Yamaha YZF-R25 unveiled

Yamaha has unveiled their long awaited YZF-R25 in Indonesia today. It will be released in the Indonesian market by July 2014. The bike is powered by a brand new two-cylinder four-stroke 250cc liquid-cooled engine.This engine produces 36PS@12000rpm and 22.6Nm of torque at 10,000rpm. It runs a six-speed gearbox. The R25 weighs in at 166kg, which isn't too heavy but not featherlight either. The bike will be be priced at around 53 million Indonesian Rupiah (approx: Rs. 2.7-2.8 lakh).

The bike comes with an all new high-compression (11.6:1) engine which uses Yamaha's unique DiASil (Die casting Aluminum-Silicon) cylinders for excellent heat dissipation and lighter weight. This is also, the first time Yamaha has implemented this technology in a two-cylinder engined motorcycle. The bike uses a steel frame and has a front suspension with 41mm inner tubes; making it one of the largest in its class (only the RC 390 with its 43mm inner tube is larger). The rear monocross suspension contributes to mass centralisation. The bike also gets a mid-ship end can which helps keep its weight distribution at a perfect 50:50.

The superbike you can ride every day

The R25 borrows some design cues from its bigger R1 and R6 siblings such as the reverse-slant twin headlights and the pilot light in between provide for a sharper look. An air duct in-between the lamps is reminiscent of the M1 MotoGP race bike and it has shift indicator identical to that which is found in the YZF-R1.

Yamaha has used the concept 'superbike you can ride every day' while designing the bike. They claim that the bike is very comfortable to ride on a daily basis. Like the current R15 it should offer comfy but involving ergonomics. In Indonesia, the R25 is available in three colors; Racing Blue, Black Predator, and Diablo Red. Yamaha is targeting 12,000 sales in the first full year of sales in Indonesia alone.

The Yamaha YZF-R25 will meet stiff competition from the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the KTM RC 390. The Ninja 300 produces 39PS but also weighs six kilos more. Nevertheless, it ups the R25 with a better power-to-weight ratio of 226PS/tonne as compared to the Yamaha's 216PS/tonne. The RC 390 on the other hand, produces more power and weighs less than both (43PS and 154kg). It has a power-to-weight ratio of 279PS/tonne. While the RC is a single-cylinder, it is expected to undercut both its rivals when it comes to price.