Yamaha Call of the Blue
we head to the Yamaha HQ in the Land of the Rising sun and also witness the Japanese gP
YAMAHA. THE NAME RINGS a bell in every performance motoring enthusiast there is. From the days of the RX100 and RD350 two-strokers, the Japanese giant has carved a special place in many hearts. Some even see it become almost a cult following. From one Yamaha to another, they stay loyal to the blue brigade. Backed by the legendary number 46-adorned YZR-M1 ridden by the living legend, Valentino Rossi, the race-bike inspired superbike, YZF-R1, is a halo model for the tuning-fork brand. However, while those set pulses racing, it’s the YZF-R15 and FZ series that are bringing in the numbers and furthering the “Call of the Blue”, Yamaha Motor India’s latest campaign to break new ground and expand their horizons. Yamaha have realized that their name resonates with performance and things look set to become even more exciting.
To celebrate 10 years of the FZ and to get more involved in what makes the “Call of the Blue” tick, we were invited for the Japanese grand Prix race weekend at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan in what would be the 16th round of the championship. What was more exciting was that the Yamaha MotogP team look to be on course for finishing the season much stronger than when they started out. Their spurt of form in the last round in Buriram, at the Thai gP, was encouraging no end. But first, a visit to the headquarters in Iwata that also houses the company museum was a treat meant to be savoured.
Taking centre stage, literally, and with a revolving stage, no less, was the Yamaha Niken — the three-wheeled performance, um, middle-weight. Borrowing the powertrain from the MT-09, the Niken puts the 115-PS three-cylinder motor to good use, with two parallel front wheels and a
masterpiece of front suspension work doing duty. Does this qualify as alternative means of transport. it can stun onlookers and tackle corners in one breath. it can be used for touring and probably won’t be out of place on a racetrack either. however, since we don’t see the niken coming to india anytime soon, let’s not get carried away.
The first exhibit to catch our eyes was the Ya-1: Yamaha’s first-ever motorcycle since the motor company was founded by genichi Kawakami on 1 July 1955. a 125-cc, two-stroke, single-cylinder engine powered it and also took it to victory at the third mount Fuji ascent race. a more sport-oriented evolution came in the form of the larger, 250-cc, twin-cylinder YD-1 in 1959. Yamaha dominated the asama highland race, winning both 125-cc and 250cc categories. The 20-Ps 250 was then named the YDs1: Yamaha’s first sport bike.
The museum is home to a number of racing specials, including the likes of rossi’s titlewinning m1, the present m1 ridden by rossi and Viñales, as well as several legendary race bikes such as the rD56, their first 250-cc gP bike, the monstrous 86-Ps TZ250m, and, of course, the YZr500. The tandem-spec YZr, ridden by randy mamola, helped one pillion at a time experience the rush of a 180-Ps, 500-cc, two-stroke, four-cylinder, premierclass gP bike on track.
The road bikes that Yamaha make are no less impressive. The YZF-r1m is the closest one can get to a race-bike feel. With over 200 Ps wrapped in a signature frame, highperformance suspension, and several carbonfibre components, among other bits, the r1m is the most exhilarating superbike from the Tuning Fork brand yet. The YZF-r1 litrebike and the middleweight YZF-r6 are exceptional track tools with a high level of rider involvement. Then again, not all Yamahas are subject to supersport design, the VmaX being a prime example. huge bruiser design, a 1,670-cc V4 engine with 200 Ps, and a 9,000-rpm red-line. What’s not to like?
Yamaha have a slew of models with a few global markets sharing some common products, yes. The halo range — r1m and VmaX — are present almost everywhere, but some others, particularly the mT range from the “dark side of Yamaha”, are conspicuous by their absence. While the mT-09 is available in india, the others, notably the largest of the lot, mT-10, the twin-cylinder mT-07, the smaller mT-03 (or mT-25), and even the mT125 are not. however, there is a bit of good news. Yamaha could well bring in the mT-15, shown in Thailand, to indian shores. Yamaha, no doubt, are looking forward to building the mT sub-brand in india. The mT-15 could be
the best way to get going. The mT-15 is essentially a stripped-down, tweaked YZF-r15; so we’re looking at a similar 19-Ps, four-valve, liquid-cooled proposition. it will be positioned above the FZ-16 and will cater to those looking for more performance than the average 150 can offer.
more anticipated models, of course, come in the form of automatic scooters and Yamaha have no shortage of models. The Cygnus ray we have here as a 113-cc version is available with a 125-cc engine in Japan and in other south-east asian markets. There are more — the Janus is a 125 scoot with a different styling. and they get larger, too. Oh, and how!
The nmaX 155 has a high likelihood of coming to india. Yamaha will have noticed the market opening up to performance scooters and surely don’t want to be left behind. The sportier XmaX range is available in a choice of three displacements — 125, 300, and 400 cc — which make 14 Ps, 28 Ps, and 33 Ps respectively. Finally, there’s the big daddy: the TmaX. With all of 530 cc and 46 Ps, the TmaX is the largest, most recognizable powerscooter in Yamaha’s arsenal. none of the big scooters come cheap, but, i believe, if the market is truly opening up, there should be both choice and availability for those willing to buy them.
When asked if any of these scooters are heading to india, Yamaha only said they’d let us know in the future.
either way, the “Call of the Blue” is picking up steam and we hope to see more exciting offerings from the marque very soon.