Yamaha R400 and R650 rumoured

[mania]

Yamaha R400 and R650 rumored

JAPANESE magazine ‘Young Machine’ says Yamaha is planning two new middleweight sports bikes – the YZF-R400 and YZF-R650 – in competition with machines like the Honda CBR500R and Kawasaki ER-6F.

Weight is added to the idea by the fact that the firm has recently shown journalists a new twin-cylinder engine which might prove ideal to power such bikes. The firm gave no clues to the motor’s capacity or performance, but it could easily be in the region of 650cc, with the possibility of sleeving it down to 400cc for some markets. Kawasaki does a similar thing with its 650cc ER-6, which is offered as a 400 in some countries including Japan to suit local licence laws.

Any such bikes will be aimed far lower down the market than Yamaha’s existing R6, filling the yawning chasm between that bike and the entry-level R125 sports bike. Earlier this year Yamaha execs also confirmed that the company will be making a 250cc sports bike rivalling the CBR250R, although it will primarily be aimed at markets like India and Indonesia.

Edited July 30, 2013 by mania

[stoneyboy]

Fantastic news,the big bike market is finally starting to develop nicely here now,I will be buying something in the next 12 months for sure.

[mania]

Well if Honda does also come thru with a decent Thai built so 600-650 4 cylinder bike things could be very interesting

Especially if they can keep price down since no import taxes

[BSJ]

Yamaha have been a bit slow off the mark with new models this last decade or so. This will be good news if it's true.

[yankee99]

I didnt see anything about being made in thailand?

[mania]

I didnt see anything about being made in thailand?

That article is just the Yamahas which I do not know where they will be made.

But I meant the Honda which I thought was said to be planned to be made here but could be wrong