Yamaha may launch the YZF-R25 on March 25

Yamaha has launched a website that suggests it may launch the production version of the YZF-R25 on March 25. The teaser website shows various scenes from a science fiction movie which also features a design sketch of a motorcycle that looks very similar to the concept R25. 

A few parts like the wheels, swingarm, front brake disc, fender and the tail look very similar to the concept displayed at the Delhi Auto Expo. The concept however didn’t sport a headlight, taillight and turn indicators, all which can be seen in this design sketch. The video also shows a scooter which we expect to be a big capacity scooter. 

The company has registered the name “R3” in Europe, so it seems likely that they will go the way of the Duke 390, where the name doesn’t necessarily denote the displacement of the engine. It will also sound much better than “R15” when compared to the ‘R6’ and ‘R1’ names. An outside possibility is that Yamaha has dropped the 250cc engine and gone to 300cc to compete on a level playing field with the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and Honda CBR300R. 

We expect the R25 – or R3, as the case may be – in India sometime next year. The twin-pot configuration and the assumption that it will be a CKD vehicle will place it price at Rs 2.8 lakh or so. Manufacturing here will bring down that cost significantly, but we don’t see Yamaha doing that unless they start exporting it from India as well.