Indian Motos Blog » Yamaha

Yamaha India posts encouraging sales figures

Shrawan Raja — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:02:58 +0000

India Yamaha Motor has registered a staggering 28.5 % growth over July last year. In comparison to the 22,899 units sold in July 2010, this year the company has posted a sales figure of 29, 021. Correspondingly the exports of the company have also risen. This is due to the inclusion of the new variants in the FZ and SZ series and has led to the highest ever monthly sale the company has achieved this year. A very pleased Hiroyuki Suzuki, CEO & MD of India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. has also mentioned that the company is involved in marketing and dealer expansion agendas, especially in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Backed by this will be reinforcement of customer relations by initiating consumer –centric marketing initiatives like the R 15 One Make Race, the Yamaha Safe Riding Science and Yamaha Service camps. The ‘YESYAMAHA’ campaign is the company’s initiative towards the existing customers in terms of sales, service and spares. Not only that, Yamaha will approach the festive season with a very optimistic step.

Will Yamaha scooters be as exciting as its bikes?

Shrawan Raja — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 05:13:43 +0000

India is one of the biggest two wheeler markets in the world with an ever growing thirst for fuel efficient commuters which promise to deliver strong and run more. With over 12 million units per annum to be had in the two wheeler sector, this is undoubtedly not a market to ignore or play safe with. The geared scooters era has certainly come to an end - there's no better proof to this allegation than the fall of two extremely capable products in the last few years - the iconic Bajaj Chetak and the Honda Eterno. Companies making them decided to end them and moved on to the gearless family. For a couple of years now Yamaha has been wanting to enter the scooter market which is dominated by the Honda Activa, Hero Honda Pleasure and TVS Scooty. In recent times scooter sales have shown tremendous double-digit growth holding about 18% of the overall two wheeler market which is on the lower side but is rapidly increasing with new and improved products. Yamaha which internationally sells scooters like the Neo, Fino and Spark on first glance look close to competitor offerings, but will not be launched here. The scooters for India will be developed exclusively for our market in Japan. This is similar to the approach the company took with the FZ16 and R15. Yamaha has always been boastful of their advance technology and would continue the same trend with their new scooter as well. “The scooter would be the most advance in its class and would take the likes of the Activa and Wego head on” a source has revealed to Business Standard. The model is undergoing development and it will take Yamaha till the end of 2012 to show a finished product.

2011 Yamaha R15 continues to draw heavy interest

Nazish Siddiqui — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:56:33 +0000

Yamaha R15 is perhaps the ultimate sports bike for about a lakh of rupees. Way back in 2008, Yamaha introduced the YZF-R15, a step well appreciated by the biking community in India which had to do with the Apache and Pulsar, two home-grown motorcycles that were learning fast but by making mistakes. Till date the R15 has not lost its charm and is still a head turner on any road. It is the sports bike that's instantly recognized and ever since its introduction, everyone's been asking for a bigger engine, which the company has not paid any mind to. However the YZF-R15 has been accused of having thin tires, poor response at lower rpm and lack of any style at the rear section. Three years into its launch Yamaha, it seems, has finally decided to refresh the YZF-R15.

It all started when the first spy images of an odd-looking R15 were posted on the internet. The test mule was spotted repeatedly and the final product's image in production form without any camouflage arrived soon after. So what's different in the new YZF-R15? To begin with I don't expect the new R15 to have drastically different engine specs. However this is my hunch and nothing can be taken for granted until the final version is made official. Why would Yamaha increase the horsepower when the game is moving to the 250cc category? Instead of increasing the power and torque of the 150cc and missing out on fuel economy, Yamaha could bring a 250cc and position it above the R15. By looking closely at the spy shot, it becomes obvious that Yamaha has performed significant changes to the cosmetics of the bike. The design of the new R15 has been designed by the man who did the YZF-R125. The entire rear section appears to have been carried over from the R125 and this includes the alloy wheel design. The split rear pillion seat with a raised stance makes the bike sportier. The tail light has been redesigned as well and expect it to have LEDs embedded in them. If you look carefully at the images you will notice that the rear grab rails have been omitted. The rear number plate and the rear indicator set looks very similar to the YZF-R125. The exhaust system sports a new design which to me feels like an ordinary effort. Since it is a new exhaust, expect it to serve you with better acceleration. But the biggest disappointment to me has been the rear wheel hugger which is the ink mark on the designer shirt. Since most of the images have been of the side profile, it is hard to guess the fatness of the rear tire. The tire size is the most hotly debated topic among Yamaha fan boys. The engine has received a matt black treatment, along the lines of the Pulsar. Coming to the front half of the bike I don't see many changes except for the newly designed side panels with fancy graphics. The handle bar, the instrument console and the ignition area looks the same. If Yamaha could enhance the aspects we've discussed here, even marginally, without a drastic price increase, the new R15 should do better than the current model. As of now the launch date or the price for the new R15 is not known. The big question is will Yamaha reserve the launch for the Auto Expo 2012? Whenever it is I hope Yamaha has done the homework and eliminated weaknesses of the previous model. Rendering sourced from - Motoroids.com

Race Concepts presents performance kit for Yamaha FZ16

Nazish Siddiqui — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 20:59:20 +0000

Yamaha took the Indian two wheeler industry by storm in the year 2008 when they launched their best two replica models ever for the Indian market. The Yamaha YZF-R15 and the FZ16 (smaller iterations of the R1 and Fazer bikes) revived their fortunes in the Indian market and helped the company regain its lost reputation. But soon after the launches Yamaha fans realized both models deserved larger engines with better power and torque figures which would have complemented their looks well. Some felt Yamaha had chosen fuel economy over power, right from the company' and industry's perspective, but criminal according to Yamaha aficionados who seek thrill even when commuting for a carton of milk.

In order to fulfill this breed of young customers Yamaha tried out the Daytona kits for both R15 and FZ16 but there were not road legal and were reserved for racing tracks. Soon after other after-market racing and performance enhancement kits came by but none are impressive as Race Concepts' package. Race Concepts will be launching a Big Bore kit for the FZ16 which enhances the cubic capacity of the bike to almost 20% making it a 180cc motorcycle. On top of the Big Bore Kit a free flow muffler increases power by 10-15%. The combination of the Big Bore Kit and the free flow muffler raises overall torque and power figures by 30%. Joel Joseph, the founder of RaceConcepts and the man behind these performance enhancement kits has also tried to improve the fuel efficiency of the FZ16. If demand for performance kits on Yamaha R15 improves, will Yamaha offer factory-installed kits for the FZ16 and R15 in the future? Source - RaceConcepts.in

TV commercial – New Yamaha FZ series

Shrawan Raja — Fri, 27 May 2011 12:17:39 +0000

As we explained in a previous post, the new FZ series from Yamaha aims to connect with riders at a deeper level. The addition of a kick start and colors (Golden Streak, Competition White, Black Cyber Green and Yellow Streak) will keep the sporty offings going till they receive comprehensive overhauls. Yamaha' brand advisor John Abraham continues to be featured in ads and the latest clip has three avatars of him.

The new bikes choose the rider based on his looks/personality. Isn't this a clever way to personalize a motorcycle without making any drastic changes to the product?

New Yamaha FZ Series TV Commercial

Yamaha facelifts Fazer series bikes

Shrawan Raja — Fri, 13 May 2011 10:20:49 +0000

India Yamaha Motor has put new variants of the FZ, FZ-S and Fazer bikes on the market lending them fresh cosmetic touches. The bikes don't have any changes on the mechanical front and notable additions are new color schemes (Golden Streak, Competition White, Black Cyber Green and Yellow Streak) with fancy graphics. To get the message across to customers, Yamaha will device marketing initiatives with brand adviser and Bollywood star John Abraham. A useful addition to the FZ, FZ-S and Fazer is the addition of the kick start which we saw on the Midnight special edition. If the battery is weak after a long and tiring workday, this is more than just a feature - it becomes a boon.

The new FZ is priced (ex-showroom Delhi) at Rs. 67,000, FZ-S at Rs. 69,000 while Fazer will bear the price tag of Rs. 74,000.

Press Release

Yamaha unveils its FZ series in a whole new look Introduces an exciting new range of colours and graphics that would adorn these spectacular bikes New Delhi, 12th May, 2011: With its focus on consistently delivering innovation and novelty to its valued customers, India Yamaha Motor has introduced new variants of the FZ, FZ-S and Fazer bikes of its popular FZ series with a complete makeover. Vibrant colors will adorn these muscular machines along with new logos and graphics to match the changing tastes of the discerning customers. The launch will be complemented by an aggressive media campaign featuring Yamaha brand advisor in India and Bollywood heartthrob – John Abraham. All the models – FZ, FZ-S and Fazer of the FZ family will now have a kick start option and will continue to sport the signature Yamaha look that instills a sense of pride in ownership. After much research on colors and customer preferences, Yamaha has introduced four new colors for FZ-S – Golden Streak, Competition White, Black Cyber Green and Yellow Streak. All four colors of FZ-S have different characteristics which speak for themselves and at the same time maintain their earlier positioning of being the ‘Lord of the Streets’. Fazer will also be seen in four new colors - Competition White, Black Cyber Green, Midnight Black and Lava Red while FZ will be available in two new colors - Midnight Black and Lava Red. The overall idea is to have freshness in the product category which is in line with the company’s promise to give newness to its customers. Speaking about the bikes, Mr. Hiroyuki Suzuki, CEO & MD, India Yamaha Motor, said, “The FZ series has gained immense popularity among youngsters since its launch in September 2008. The introduction of the FZ series in a whole new look is in line with our strategy to consistently provide our customers with fresh and new offerings. These bikes have been instrumental in taking our sales to a higher trajectory. We are confident that the new variants too will be an instant hit among the biking enthusiasts. We have also charted out an extensive plan for the promotional campaign of the new variants featuring our brand advisor John Abraham.” The new FZ will be available at a price of Rs. 67,000, FZ-S at Rs. 69,000 while Fazer will bear the price tag of Rs. 74,000. All these prices are Ex-showroom Delhi. Yamaha will follow a 360 degree approach for the promotional strategy of these new offerings covering all the elements of television, print and web. For the television commercial, Yamaha will bring on board its brand advisor John Abraham who, along with the products, will take centre stage in the commercial. With the Triple Macho concept projecting the muscular silhouette, muscular body parts and muscular chassis, the 153cc FZ series bikes reflect visual expression of performance.

Special edition Yamaha Fazer launched in Spain

Shrawan Raja — Tue, 03 May 2011 20:33:29 +0000

Yamaha introduced the Fazer in India back in 2009 and since then it's been exported it to many markets. Spain turns out to be one place that loves the touring spirit of the Fazer. Sales numbers are not available, but the country' interest in the mini Fazer (called Fazer 16) has grown since the introduction.

To give the Yamaha lovers something special and unique, a limited run Racing White Fazer 16 has been introduced. Yamaha will make only 600 units of the motorcycle and will sell it across all dealerships in Spain. If you recollect, Yamaha offered the same bike in India in limited volumes. Source - PubliMotos.com

Illustrated – New Yamaha YZF-R15

Rakesh Sridhar — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 20:18:35 +0000

The first thing which strikes our mind when we think of Yamaha is their indomitable racing spirit. The sheer unadulterated performance, which is the characteristic attribute of almost all the Yamahas, places the Japanese company in the hearts of millions of motorcycle enthusiasts. From the pocket rocket RX100 to the legendary RD350, Yamaha has set high standards for performance biking in different segments of the Indian motorcycle industry. But, after the emission norms were made strict in the early 2000s, the RX series had to be stopped. What followed was an indifferent bunch of products and the company soon found itself in a major debacle. The scenario changed in 2008 with the launch of the R15 and the FZ16. After a few years in the dark, Yamaha was back in the Indian market with these technologically supreme products. The R15 created a frantic enthusiasm among the youngsters who are power-hungry.

New Yamaha R15 illustration

The FZ consolidated the recovery process with its amazing looks and practicality. The R15 was coherent with the Yamaha racing spirit and made huge inroads into the performance segment of the market. Soon, the P220's diadem was at stake. The R15 was highly appreciated by people from diverse age groups. Though the R15 proved to be good in most of the areas, there were some glitches naturally. The rear section was criticized for being disproportionate when compared with the front. The lack of rear LEDs, skinny tires and poor fuel efficiency are some of the other complaints. The sales eventually saturated, partially, due to its steep price. The only updates the R15 received over the past 30 months are the paint jobs and the sticker works.

2011 Yamaha YZF-R15 - What could be new?

Rumor has it that the new avatar of the R15 is due in the coming weeks. As seen in this illustration that's appeared on the internet, we expect Yamaha to add split seats and rear LEDs. The engine gets an attractive black treatment and the silencer is shortened. The exhaust retains the black painting scheme but looks more stubby now. One of the most awaited improvements are the tires which are now wider both at the front and the rear. A stylish scoop between the twin headlights renders the bike a flashy appearance. The alluring 10 spoke alloy wheels add to the sleekness of the bike. The inclination towards black theme can further be inferred from the carbon-look of the fairing which now sports aerodynamic fins. The technical aspects are something Yamaha ignored to update in the past 2 1/2 years. With the entry of bigger high-performance motorcycles like the CBR250R, its almost certain that Yamaha will tune the new R15 for better power. The R15s which raced in the Yamaha One-make races were boosted to 22Bhp as against the 17Bhp in stock condition. So, these performance enhancement parts might well make their way into the 2011 R15. The cost was the biggest obstacle for the sales of the R15 and hence, we expect Yamaha to price the new R15 aggressively. Yamaha's pricing strategy was brilliantly showcased by the SZ. And so, if Yamaha combines the excellent pricing strategy with improved performance, we are sure that the R15 will continue its great run in the Indian market.

Rendering – 2011 YZF-R15

Nazish Siddiqui — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 09:12:02 +0000

The spy images of a Yamaha test mule has been doing rounds on the Internet which kept our interest alive. Some people thought it to be the YZF R125 (rumored to arrive in India for many months and years now). But we were sure that it was not R125 for obvious reasons which I will not discuss in this article. Then came the news that a new R15 version was going to be launched on 26th of this month with some tweaks to the engine for more power and better low to mid range response.

However there is still no confirmation regarding this news either. The test mule spotted carries many a resemblance to the YZF R125 Notice the split rear seat and the height at which it has been placed. The alloy wheels are also same as the R125. Having said that the front is almost the same as the existing YZF R15.

So what this test mule is? Well its too difficult to answer this question for now. It is not the European YZF R125 for sure. So can it be a new R15 version for 2011? Could it be an all new 125cc motorcycle mounted on R15 chassis? You never know, Yamaha might launch a new 125cc bike (not the European YZF R125) and position it as the younger brother to R15. Or it might just turn out to be a the R15 with some cosmetic changes.

In 2010 Yamaha launched the YBR110 which was nothing but Yamaha Alba in a new outfit. Similarly the other products like YBR 125 and SZ series are based on the engines from Gladiator 125 and FZ series respectively. So this one might also fall along the same lines. This test mule appears to be a mix of YZF R125 and our very own YZF R15. So we thought of taking help from our photoshop expert SRK and bring our readers a rendering of the 2011 YZF R15. Even we didn't expect this rendering will turn out to be such a killer. If the 2011 R15 resembles our rendering then I think this one will sell and create more ripples than the existing version. I feel that this looks even better than Honda's CBR250R. Just a slight change in the rear seat and the alloys make the existing R15 sporty and attractive. If Yamaha dons the new R15 with wider rear tire (130/70-17 should be enough as per my understanding) it will win the hearts of many who blame the R15 of having thin rear tire. From what we observe in the spy pics we expect this one to have LED tail lamps. When this mystery unfolds, we hope for surprises. Till then enjoy reading IMB.

Yamaha Fazer with Scorpio’s engine a possibility?

Rakesh Sridhar — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 12:40:11 +0000

By Rakesh Sridhar The year was 1999. The Indian motorcycle scene was flooded with frugal 100cc bikes and the transition from two-strokes to four-strokes was taking place. The then market leader, Hero Honda, made an audacious move by bringing to India, the first performance oriented four-stroke machine called the CBZ. It took the market by storm and compelled the competitors to enter the segment of 150cc+ bikes. And as we all know, the Pulsars, the Apaches and the R15s followed the entry into the market fueling the motorcycle sales' growth in this country to tremendous heights. Now, we have a similar situation with a new segment of 250cc+ in the making. Though Kawasaki launched the baby Ninja, the Ninja 250R, towards the end of 2009, the price was too high for a person looking for an upgrade from the 150cc+ segment. And it is Honda again to seize this opportunity with its launch of the Honda CBR250R at a highly affordable price. Suddenly, the affordable 250cc+ segment is buzzing with a lot of activity and every major player (including Bajaj, TVS, Yamaha) is working hard to capitalize on this. 2011 promises to be a very exciting year with a plethora of launches expected in this segment.

The Indonesian division of Yamaha launched the Scorpio Z-225 recently. The Scorpio is a 223cc air-cooled, carburetor-fed motorcycle. The Scorpio makes 18Bhp @ 8000rpm and has a torque of 17.5Nm @ 6500rpm. This lands the motorcycle bang in the middle of the Indian performance segment (220+ cc). The FZ16 and the Fazer, which marked the resurfacing of Yamaha India, have been criticized for their juice-less motors. The FZ has been commended for its excellent chassis which can handle even a more powerful engine. So we have an interesting situation here. If Yamaha launches the Scorpio Z-225 in the guise of the FZ, we will have a gem of a motorcycle silencing all the critics and taking the fight to the HH Karizma and the Pulsar 220 directly. Since it is neither fuel-injected nor liquid-cooled, we can expect the price to be low and the fuel efficiency figures in the range 0f 35-40kmpl which makes it a run-away winner in this segment. Let us all hope that Yamaha India listens to our voices and brings this splendid motorcycle to India. Source - indiancarsbikes.in