Yamaha is leaving no stone unturned while publicising its new quarter-litre sports motorcycle, the R25. The latest of Yamaha’s marketing strategy comprised of a track day for Yamaha enthusiasts and potential buyers in Japan. The Japanese manufacturer hosted a track test ride for its two new offerings in the two-wheeler segment, the sports motorcycle R25 and the naked motorcycle MT-07.
The R25 is one of the most highly anticipated motorcycle of this year. However, Indonesia is the first and the only market that has received the R25. Even there, the demand has exceeded the projected sales target as 2,800 units were booked within 25 hours of the launch. This has forced other manufacturers to re-strategize their pricing and Honda has already cut the prices of its CBR250R in Indonesia.
The R25 that is powered by a 249cc parallel-twin engine, churns out 35bhp at 12,000 rpm and 22.1Nm of torque at 10,000 rpm. The lightweight gives the R25 a phenomenal power-to-weight ratio making it a very potent track machine as well as a day-to-day city motorcycle.
No confirmation about the overseas market launch of the R25 has been received. We expect the R25 to hit Indian shores by the mid of next year. Yamaha will have to keep competitive pricing for the R25 as it will face stiff competition from KTM’s RC390 and Honda CBR250R. Also, local manufacturers like Bajaj and Hero MotoCorp are on the verge of introducing their 400cc and 250cc motorcycles respectively. Moreover, Bajaj and Hero MotoCorp will have a home ground advantage as their cost is limited whereas Yamaha will have to face import duties.