Leaked documents list a new model MTN250 for production in 2015 at Yamaha’s Indonesia plant that currently produces the R25 quarter-litre motorcycle for the global market.
The past year has seen Yamaha bring out some very interesting street-fighters including the MT-09, MT-07 and more recently the MT-125, its smallest naked offering in the lineup for the global markets. While the R25/R3 is what we await patiently scheduled to come in 2015, the Japanese auto giant is clearly not done with nakeds and has just another mighty offering in the works. As per few leaked documents in Indonesia, Yamaha is working on a new motorcycle codenamed ‘MTN250’ that will be commencing production from the middle of the next year.
With the ‘MT’ prefix applied to the naked motorcycles in Yamaha’s lineup, it gives us every reason to assume that the new ‘MT-250 or MT-25’ as it is most likely to be called will be a street fighter version of the Yamaha R25 full faired sports bike. The naked motorcycle will be built around the same chassis and the 249cc parallel-twin engine from the R25 will continue to do duty. Yamaha has already done the same for the MT-125 which in turn is based on the R125 and there is no reason as to why the company won’t do it with the MT-25 as well.
Another possibility is of Yamaha using the 321cc engine from the R3, while also reviving the now defunct MT-03 moniker. With 42 PS of power on offer, the MT-03 would be one absolutely stunning performer, not to mention the heat KTM’s Duke 390, Honda CBR300F and the Kawasaki Z250 will face in the segment. The third possibility and a plausible one too is Yamaha having two naked motorcycles MT-25 and MT-03, much like the R25 and R3. Like the full-faired version, the MT-03 would be restricted for more developed markets, while the MT-25 will be limited across Asia and parts of Europe.
Yamaha is also expected to tune the engine and gear ratios to meet the naked bodystyle. The new street fighter will be produced at the same Indonesia plant that manufactures the R25/R3 with body kits exported to markets globally. There could be a possibility of the MT-25 making it to India, but not before the second half of 2016. The response to the R25/R3 will also be a deciding factor in bringing its naked sibling to the country. More details are expected to come out in the next few months.
