus Alpha scooter that has been added to Yamaha’s scooter lineup in India.
The Yamaha R25 concept carries a 249cc parallel twin-cylinder engine with output figures not revealed yet. The concept has the aggressive super bike stance and has received its styling from the YZR-M1; while the R15 relation is quite evident in the side profile and the rear quarter of the concept. The R25 misses out on the lights, switch gear and other smaller bits, which will be added to the production spec model.
The concept uses a tubular frame rather than a steel spar used on the R15, as well as the race spec seats, large air intakes and the Akropovic exhaust system. While some of the features may not make it to the production version, Yamaha will certainly keep the performance fine tuned to maximise riding pleasure. Much like the R15, the R25 too will be track friendly with linear power delivery throughout the rev range.
It is unsure whether we will get the twin-cylinder or a single cylinder unit as the pricing would be a lot different with either engine options. The former would be a commercially viable option, while the twin-cylinder engine would put the R25 in the Ninja 300 territory. Expect Yamaha to launch the R25 or the YZF-R25 production spec version of the quarter-litre bike with around 28 – 33 PS of power and a fuel economy 25 – 30 km/l. The styling too will be toned down for a more production friendly appearance. With 250cc and higher segments booming, Yamaha is sure to offer a performance friendly product that will be hard to resist.
The Yamaha R25 production version will be ready for launch by the end of this year and will be competing against the Honda CBR250R, upcoming Hero HX250R, Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the likes in the segment. Expect a price tag of Rs. 2.5 lakhs when launched.
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