Yamaha working on a Turbo-charged Twin

- First evidence of Yamaha working on a turbocharged engine

- Could be a two-cylinder version of the MT-09 847cc motor

- Two separate layouts unveiled in the patent images

After leaked patent images from Kawasaki and Suzuki, it seems Yamaha too has joined the bandwagon for a turbo-charged engine as patent images of the same have surfaced on the internet. Whether the patent application design will make it into production or not is yet to be known. However, the images confirm that the Japanese manufacturer has invested a good amount of time and research in developing these designs.

On looking at the main image, the silhouette resembles that of the MT-09 that originally features an 847cc three-cylinder motor. However, the other detailed images suggest the engine to be a parallel-twin due to the two exhaust ports. If Yamaha has used the same MT-09’s motor, then expect the displacement to be around 565cc. The reduced size will offer better packaging of the turbo piping and equipment apart from more power output with better efficiency.

The patent images had two separate layouts with different arrangements for the turbocharger and catalytic converter. The first one featured a rather conventional design with the exhaust header merging the two ports into one just before it connects to the intake side of the turbocharger positioned low below the cylinders. The catalytic converter has been located just ahead of the engine below the turbocharger.

In the second layout, Yamaha has taken an innovative approach by rotating the turbocharger and mounting it closer to the exhaust ports flush with the cylinder head. This allows the catalytic converter to be mounted vertically ahead of the motor and also achieve faster heating thus improving the emissions performance during cold starts.

Now, which manufacturer comes out with a turbo-charged motorcycle first in this modern era remains to be seen.