Yamaha Motor India has had quite the days of confusion as far as its Indian strategy is concerned. The iconic two-wheeler giant couldn’t balance it out with the right products that appealed to the head and the heart but that’s about to change with the manufacturer planning to bring a host of premium motorcycles to the Indian market soon. According to sources, Yamaha has showcased the R3, MT-03, R7, MT-07 and MT-09 motorcycles to dealers with the launch likely in a few months.
The news is huge considering Yamaha completely missed out on the bus when brands like Triumph and Kawasaki capitalised on the potential of the middleweight segment. The move will see Yamaha re-introduce models like the R3 and MT-09 in the country, while the MT-03, MT-07 and R7 have been long-awaited offerings.
The Yamaha R3 and the MT-03 share the same underpinnings and are exactly the models that will tug at the heartstrings of enthusiasts. Both bikes come with a 321 cc twin-cylinder engine that belts out 41.4 bhp at 10,750 rpm and 29.6 Nm of peak torque at 9,000 rpm, while paired with a 6-speed gearbox. The 321 cc Yamahas will take on the KTM 390 Duke and RC, while also competing with the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and offerings from Zontes.
Up next, the Yamaha R7 and MT-07 share similar underpinnings in the middleweight segment. Both bikes draw power from the 689 cc parallel-twin motor tuned for 72.3 bhp at 8,750 rpm and 67 Nm of peak torque at 6,500 rpm. Both the R7 and MT-07 are sharp machines but rider-friendly as well and might just be what the Yamaha enthusiasts have been looking for as their next upgrade. The R7 and MT-07 are also big on hardware with a TFT display that brings a host of functionality, while you also get dual front disc brakes and a single disc at the rear. Considering the MT-07 tips the scales at 184 kg and the R7 at 188 kg, the power-to-weight ratio sounds promising.
Lastly, the Yamaha MT-09 will make a comeback with a bunch of upgrades since it was last sold in India. The bike draws power from the three-cylinder 890 cc motor tuned for 117 bhp at 10,000 rpm and 93 Nm of peak torque at 7,000 rpm, paired with a 6-speed gearbox. The bike gets 41 mm USD front forks while weighing just 189 kg (kerb). The MT-09 promises to be absolutely manic and might just take away a lot of potential buyers waiting for the KTM 790 Duke to make a comeback.
Yamaha is finally answering the ‘Call of the Blue’ or so it seems. But pricing will play a crucial role in the success of these models. Expect certain bikes to arrive via the CKD route, while models like the R7, MT-07 and MT-09 could be brought as CBUs. More details will be unveiled later in the year, closer to the launch. We really hope Yamaha gets it right on all fronts this time.
