yamaha Fz 150cc in India

Yamaha which plans to make a comeback this year has introduced four new models at the Auto Expo. With this Yamaha has unleashed its strategic intent to offer product line that demonstarates the global yamaha image and live up to the true Yamaha DNA i.e. performance,innovation and design. FZ 150cc is inspired from FZ1000cc bike. FzZ 150cc bike is expected to be released in India by dec-08. Also unlike the YZF R15, FZ 150 will have only an air cooled engine but that means it is friendly to your wallet. Is yamaha india is back to its roots what it is known for? Catch the interview with Mr.Sam Head, Marketing and Sales.

But my lethargy was due to the fact that I wanted to cover those bikes first, which are production ready. The memory of the Yamaha Gladiator 150-165 cc "Prototype" is still fresh in my mind. The Gladiator 150-165 cc "Prototype" was another concept which was shown in Auto Expo 2006 but sadly never saw the light of the day. The other Yamaha product shown at the Auto Expo 2008, the YZF-R15 seems almost production ready and therefore I chose to cover that before the FZ-150.

The only change that Yamaha India needs to make in the FZ-150 is change the rear tyres from the impossibly fat (for a 150 cc) to normal ones for a 150 cc bike..
The FZ-150 "Prototype" shown in the Auto Expo 2008 has a 150 cc engine, carburettor (instead of fuel injection), fat rear tyres (about as big as Pulsar 200/220 rear tyres), air cooled engine (not liquid cooled like the YZF-R15), 5 speed gearbox (insted of a 6 speed one on the YZF-R15) and also the FZ-150 doesn't have the "delta" frame of the YZF-R15.

In November, Yamaha will launch the naked FZ, which uses an air-cooled engine, and lots of styling elements from the international FZ range (naked bikes from Yamaha). The engine, once again, is a 150cc unit, but torque rather than top-end glory is the aim here. So expect an effortless, likeable machine. Once more, the small bits are of a very high quality, high enough to make the RTR 160 look a bit under-designed. This one should be a more normal price, say Rs 65,000 on-road. Both FZ and the YZF-R15 have monoshocks, mind you.

Maybe the only change that Yamaha India needs to make in the FZ-150 is change the rear tyres from the impossibly fat (for a 150 cc) to the ones found on the Pulsar 150's and the Apache's. Apart from the tyre change the looks of the FZ-150 should be left untouched.The FZ-150 would look stunning even without that leggie "firangi" model on it.

I don't see a reason as to why Yamaha India shouldn't launch it. The FZ-150 easily will easily overshadow the Pulsar, Apache RTR, CBZ Xtreme or the Hunk in the looks department.And if performance if the name of the game, then the YZF-R15 should take care of it.On inquiring about when can we expect the FZ 150 to appear in the market, the Yamaha Officials at the Auto Expo said that they had no clue.

I just hope that the FZ-150 isn't just a "Prototype" but a mass production model to compete with the Pulsar 150, Apache RTR 150, CBZ X's and the Hunks.. and leave the YZF-R15 to take the niche position as the 150 cc performance king

yamaha YZF-R15 150cc bike in India

“A bike which can beat any production bike in India from any stable ,in a quarter mile, in a straight line, at the corners and in traffic” - The Yamaha YZF R15. This bike has been displayed at auto expo 2008 in Newdelhi.

Yamaha YZF R15 is a india specific bike hosting an 150cc engine which was designed for just one thing - Performance! A bike which can be said as the fastest in Indian Bikes. Although the engine details are secret YZF R15 have several first-in-Indian-bike features.

Packed full of state-of-the-art technologies, the new YZF-R15 boasts performance worthy of a supersport model and a body design that evokes the image of the YZF-R series and gives visual expression to the quality of its ride. It is truly an embodiment of Yamaha’s desire to bring customers a model to help them “Enjoy riding”.

The new YZF-R15 makes full use of the MotoGP race experience and YZF-R series supersport bike development technology and know-how acquired by Yamaha Motor over the years to create a 150cc supersport bike that offers users to truly “Enjoy riding” in a full range of situations, from around-town riding to touring on winding roads and even aggressive riding on the circuit.

Yamaha YZF R 15 is the first model for the Indian market designed in the true supersport image and featuring a high-level balance of enjoyable running performance on winding roads, enjoyable performance and riding comfort with a tandem passenger and agile handling through crowded city traffic. The body has been designed to show at a glance that this is a “R series bike” and to give visual expression to technology feedback from the 10 years of YZF-R series development since the series debut in 1998. In this way, it is a direct expression of Yamaha’s motorcycle development ideal of “Exciting Performance & Stylish Design” in the 150cc class.

YZF-R15 will be launched by middle of this year . Acknowledging the fact that Yamaha was not a very competitive player in the Indian market, the newly appointed chief executive officer and managing director, Tsutomu Mabuchi, said, “We are not strong and competitive player. We want to strengthen our presence here with the support from Yamaha (Japan).” “We plan to strengthen our dealership network,” he added. The company plans to take its dealership network from existing 375 to 500 in 18-24 months from now. It also plans to open 10 direct shops,owned and run by the company,in the next one year to come at New Delhi, Mumbai, among others.

It is based on totally race technology with which MotoGP bikes runs, technology with which R1 is built. It is India’s first 150cc 4 valve engine. It is India’s first Bike with forged pistons. It is India’s first Bike with a Diasil Cylinder. It is India’s first Bike with the Deltabox frame, again based on the R1. And it is India’s first Bike with a 6speed gear box.It is Fuel Injected and will hit the market in June 2008 .The rear tyres though are only a mere 100, MRF uses imported Soft compound to give it better grip than similar sized tyres.We can expect a prize of INR 80000/- for a beast like this. Never care for the CC. I hope it will have 20+ bhp and a top speed somewhere near 140kmph. I repeat , I HOPE!

Main Features

(1) A newly developed 150cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, single-cylinder fuel-injected engine

(2) An all-aluminum “DiASil Cylinder” produced by an exclusive Yamaha casting technology

(3) Eco-friendly performance that clears the next-phase Bharat 4 emissions standard(4) The “Deltabox frame” known for excellent rigidity balance

(5) Impressive “2-eye” multi-reflector headlight design in the YZF-R series image

Specifications for YZF-R15

Engine: 150cc,four-valve SOHC,Liquid cooled

Power: 22 bhp (guesstimate)

Gearbox: 6-speed (NC)

Fuelling: Six-hole injectors

FIFrame: [Steel] Twin-spar frame

Fuel tank: 12 litre

Length: 1995 mm

Width: 670 mm

Height: 1070 mm

Wheelbase: 1290 mm

Ground Clearance: 160 mm

Tyres: 80/90-17 (f), 100/80-17 (r) tubeless

Brakes: Front and rear disc

Cost: Rs.80,000-90,000.