IMFY

Auto expo 2012

2012-01-10T03:43:00.002+05:30

After a wait for 6 years, i finally got a chance to visit the Indian Auto Expo 2012....

Here's a short compilation of the scintillating offerings on display at the Auto Expo.

** More on bikes and on Yamaha in the coming few weeks!

2010-12-11T19:40:00.004+05:30

Yamaha launches FZ-1 at 8 lakhs :D

Drool time :D and please, someone give me a loan :D

2010-12-11T19:38:00.001+05:30

A new version of the SZ-X..christened the "Yamaha SZ-R"...looks stunning, and the disc brake is a welcome addition :D

2010-07-29T06:27:00.003+05:30

Yamaha has done a Hero Honda by launching a re-badged Gladiator and renamed it as SS125!!!!

HOwever, the company plans to launch an affordable 150cc bike to be christened SZ150, and a new 125cc bike (YBR 125) and a new version of the popular Fazer and FZ series :D The expected date of launch is 4th of August which is just a few days away. So keep watching this space for more!! :)

SZ 150

YBR 125(UK) (Libero LX in india)

2010-04-14T11:00:00.004+05:30

YAMAHA LAUNCHES THE YBR 110!

Another attempt at breaking the commuter jinx that's been plaguing IYM since itz divorce with 2 strokes and Escorts! I still think it's too steeply priced and doesn't look as attractive(the G5 looks better) as the other 100+cc bikes in the market, especially after the launch of the CB twister! Lets see if they have made any changes in Engine because the Alba also suffered from an Engine which was average in every aspect..avg power n avg mileage! Yamaha seriously needs MOI in their product planning team :P..haha

Here's the dope from the press conference!

“Yamaha unveils all new YBR 110

All set to make a mark in “Family Commuter” segment

New Delhi, 13th April, 2010: Adding to its portfolio of impressive and successful motorcycle models, India Yamaha

Motor Pvt. Ltd. today unveiled its new motorcycle, YBR 110 (pronounced as YBR One ten) in the Indian market. YBR

110 comes with a decent yet stylish design and is targeted at middle income class people who want to have a stylish

and comfortable commuter bike.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Yukimine Tsuji, CEO & Managing Director, India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd.said, “After

successfully launching our bikes in the 150cc segment, we have now launched a commuter motorcycle YBR 110 which is stylish and has good ergonomics for comfortable day to day commuting. We have been studying the entry level market and wanted to launch a new bike at an affordable price and that would give satisfactory mileage. Like other Yamaha bikes, YBR 110 carries Yamaha DNA of Performance, Innovation & Design. We are confident that we will replicate the success of our premium segment bikes with the launch of all new YBR 110 in entry level space.”

YBR 110 has electric start, air cooled 4-stroke SOHC engine which provides excellent low end torque for everyday

riding. The bike has 4 speed slick gearbox with perfectly spaced gear ratios that provides optimum torque throughout the rpm range and ensures stress-free riding in congested conditions without requiring frequent gear changes.

The bike has a stylish & brighter multi-reflector headlight for better visibility in night and its wind tunnel aerodynamic silhouette designed cowl has character lines that convey a sense of sharpness. YBR 110 has modern fit & finish with easy reading instrument console including a fuel meter. Sharp graphics & grab rail add to the overall sporty style and character of the bike.

While the chiseled look, broad well-contoured fuel-tank gives a trendy modern look, the side panel and the tail cowl design showcase strong expression of down-force movement, and provide a visual display of sporty character. The bike’s broad and comfortable seat design is such that it makes the ride fatigue-free for the rider and the pillion. The ideal ergonomics of seat, handlebar, riding posture, knee recess on the petrol tank are all designed for comfortable riding. YBR 110 suspension’s characteristic of rebound damping along with fast and slow compression is very well suited for Indian road conditions. The result is excellent handling, ride comfort and resistance to bottoming even in tandem riding. The twin cradle down tube type frame has optimum strength, rigidity balance and outstanding longitudinal & lateral stability resulting in excellent handling characteristics. As Yamaha bikes are known for durability and low maintenance, these specs rightly fit with the ad punch line of YBR 110 which is “Mazbooti aisi ki chalti jaaye”.

YBR 110 is priced at Rs. 41,000/- (Ex-Showroom, Delhi) and will be available in 3 colors - Black, Red and Black &

Red combination. “

2010-04-14T10:53:00.003+05:30

For those of you who missed the opening GP....you ppl missed an awesome race! :D..

The Qatar GP was won by Valentino Rossi :D... Ofcourse things would have been tough for the doc had Stoner not crashed out..but that's how a race rolls ;-) . Nicky hayden finally loked in good nick and could control the Duc though he couldn't fight the attack made by the Honda ridden by Dovi! And coming to the Hondas. i must say they were very fast on the straights..esp in the hands of Dovi! Awesome ride by him too!

Lorenzo too rode very well...esp the overtaking maneuver on Dovi and Hayden in the last few laps which ensured a yamaha 1-2 finish on the podium!

Another star was Ben Spies..a rider who looks to break the jinx (wsbk-to-motogp=no wins)...he finished a well deserved 5th!

Hope the season continues to be exciting and that therez a close fight for the top spot. My heart's always for Rossi and Yamaha though :D

2010-02-05T00:34:00.002+05:30

Moto GP is back after a 3 month lull! Testing has begun at the Speang circuit and guess who topped the charts on day one? None other than our 2009 Champion- Valentino Rossi!!!!!!!!! 2nd was Stoner and 3rd was Colin Edward! :D. And if you're wondering how did Lorenzo fare on the first day of testing, well he came 5th!

Here' are the test times for Day 1....

Test Times

1. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 2'01.411
2. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 2'01.902
3. Colin Edwards (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2'01.932
4. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2'02.102
5. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 2'02.165
6. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Repsol Honda Team 2'02.630
7. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team 2'02.792
8. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 2'02.866
9. Mika Kallio (FIN) Pramac Green Team 2'02.987
10. Hector Barbera (SPA) Aspar Team 2'03.030
11. Aleix Espargaro (SPA) Pramac Green Team 2'03.133
12. Ben Spies (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2'03.142
13. Randy de Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP 2'03.456
14. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2'03.558
15. Marco Simoncelli (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 2'03.609
16. Marco Melandri (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 2'03.609
17. Hiroshi Aoyama (JAP) Interwetten-Honda MotoGP 2'03.651

2010-01-20T20:24:00.003+05:30

According to Business Standard, Yamaha plans to launch a 4 stroke version of its iconic 2-stroke fire breather-The RX-100!

Read the whole story here...

I really wish that Yamaha put in a powerful engine and not a weakling designed only to give more mileage! If mileage is the main aim, i hope yamaha does not coin the new bike RX-100 because it will be a disgrace to the legend :((((

So pleaseeeeeeeeeeee listen to some good advice and do not mess up things by trying increase sales by resurrecting old brands but leaving their souls behind......

2010-01-11T00:05:00.001+05:30

The picture says it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Valentino Rossi at the Auto expo 2010 :-D

2010-01-07T19:15:00.004+05:30

And yeah...the Toyota Prius has been launched with a starting price tag of Rs. 26 lakhs (approx) ex showroom..... :D.. I'm sure all the Bollywood celebs will buy this car asap akin to what their Hollywood peers have done and continue to do :P

2010-01-07T19:03:00.003+05:30

YAMAHA GLADIATOR- A tweaked up version :D

2010-01-07T18:38:00.004+05:30

The Cafe racer concept @ RE

Honda has styled their new baby superbly! especially the front quarter :D

And the price of the new van from Maruti named the Eeco is below 3 lakhs..phew..maruti has a winner again!

And there was more action..with Shahrukh coming to launch the electric i-10 which can run 160kms on a full battery which takes 5 hours to get charged up!

Vivek Oberoi was also present to launch DC's new concept car..the IMPERATOR (pic below)

2010-01-06T17:44:00.001+05:30

This is something very interesting..what Toyota calls 'Personal Mobility'!!! Awesome/..i jst wish we had roads on which this cud work :D

2010-01-06T17:33:00.002+05:30

Toyota Etios Sedan

Chevy Beat

The funky lil Etios from Toyota

MS R3 concept!

2010-01-06T17:28:00.003+05:30

The TVS Apache RTR with ABS

Honda's small car concept!

The New Skoda Laura RS

The new unicorn with wings!!!

2010-01-06T16:54:00.004+05:30

9th Jan-New Delhi

AUTO-EXPO 2010 is now open to the general public! It's touted to be the world's largest auto expo, and all the leading companies are here...esp those that have junked other expos...

Publish Post

Main launches till now include:

Toyota Etios

Tata Aria

Maruti's MPV- R3

VW Phaeton and Polo

Yamaha's YZF-R1 2010 edition

Honda's Indian small car concept

HMSI's new 110 cc CB Twister

Chevrolet Beat!

...and more launches (about 50) are waiting!

And the big news :P..guess who'll be there @ Yamaha stall on the 9th :-?...........

???????????????????

None other than the 9 times MotoGP champion---Valentino Rossi! :D
Rossi signatured Yamaha tshirt :P..or a cap..or even a simple autograph!!!! PLzzzzz :D

2009-12-23T13:15:00.002+05:30

Yamaha has launched the 2010 version of it's flagship sports bike, the Yamaha R1 :D (See previous posts for pics :P..i'm very lazy)

Meanwhile, Yamaha has also been seeing double digit growth throughout the whole year. However, the important thing will be to see what will be the growth figures next year as the base in 2008 was quite low!

To keep up the demand, Yamaha is surely going to launch another 100cc bike (The latest attempt by Honda is a solid one! The bike is a 110cc one but looks like a 150cc one!) and also a more powerful bike than it's current range, most probably the Fazer 250! A new 125cc could be in the offing soon too, along with some scooters by early next year! This auto expo is going to an exciting one, and may break all records and emerge as the biggest expo in the world! :D

So, hoping for the best from all the players :D...this expo will see more beautifully designed bikes and more powerful ones. Concepts should also be interesting :-?

And btw..Ducati opened it's first showroom and gues who was there at the launch? Nicky Hayden :p Now i'm eagerly waiting for Rossi to be there at the expo *dreaming*

2009-09-16T23:00:00.000+05:30

2009-09-16T22:53:00.001+05:30

The Vmax..and the NEW paint scheme for the FZ and Fazer....blue n white looooooooooookkkkks awesome :D..the fazer looks more R6'ish from the front now!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-09-16T18:57:00.003+05:30

As predicted, Yamaha has launched the Vmax 2009 in India..for a whopping Rs. 20lakhs! It plans to sell 25 units of the Vmax this year of whihc 8 bookings have already been made according to the company. Yamaha has also brought back John Abraham as it's brand ambassador!

Also launched were special editions of the Yamaha FZ and Fazer.

2009-09-15T20:59:00.003+05:30

FZ16 and Fazer in special editions! I wonder if i could get the stickers for free :P

Anyways..the super bike could be the VMAX 2009 ..n btw..FZ1 coming to India son through the semi knocked down route ;-)

2009-09-15T20:26:00.000+05:30

NEw bike from yammie coming soooooooooooooooooooooooooon! !!

2009-08-23T12:46:00.005+05:30

Vrroooooom time!!!

With motorcycle sales shooting northwards for most manufacturers(esp Yamaha and Hero Honda), and the growth in the premium segment, manufacturers are waking up quickly with almost all of them gearing up launches during the coming festival season.

Besides this, future plans to launch bigger bikes have been announced by Yamaha(this september a more powerful fazer awaits us(hmm..d 250 one i guess), Honda (an indigenous 250cc by 2011), TVS (200 Apache?), And Bajaj (KTm and Ninjas anyone?) Some of the bikes you could see running on Indian roads soon!

With Bajaj having reduced teh price of the P220 by a whopping 22 thousand bucks, the pressure will be on the rest, especially the japs, to come anywhere close to the price range. I guess TVS and Bajaj will benefit from the cost factor while Yamaha and bajaj will try and bring in their products at a higher price tag...

All in all, it'ss be an exciting year and the Auto expo Delhi will be one helluva affair with a slew of new launches...So keep your fingers crossed and leave your cheques blank for the time being!

2009-07-09T18:56:00.002+05:30

The Fazer has been launched with a price tag of 72000 ex showroom! The specs are the same as the FZ16! One new colour- Electric Blue- which looks fantabulous :D has been launched!

The bike loks stunning from the front, much like the FZ1000 it emulates in terms of styling!

Also in the pipeline is a nw colour scheme for the the R15. it will have anew paint job with the well known Yamaha stripes :D

And then, the performacne kits for the R15 and the FZ are going to hit the market by around September. The FZ's kit will cost around 20-22 grands while the kit for the R15 will be around 50 grands!

Keep watching Yamaha's move..and Bajaj's too! A 22 thousand bucks less P220 sans an Fi sounds a very swet option to prospective Yammie buyers ;-)

2009-06-22T08:10:00.003+05:30

And now..All thanks to Rodeo bro..we have new pics...and a date too :D

The New Yamaha FAZER will be launched on July 6th! It will eseentially be the FZ 16, changes will be there only in design!

Here are some pics wich are not clear but give you an idea about what's in store ;-)

Enjoy!

2009-06-22T07:58:00.003+05:30

Should I, or should i not? :P

It;s a bit stale news...almost everyone knows about it :P

yes, I'm talking about the NEw Yamaha FZ16's faied version which is soon to hit the markets. The Bike seems to be inspired by the FZ1 of which i'm a die hard fan :D But, since i own an FZ 16, I won;t be at the liberty to buy another one soon :P

here's a spy pic taken from d net.. :P

2009-06-15T16:18:00.002+05:30

"Rossi surprised Lorenzo by launching up the inside into the fast last turn, then kept his M1 on-line to win by just 0.095sec."

WHAT A RACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did anyone of you miss the Catalunya GP? If yes! Then you missed out on soo much!!!!! Rossi fighting it out with Lorenzo(in Spain hehe)!!! It was a duel worth watching! The Italian media had been launching attacks on Rossi and had virtually written him off for yesterday's race..but the doctor showed his class! The last 3 laps were one of the best! 2 riders on the same machines---at each other's rear (tyre) :P Rossi won the battle..proving why he's d DOCTOR! However, Lorenzo showed amazing composure and grit! This lad has much potential in him and he's not afraid to give the big guns a fight...and more :D

Meanwhile...d race also saw Casey Stoner battling it out with Dovi, and he too showed that even with some problems, he can keep people of...and again :p Dovi, the young gun, showed what he's made off and the gap between him and stoner was marginal~!!!

Dani Pedrosa, suffering from injuries, was back in good form, he was with Dovi and Stoner for some part of the race but then fell back a bit!

The biggest disappointment was Toseland, who isn't able to get his hold on the MotoGP bike, it seems!

2009-05-30T11:23:00.003+05:30

The HOT summer holidays are here and i once again plead before anyone who's reading my blog to forgive me for i've been a bad blogger, letting my blog lie static for quite some time! :(

So much has happened in the biking scene....n in the world of Motorsport! Rossi, Lorenzo, Stoner, Pedrosa, and even Hayden, Melandri, etc are looking fast! So be prepared for an action packed treat in the races to come!(Next race is tomrrow)

Coming to the Indian Biking scene, there's been much activity in the Superbike section with more SBK's coming into our market, ofcourse, via the CBU route, thereby making it even moe expensive for bikers to own! However, atleast we'll have proper service centre's, warranty, etc!

The latest entry has been from the HOnda stable, with the CBR1000 and CB1000RR(so many R's :P) hitting the Indian shores! Priced at between 11-14 lakh on road, these bikes are awesome!

More updates soon..:P

2009-03-03T22:42:00.000+05:30

Qatar Testing results

Session 2 - 02/03/09
Pos Rider Team Fastest lap Prev. Gap Lead. Gap Laps
1 Casey Stoner AUS 1:57.139 - - 37
2 Valentino Rossi ITA 1:57.747 +0.608 +0.608 51
3 Colin Edwards USA 1:57.817 +0.070 +0.678 41
4 Andrea Dovizioso ITA 1:57.879 +0.062 +0.740 60
5 Chris Vermeulen AUS 1:58.018 +0.139 +0.879 24
6 Loris Capirossi ITA 1:58.264 +0.246 +1.125 42
7 Jorge Lorenzo SPA 1:58.400 +0.136 +1.261 63
8 Alex De Angelis RSM 1:58.441 +0.041 +1.302 53
9 Nicky Hayden USA 1:58.577 +0.136 +1.438 54
10 Dani Pedrosa SPA 1:58.619 +0.042 +1.480 28
11 Randy De Puniet FRA 1:58.936 +0.317 +1.797 55
12 Toni Elias SPA 1:59.036 +0.100 +1.897 56
13 Yuki Takahashi JPN 1:59.153 +0.117 +2.014 65
14 Marco Melandri ITA 1:59.195 +0.042 +2.056 63
15 Niccolo Canepa ITA 1:59.266 +0.071 +2.127 36
16 Mika Kallio FIN 1:59.764 +0.498 +2.625 48
17 James Toseland GBR 2:00.234 +0.470 +3.095 51

Session 1 - 01/03/09

WET PRACTICE

Pos Rider Team Fastest lap Prev. Gap Lead. Gap Laps
1 Nicky Hayden USA 2:00.717 - - 31
2 Marco Melandri ITA 2:00.867 +0.150 +0.150 35
3 Mika Kallio FIN 2:01.020 +0.153 +0.303 29
4 Alex De Angelis RSM 2:01.074 +0.054 +0.357 15
5 Niccolo Canepa ITA 2:01.328 +0.254 +0.611 26
6 Chris Vermeulen AUS 2:01.843 +0.515 +1.126 6
7 Yuki Takahashi JPN 2:03.221 +1.378 +2.504 18
8 Andrea Dovizioso ITA 2:03.233 +0.012 +2.516 15
9 James Toseland GBR 2:03.417 +0.184 +2.700 7
10 Randy De Puniet FRA 2:03.580 +0.163 +2.863 18
11 Colin Edwards USA 2:03.652 +0.072 +2.935 8
12 Toni Elias SPA 2:08.637 +4.985 +7.920 3
13 Jorge Lorenzo SPA 2:24.832 +16.195 +24.115 1
14 Valentino Rossi ITA 1:12:31.872 +1:10:07.040 +1:10:31.155 1
15 Dani Pedrosa SPA -.--- - - 0
16 Casey Stoner AUS -.--- - - 0
17 Loris Capirossi ITA -.--- - - 0

2009-03-03T22:38:00.003+05:30

Yamaha has launched a new "stylish" variant of its popular FZ 16, named the FZ-S. Here's an excerpt from www.overdrive.in

The Yamaha FZ16 is undoubtedly the best looking bike in the country today. So what happens when Yamaha decides to make it even better looking? The FZ-S is Yamaha's idea of a stylish FZ. The 'S' is distinguished by new graphic work and two-tone paintjobs - Silver with red accents and Black with yellow. It also gets a small 'crown' fairing on top of the headlamp, which the company claims is more agressive than before as well as pinstriping on black alloys.

Oh yes, you'll have to shell out Rs 67,000 for the 'S' version, which is about two grands more than the stock FZ. Here's what the company press release has to say -

“Highlight your style”

Yamaha launches FZ-S, “Stylish Lord of the Streets”
New Delhi, March 03, 2009: Riding the grand success of its muscular and hottest-looking bike FZ16 while shattering all clichés in biking, India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. has introduced the Stylish Macho Street Fighter - Yamaha FZ-S.
FZ-S highlights the style quotient and has more flesh to flaunt with purely European international design like new colours & graphics, aerodynamic chiseled windshield, stylish & sporty carbon pattern meter consol, and more aggressive looking headlight. The new FZ-S is for stylish and attention seeking Macho man.
FZ-S scores high in looks not only in its segment but beyond and is designed to satiate the need for style and fashion by riders. Etched with style and geared to today’s fashion conscious customers, FZ-S is a fusion of machismo and fashion.
Speaking about Yamaha’s focus and the new launch, Mr. Y. Tsuji, CEO & Managing Director, India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. said, "Yamaha has set forward on a journey where each and every product of ours will set a benchmark in the market with its technological superiority, quality & manufacturing excellence and style quotient. The arrival of this new variant FZ-S is a clear illustration of how the market has responded to FZ 16. Our strategic intent is to provide customers with stylish variant to suite his fashion statement and personality.”

2009-03-03T19:08:00.001+05:30

Moto GP season 2009 commences!!!

Reports soon!

2009-03-03T18:50:00.001+05:30

Motorcyclists in the city are leading the pack in an emerging segment of buyers who look at bikes as a status symbol rather than just a utility.

“You can expect more superbikes being launched in the country ahead as the base of enthusiasts increases with Bangalore leading the trend,” said Sanjay Tripathi, Division Head – Product Planning and Marketing, Yamaha.

According to industry insiders, thanks to the increased level of awareness and higher disposable incomes, the biking culture in the city is catching resulting in Banglaore accounting for over 40% of the superbikes sold in the country.

“Also, with motorcycle tourism picking up in the country, we are seeing buyers emerging from cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai as well. People these days prefer to ride up to even far off distances like Ladakh,” added Tripathi.

“The Indian two-wheeler market is progressing from mass market to a diversified market due to changes in lifestyle of consumers,” said Shinji Aoyama, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd.

In the last one year some of the world’s most celebrated superbikes have been launched in the country. They range from Ducati, Hayabusa, YZF R1, and most recently the Honda’s CBR1000RR Fireblade. Bajaj plans to launch its Kawasaki Ninja 250R in May and Suzuki will bring in GXS-R range of superbikes by Diwali. Harley-Davidson is also said to be laying the groundwork for possible entry into the Indian market and is exploring options for doing so. According to auto analysts the segment today forms about 1-2% of total bike sales in the country and cost anywhere between Rs 9.5 lakh to Rs 45 lakh.

Bikemakers say that despite the slowdown their sales have grown beyond expectation. Suzuki for instance planned to sell about 15 units of its Hayabusa and Intruder in the first few months since its launch in November. However the company has already sold more than 40 units till date.

Even Yamaha targeted to sell about 40 units of its YZF R1 and MT01 last calendar year, but ended up selling 107 units. “The buyers in this segment are not affected by the recession. Therefore we are seeing sales beyond our initial targets,” said Atul Gupta, VP – Sales and Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India.

BMW bikes were the first to enter India, in the 1980s in collaboration with the Hero Group. However according to analysts they failed to win over the market as their ground work was not up to the mark. “Now we have a new surge in superbikes in the country with bikemakers having done sufficient groundwork this time around. I expect this segment to have close to 5% of the total bike market in the next 3-4 years,” said Amish Shah, auto sector analyst at Antique Stock Broking.

However companies are not looking at this segment as a money churner. Thanks to high import duties margins are very slim. In fact they are looking at the slew of launches as preparation for readiness when the market actually gos mass market. “Bike-makers are looking to showcase their technology prowess and a broad range of product offerings with these launches. It’s more a brand building than a volumes game at this point of time as its still a very niche market,” added Shah.

Pranav Nambiar/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication

2009-03-03T18:43:00.002+05:30

YAMAHA to Launch new 125 cc bike!

Yamaha Motor Co. (TSE:7272) is introducing in global markets a new motorcycle engine with 20 per cent better fuel efficiency than earlier engines, aiming to increase market share by using environmental friendliness as a key selling point.

Yamaha will first release bikes with the new engine in Southeast Asia, its main market, this year. Similar models will later be released in India, South America and industrialized nations.

The new engine features improved fuel injection timing and an overhauled internal design. It has a displacement around 125cc. Because it uses 20 per cent less fuel, it is expected to produce less exhaust and thus is likely to clear tougher emissions regulations being implemented in Thailand and some other developing countries in addition to Japan, Europe and the U.S.

To accelerate development of fuel-efficient motorcycles, Yamaha plans to shift 100 or so engineers from working on large-bike development for the U.S. and Europe to developing products for emerging markets, where rapid growth is expected over the long term. It is also working to become more cost-competitive by centralizing materials procurement and streamlining engine operations.

PS: COuld this be the new engine Yamaha that previous posts hinted at? (see prev posts)

2009-02-06T18:28:00.003+05:30

I'm guilty yet again!

Here are some pics...so that i can achieve some kinda salvation for my sins.. :p

2009-01-16T23:17:00.003+05:30

I finally have my first ever Yamaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woooooooooohhhhhhhhooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sooooo happy!!!

Will be posting more pics soon!!

2009-01-08T18:58:00.000+05:30

Yamaha Motor India Pvt. Ltd. today reported that they record around 3-fold growth in its sales in India during month of December last year at 16,000 units, in comparison to 5,524 units in the same month in 2007. The company official stated that they record a growth of 13.32% in year 2008, at 1,36,468 units as against 1,20,428 units in the previous year.

Yamaha Motor (India) Managing Director CEO Yukimine Tsuji said that the year 2008 had been a turn-around year for Yamaha Motors. "We are aware that these are challenging times for the company as the whole auto industry passes through a slowdown," he added.

Yamaha YZF-R15 and Yamaha FZ16 got good response and helped the company to achieve higher sales as against last year, Yukinmine Tsuji

2008-12-17T19:54:00.003+05:30

I'll be getting a new bike soon...:-)

And yes..it'll be a Yamaha this time arund...though i must say that my bro is making things tough for me...but it'll be the FZ this time..:D....(sadly..not the R15..:(( )

I'm eagerly waiting for moi new bike den..the Showroom guys said i'll get it on the day i make payment!!

And i;m confused as to which color should i go in for...:p

I'm all ready for black..but red and orange look stunning! But then, Red doesn't look as classy as black...

what do you guys say?

PS: a new color combi for d Gladi!

2008-12-17T19:49:00.001+05:30

Yamaha to launch gearless scooters

Ltd. is planning to launch gearless scooters in India next year. Sanjay Tripathi, Division Head (Product Planning & Marketing) told The Hindu recently that the scooters, with automatic transmission, would be as powerful as its motorcycles.

The parent company, Yamaha Motor Company, Japan, which is the world’s largest gearless scooter maker with a wide range of scooters starting from 50 cc to 500 cc, is undertaking feasibility studies for introducing its gearless scooters in India.

Right from inception in India in 1985, the company was commanding a good market share in its motorcycle segment till 1990 especially with its RX 100 model highly popular among the youth, Mr. Tripathi said.

Subsequently its market share dropped and it was less than two per cent last year.

However, in the current year the company could show some improvement in sales and in the 10 months ended October 2008, it sold 1.4 lakh motorcycles.

The company is setting up additional facilities at its manufacturing plant in Surajpur, Uttar Pradesh.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/14/stories/2008121454851300.htm

2008-11-14T17:13:00.002+05:30

You might remember Bajaj testing a platina mule for dual fuel tech, right?

Well, it seems that Yamaha isnt far behind. Yamaha engineers have submitted a patent(UK Court) on dual fuel tech a few weeks back, and if they put the bike into production, then they'll surely have a big lead over the competition. I know you all must be thinking why i'km posting news about a patent taht has been filed in UK.....well, fyi, the model on which this is being done is a single cylinder cummuter engine (100-125cc), thereby making it a very good option for India!! Think about it--Yamaha is on the rise, and now they need a product like THIS---to get the bigger numbers. Yamaha has so far satisfied (somewhat :p) the qunch of the bikers, I guess its time for it to do something for the everyday commuter!

Below is the image of the model submitted:
Tucked tightly behind the cylinder and below the fuel injector body is a second tank designed to contain either ethanol or a petrol/ethanol mix such as E85

PS: Sorry for being inactive for a long time....have ben busy and will be so for sometime more :(

POst you comments :D

2008-10-23T18:45:00.002+05:30

Pics of the new GS150R

The looks are nice..but the front looks a bit like d pulsar's...

See for yourself

Source: http://www.Vicky.in

2008-10-23T18:12:00.002+05:30

Suzuki two wheeler India has launched their contender for the 150cc market today in New Delhi. Earlier known as the Lanza, the bike is christened GS150R in a true Suzuki fashion. Being the last mover in the 150cc competition, the bike will have to face serious competition from the reining king Bajaj’s Pulsar, Hero Honda Hunk and CBZ extreme(there is a new stickered version :lol: , TVS Apache RTR, Honda’s Unicorn(Honda is going the HH way..sad :(( ) and the newly launched FZ16!!

The styling is a mix and match of all the currently available 150cc’s. The front bikini fairing with twin pilot lamps has a striking resemblence to the Pulsar while the huge 15.5 litre fuel tank is a hybrid of Apache and Pulsar. The fuel cock and the middle side panels have taken their inspiration from Honda’s Unicorn and side panels look as if they have come straight out of the Hunk! The rear gets horizontally cut twin LED stop lamps with integrated turn indicators and have the same profile as the lights on the CBZ Extreme.

The engine is a 149cc unit which breathes through a BS26 carburetter and also comes with throttle position sensor. Peak power of 13.8 bhp is produced @ 8500 rpm while the peak torque of 13.4 nm comes in @ 6000 rpm. The Suzuki trumps the competition by offering a 6-Speed gearbox, 1-down, 5-up. The extra cog will give it better cruising abilities than any other 150cc in the market. The engine also comes with a balancer shaft and rubber dampers to minimize vibrations associated with a single cylinder engine.

The bike stands 2095mm long, 775mm wide, 1120mm high with a generous wheelbase of 1340mm. The ground clearance is also a decent 160mm. The bike comes standard with 18 inch alloys. The front tyre is the universal 2.75 -18 and at the rear features fatter 100/90-18 tyre. Braking duties are handled a disc brake upfront and 130mm drum brakes at the rear, again a norm for the segment and so is the suspension which are telescopic forks upfront and gas charged twin shock absorbers at the rear.

GS 150R comes with digital instrument console which offers a wealth of information to the rider. The speedo, odometer and tripmeter are digital while tacho remains analogue. Among the novel features of the GS 150R is the digital gear indicator and selectable ignition map modes - Power or Economy.

The bike is available in 4 attractive colors: Pearl Nebular Black, Mettalic Flint Gray, Candy Max Orange, Candy Dark Greenish Blue.

The bike has been priced at 59000 INR ex showroom, which gives it an added advantage. With the power figures close to that of the FZ 16(which has superb performance) and 6 gears and some otehr features, it is quite evenly matched to the FZ 16, atleast on paper!!! Yamaha better win this comparo or else a major chunk of buyers might shift towards Suzuki! Meanwhile..TVS is holding its geound but with this launch, it needs to be on its toes!! Meanwhile bajaj seems to be sleeping...............

2008-10-21T19:38:00.000+05:30

ereAnd now..some good news for Fz 16 fans..:P

I haven't yet seen a single FZ 16 on Lucknow's road but i guess that's coz deliveries haven't started :-o

Here's a press note:

The company has received an overwhelming response to its CBU models such as R1 and MT01, which are priced at Rs 10.50 lakh a unit. “Since we launched these models in December 2007, we have sold over 100 such units, which is far beyond our expectations. Similarly, we received 15,000 cash bookings for our recently launched FZ16 model even before actual delivery started.

Link:

2008-10-21T19:19:00.001+05:30

YAMAHA RACING

Part 2

Chennai: Synonymous with agro and speed, Yamaha Motors conducted the second R-15 racing championship at the Madras Motor Racing Track here on Sunday. The event was organised, in part, to give the casual motorcyclist a taste of what it’s like to ride a bike on the race track under organised racing conditions.

Riding the 150 cc R-15 bikes, participants were segregated into two groups based on their riding skills with Category ‘B’ flaunting high-skill riders while Category ‘C’ comprising the fledglings.

Sameer Venugopalan of Karnataka won the Category ‘B’, followed closely by Vivek Pillai and Rajkumar, both of Tamil Nadu.

In Category ‘C’, Nitin Makkar of Karnataka led from the front to clinch the race. C. Rahul of Andhra Pradesh and M. S. Sudhir of Kerala finished second and third respectively.

“We are pleased with the positive response of our consumers for the new YZF–R15. Racing is in our DNA and by promoting such activities we want to encourage a safe racing culture in India,” said Sanjay Tripathi, Division Head of Product Planning and Strategy.

The final race of the championship will be held in December with a winner’s check for Rs. one lakh at stake.

The results: Category ‘B’: 1. Sameer Venugopalan, 2. Vivek Pillai, 3. Rajkumar; Category ‘C’: 1. Nitin Makkar, 2. C. Rahul, 3. M.S. Sudhir.

2008-09-29T20:24:00.000+05:30

The champ speaking out~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I think it’s difficult to say, but maybe this is even better than the first championship with Yamaha in 2004. In 2004 I arrived after three championships in a row; the change was very big and no one expected me to win then, not even us to be honest! But this year is great too because I didn’t start as the number one favourite after losing for two years. The taste of this is something special.

“In 2006 I lost because of bad luck; I still won the most races and was the fastest on track for most of the time, but in 2007 Stoner was a lot faster than us and so we got to the end with a big of disadvantage. Winning this championship was very difficult but also very, very important.

“The decision to change to Bridgestone tyres, which I took together with Jeremy, my team and all the Yamaha crew, was very important, as were the changes to the bike because the first 800cc M1 last year was not competitive enough. We spoke a lot during last season and I remember a strange meeting in Valencia last year, me with a broken hand, speaking with Furusawa about 2008. From then we started to work on the improvements for this season. It’s also been important to have the right people in the right place and this year everything has been correct. It’s been step-by-step.

“I think I have made a lot of good decisions this year and we have been competitive from the start. Qatar was the worst race of the season but I knew our potential was good so, although we were a bit worried at that point, we weren’t desperate because we knew if we fixed a few problems we could try to win.

“I grew up a lot in the last two years, because at the end of 2005 I had a great career and I had won all the important targets so far. 125, 250 and then five titles in a row in MotoGP with two different bikes – I felt unbeatable. But in 2006 and 2007 I learnt to lose and this has been very important. I came out much stronger and my level of concentration and effort to win this championship has been higher than ever before.

“This season has had some different periods. At the beginning of the year we had some important results when Bridgestone wasn’t the strongest: Jerez, Portugal and others, and in that period we took a big advantage from Stoner. After Barcelona Casey started to ride like a demon and dominated three races in a row, and then we went to Laguna which was the turning point of the season. Laguna was a real battle and from then on we have flown.

“The show after the race was one of my friends pretending to be a ‘notary’, signing and certificating the eighth championship ‘deed’. It was very exciting to be planning the championship t-shirt and celebration once again with my friends and fan club and the one we came up with is funny I think, it says ‘I’m sorry for the delay!’

“I am very content at Yamaha and this is why I signed for two more years. I had some good offers at other factories, but I already changed bike once and proved everything I wanted to and so there is no need to do that again. Also I am no longer 20 years old and I need a good atmosphere in my team in order to keep me focused and happy, and I have this at Yamaha. The atmosphere in our team, from the Japanese all the way down to the garage is fantastic and this is what makes me want to stay.

“I think 2009 will be even more difficult than this year. Now I am the world champion again and I have demonstrated that I am still very fast; I think I rode the best of my career this year apart from the mistake in Assen, but next year is another story, it depends on how the winter is and how Stoner, Pedrosa and also Lorenzo are next year, as well as the other riders because there are many fast people in this championship. I think it will be a great championship and I’m looking forward to it, but first I want to finish this year and try to win the final three races!

“As I said, there are many strong riders but of course I hope that in the future nobody will win like Valentino Rossi! Maybe my brother Luca will be as strong as me…I wanted to take him on my bike on the celebration lap, but they did not allow it. Maybe I will wait for him to be a MotoGP rider before quitting, then I will beat him in the first year, and then I will stop riding!

“When you are 20 or 22 yrs old, you live everything in a different way. It’s different… In 2000, maybe, I could have won on my debut, but I underestimated myself! In 2001 it was the last chance for me to win in 500, so I gave it my best and did that. In 2001 it was the year of the battle with Biaggi, in 2002 it was the year when everybody said that I won because of my bike, then 2003 was the year of Gibernau, it was hard until the end. They were fantastic years but with Yamaha it is different. I enjoy it more.

“During 2003 I started thinking about Yamaha. Of course I was scared about the new challenge, it was a big question mark. This year, when I tested the new bike and the new tyres, I understood that I could win. In 2004, however, when I tested the new bike I understood we had to work a lot. Sincerely, the feeling of winning in Welkom in 2004 was the strongest emotion of my career; more so than in Laguna Seca this year. The 2005 the M1 was very fast and that one and the 2008 one are the best Yamaha bikes ever.

“I think Stoner next year will be back stronger again, so maybe he is the hardest rival I have ever had, more than Gibernau and all the others I fought against in the past. Last year I was sorry that after so many successful years, some people thought Valentino was finished and Casey was the new Valentino. As I said, until I stop riding a bike, my objective will always be to win. I like this life and I always try to do my best in it.”

2008-09-29T19:57:00.002+05:30

Yamaha has been speculating for long now on whether to launch its scooters in India or not. LAtest reports said that they will debut by around 2010, but don;t be surprised if Yamaha India launches it sooner. This news is being fueled by the fact that YAmaha has been dispalying 3 of its scooter variants in its Pune Showroom which are known internationally as the Vino, Mio and Nouvo.

http://bikeindia.in/news/BikeNews/BREAKING-NEWS-Yamaha-to-launch-scooters-in-India/

2008-09-17T11:22:00.003+05:30

Yamaha's motogp riders (Rossi-Lorenzo, Edwards and Toseland)had launched the R1 Proly approx a week back(en route to Indianapolis where Rossi has one in an emphatic manner) and here are some pics of the new R1 Proly 2009 from Yamaha.

You can also go through the launch of the bike here

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Yamaha+riders+visit+Las+Vegas+en+route+to+Indy

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=34088

And now for some pics--

2008-09-16T06:31:00.002+05:30

Yamaha readying the Fazer 250 to take on the Ninja 250!

Fazer 250's have been spotted being tested in Greater noida area(close to their facility). Yamaha's recent aggressive face also give sthis news some authencity. Yamaha officials however remain tightlipped about this.

Also on the cards is FZ1 and the R6 coming this April!!!!

Stay tuned for more info on this!!!

2008-09-16T06:08:00.002+05:30

Dreams..:)

Yamaha seems to be on the right track. Not only has it launched a sports bike, but its seriously taking the initiative in infomring the rider about various aspects of biking. Yamaha has been organising YAMAHA RIDE TECH CHALLENGES in various cities and had arranged for a race day for all r15 owners of Chennai and Bangalore. The ride tech challenges are mainly about safety and the ability of the riders. Their are couple of experts who showcase tehir skills, plus lots of competition to test the riding skills of the public are organised too!

The irst race day was held on the 7th of this month(september) and even though their were some(quite a few) organisational glitches, I would stil say "KUDOS YAMAHA" for taking the initiative in these areas. The track day was quite eventful, with riders experienceing everything, from Dirt(Too many novices around d track eh! but how will they learn then?.. :) ) to Victory. Sameer (aka Killer) emerged as the overall winner! Next round will be held in October!

Winners of chennai round

Sameer, Pacer, First Sridhar, Pacer, Second Shashidhar, Pacer, Third .....Fourth no name? Nitin, Bangalore wheelz, fifth Anand, Bangalore wheelz, sixth

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=KSP2gk-0PG4

Just copy paste the link..:D n click Go!!!!!

here's another one: http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=lYBs09-7fIA

And here's the link ot that Community!

http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=47142054&tid=5237266452042779643&na=4&nst=43&nid=47142054-5237266452042779643-5243536760797023604

Besides this, Yamaha also organised a YAMAHA SAFE RIDE SCIENCE show!

The show included tips from experts on how to ride safe and how to take care of your bike, etc.

here are some of the pics from the event:

2008-09-14T22:30:00.002+05:30

The aggressive looking front end!

The muscular tank!
The completely digital speedo
Yes, the FZ16 has been launched(for the journos atleast) in Goa today. The bike's statistics have already been posted, but what was left was its pricing, which many spculated to be on the higher side of 70,000! However, Yamah has priced the machine quiet aggressively at 65000 ex showroom(the Apache RTR costs less though) and this should help it reain lost market share quickly! The looks of the bike are awesome. People who have sen the bike are stunned with its ultra muscular looks and its torque ratings. The bike features a 153cc, air cooled, 2 valve engine with Yamaha's YTPS(throttle position sensor) technology. The bike also sports a monocross rear suspension(also in the R15) and beefier front forks. Acc to inittial reports, the bike has a very good initial pickup(Yamaha says it has the best 0-60 time) and a decent top end (115+ speedo indicated). Efficiency is also said to be good at 50km/pl in city riding conditions.

2008-09-14T20:34:00.000+05:30

http://www.yamaha-motor-india.com/product/fz16/img/colour_fz16_p6.jpg

Looks Awesome na?? :D

2008-09-13T17:36:00.003+05:30

Specs of the Fz16 Confirmed!!!

fz16
displacement------------------153 cc
maximum output--------------14 ps/ 7500rpm (13.8 bhp)
bore x xtroke mm -------------58 x 57.9
torque --------------------------13.6nm/ 6000 rpm
dry weight/curb weight ----- 126/137 kg

Features:

multi reflector head lamps
monocross suspension,and good supension in the front too..
tubless radial tyres, 140/60-17 rear tyre..
.267 mm large disk brakes,
lcd digi console with engine starting signal, speedometer, tacho, fuel gauge and trip meter.

2008-09-11T22:44:00.002+05:30

More pics and a pic of the promo material..:D

And as the D day drwas closer, i'm getting even more excited. Some people who have riden the bike clain it has loadsa low end torque..............:) and looks much better in real!!(which means it'll be wow!!!)

4 days left now!!!

2008-09-11T22:42:00.002+05:30

Karizma update or MTV Roadies :-o.................................. :-|

Hope this isnt true/...:(

Source: http://bikeindia.in/news/BikeNews/New-Karizma-on-the-cards/

The rumour mills are abuzz with speculations of a new Karizma being launched in September '08.

A helicopter cruising in mid air, suddenly a guy skydives from the chopper astride a bright yellow Karizma! This is not the plot of the next Akshay Kumar movie but a new TV commercial airing across all channels for the last couple of days. The ad ends with a message - 'Wait till September 12'.

The rumour mills are abuzz with speculations of a new Karizma on the cards for sometime now. Speculations point at a new 250cc Karizma, while others predict a much-anticipated FI version of the bike.

Although the firm has a reputation of launching simple face-lifted models, we surely hope that HH comes up with a smashing new Karizma! Even though the company refuses to comment on the speculation just yet, we are waiting to hear the official version from them.

However, the commercial being aired does not have the Hero Honda branding except the yellow Karizma; and we did not notice any significant change in the bike's graphic either. This could well be a false alarm and just another publicity stunt for the new season of the TV reality show - MTV Roadies as the show is sponsored by HH.

2008-09-10T20:29:00.000+05:30

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=LUvtaGOTYkg

The FZ16 Speedo in action

2008-09-10T19:10:00.002+05:30

Yes..the new FZ16 is to be launched in GOA come this 15th! All journos have been invited to Goa and it is there that they will be given test rides of this new bike. Yamaha does know how to do its launches in style-- ;-) a fact acknowledged by almost all journos!!

The bike looks muscular...loadsa attitude and the rear tyre looks massive!

The bike will have more low end torque(unlike the R15) which will aid in city riding! The bike wil be having a top speed in excess of 120 km/hr.

Enjoy and stay tund for more updates and riding impression of the New Yamaha FZ16!!!

2008-09-10T19:03:00.003+05:30

Its September and the news of new bikes and updates is pouring in!

A new advt has been spotted doing the rounds of various channels during the past few days. The bike shown in it is the ZMa....now whether its a new stickering job or the FI version of the Zma, that is stillnot sure. But I surely pray that its the FI version of the zma! INfact its high time HH did a decent upgrade to the zma. And yes, according to the advt, the bike will debut on the 12th of September!!! So hold on to your horses guys and gals(Yes, Girls also ride Zma's ! :) )

2008-09-09T16:00:00.002+05:30

Moto Gp update--

Rossi on a high with 3 wins in a row!!

Rossi won in his hometown race and stoner crashed once again..:p

Rossi now leads by 75 points and will win his 6th premier class title (8th World champ title) if he has an advantage of 1 point over Casey Stoner at Indianapolis this Sunday!

2008-09-09T15:45:00.002+05:30

Yamaha will soon be launching the upgraded version of the Yzf R15(ecu remap which will boost the power figures by around 50% ) by the end of 2008 or early 2008. The price will ofcourse go up by around 20,000. This update will make it a serious sports bike and it will be even more VFM because 22-25 bjp for 1.2 lakhs is cool!!!!

2008-09-09T15:41:00.001+05:30

Yamaha Motor Company Ltd is studying the Indian market to launch its gearless scooters here. "This is a lucrative segment and we are studying the market to see which ones we can offer to our Indian customers," said Pankaj Dubey, national business head, sales and marketing, Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt Ltd, on the sidelines of the opening of its first lifestyle company-owned showroom in Mumbai on Monday.

Yamaha has gearless scooters ranging from 50 cc to 500 cc. "We can get anyone of them like Jog, Tmax or Majesty (150 and 250 cc), depending upon which has a demand in India," said Sanjay Tripathi, department head, product planning and strategy, Yamaha India. Yamaha, that aims to achieve 10% market share in India by 2010, admits that it has been a laggard in the Indian market due to low visibility and is now busy strengthening its dealer and service network with new model offerings lined up for the market. It is ramping up capacity at its Surajpur plant in UP keeping its future plans including gearless scooters in mind. The expansion is expected to be complete by September, 2009.

A total of eight lakh per annum capacity is planned by 2010 from the existing four lakh units per annum taking Faridabad in Haryana and Surajpur together.

"We expect to break-even in India in the next two years," said Tsutomu Mabuchi, CEO & MD, Yamaha India, adding that the company has earmarked an investment of Rs 800 crore over the next three years that will go into the upgradation of plant, marketing and dealership expansion."We plan to have 380 dealerships by this year end," he added. The company is also setting up Yamaha touch points in the country for servicing its bikes.

Yamaha will be launching two new bikes in the 125 cc and above segment next year. It is launching FZ 16 (150 plus cc) the coming Saturday which will be priced in the range of Rs 65,000 to 70,000 (ex-showroom price).

Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Yamaha-to-launch-gearless-scooters/358942/

PS: Will post about the various scooters that can make it into India by 2010.

And yes, the FZ is coming witha price tag of 65-70ks this Saturday or Sunday!

2008-09-06T19:12:00.003+05:30

And now its time for some more pics of this new baby from Yamaha---

Awesome rear end---(that's a 140 rear tyre)

Don't know how it will look like in the dark when its back light, but it looks "YUCK" acc to me..esp in the daytime!!

2008-09-06T18:54:00.001+05:30

NEws:
(Source: www.bikeindia.in)
-----After the revolutionary YZF-R15 launched earlier this year, it's the turn of the eagerly awaited FZ-16. Contrary to speculation, it will not be called FZ-15, FZ150 or Fazer-15. However, it will boast of a power-packed 153.7 CC four-stroke, air-cooled engine.The mini-Fazer will feature state of the art – YTPS (Yamaha Throttle Position Sensor), for better throttle response and fuel efficiency and will be loaded with a fully digital console with digital readout for RPM, Speed, Trip and Odo. According to reports, the FZ-16 will be launched on September 15th 2008 and the deliveries will commence by Oct. 2008. The FZ-16 is estimated to cost around Rs. 70,000 ex-showroom.

FZ-16 Specs:
Engine: 153.7 CC four-stroke, air-cooled, single-cylinder, 2 valves, SOHC
Power: 15PS @ 8,400 RPM (Estimated)
Gearbox: 5-speed
Fuel System: 36mm CV Carb
Wheels (F/R): 5-spoke 17" die-cast alloysTyres(F/R): 100/60-R17, 140-60-R17
Brakes(F/R): 267mm single cross-drilled ventilated rotor with 2-pot calipers / 130mm drum
Suspension:--- Front: 41mm Telescopic Forks--- Rear: Monocross type
Headlight: 12V 35W Halogen with Multifocal Reflector
Exhaust System: Mid Ship type, side mounted
Tank capacity: 13 litres

2008-08-29T15:26:00.002+05:30

Blazing RED YZF R15
The Yzf R15 has been given a new livery, this time the Blazing red!! It's a welcome option as only 2 color options might have deterred potential buyers and the red color is quite popular here in India.

No mechanical changes in this bike as of now but the new color loks smashing.

2008-08-29T15:16:00.002+05:30

Yamaha's new baby has been spotted more than once while being tested and thuis we can be surew that it will be released by Diwali :)

However, there are rumors that the bike will be powered by a 160 cc engine(Can this be the same engine that was showcased in the Gladiator concepts at the auto expo?--coz i remember the article in BS motoring in which it was speculated that the bike will be powered by a 140cc engine which could be upgraded to 160 and 180 cc units easily!) and will be known as the FZ16. Lets wait and watch.

The price will be a crucial point for the success of this bike because almost every maor manufacturer will have their offerings(150cc+) by Diwali. INfact it'll be a very crackling diwali for us bikers. The competition in this segment will be fierce and yamaha will have to price this bike competitively inorder to mkae it a success. The TVS Menace 180/ Lanza 150/ Pulsar/ Unicorn/RTR160 will be the bikes that will be fighting with the FZ150 and to tackle sucha s trong competition, Yamaha needs t play all its card right.

The FZ150 or FZ16 should be priced somewhere around 6-75ks but not more!! The R15 has beena success inspite of its price tag but that's justifiable owing to its equipment level and VISUAL appearance. I don't think that the common biker will spend more than 80k's on a naked bike(I'm saying this because here in India, people can accept a fully faired bike with a hefty price tag but not a naked bike!!)

Anyways, lets hope for the best. I don;t wnat this bike to be priced too high or else Yamaah cannot meet its sames targets!

2008-08-29T08:22:00.002+05:30

Stunning 2 strokes!!!
M&M has acquired Kinetic and it might launch some attractive bikes(--CAGIVA 125) around diwali. Kinetic motors had been unable to recapture market share it once enjoyed during its Kinetic Honda days. The launch of the Blaze and Flyte did evoke some reponse but that was not enough!

Mahindra has been known to have an interest in the growing 2 wheeler market in India and this acquisition will sureply help it in its foray. :)

I juts hope that they launch some exciting products and not the simple run of the mill stuff..:-|

2008-08-29T08:15:00.002+05:30

A new updated P200 is rumoured to be on the cards. With the threat of both, the jabs as well as TVS, looming large on their heads, Bajaja seems to be upgrading their P200 so that it can keep up with the competition. The new bike will sport some visiual changes and and slightly more power and torque.
Besides this, the P150/180 are not the King's in their segment and their position is underthreat from TVS Apache and the soon to be launched FZ150, Lanza 150 and a few other bikes in the market. Keeping this point in mind and the fact that bajaja update tehir products after sometime, it won;t be surprising if we see a new, more powerful 150cc from bajaj, but nothing is sure.

2008-08-26T22:52:00.002+05:30

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Verdict is finally out!!!!

Everyone can read reviews of the R15 in every mag, i'll just sum up the whole story!!!

The R15 is the most lethal bike on the track(TVS will lose form now on..hehe..:p)--Its got a delta box frame, super sticky tyres, excellent engine and much more! IT beat the hell outta all the otehr bikes in a recent comparo(P220--RTR--Zma and R15) in a Bike magazine!!! The stability at high speeds and the confidence it inspires in the rider is unmatched by ANY BIKE in THE COUNTRY!

ON the road, its a scorcher, but not as fast as exp-ected due to punch it packs higher up the rev range. However, this does not mean that it's slow and all. It won't pose a problem for daily commuting as it is flickable, is fast, delivers adequate mileage(40kmpl) and has a superb suspension!!! It retains its composure even over a series of bumps and the riding position is also good and it can be used for long runs!(not for 6ft+ ppl). The top speed is more than that of the P220 Dtsfi but the 0-60 time of the P220 is marginally quicker but it make sit up in the 0-100 time!

Verdict: A damn good bike for you if you love performance and liek your bike to have both the looks n the go ;-) ; and a MUST have for any yamaha fan!

Some doubts:

Skinny tyres: The tyres are not that skinny--agreed thyy look a bit ods on the bike but that doesn't mean that they are bad! Infact, they are the best tyres in the market today and offer the best grip, even in the wet!! Will be posting a few pics soon.

Skinny tyres = less grip??? Think Again..:D

Full review coming soon :D

2008-08-26T22:25:00.002+05:30

Ninja Attack...haaiiieeeyyyaaaa!!!

Yes, The Kawasaki bajaj relationship is finally going to turn out some interesting products. The Ninja 250 is coming to India(again...DIWaLI SEASON!). This monster is one of the best 250cc bieks in the world and is famous for its free revving engine which prouces a max of 33 bhp in the International markets. The Indian version will have a slightly de tuned engine but do not expect it to be a sloucher, infact this will be India's first true blue sports bike!!!

Price will be more than 2 lakhs and it will be brought in as a CKD unit(saves 60% on duty when compared to duty on CBU's) and expect this to sell in respectable numbers as the biking craze is on the rise in India!!!

SPECIFICATION
* Engine: Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, parallel twin
* Displacement: 249cc
* Bore x stroke: TBD
* Compression ratio: TBD
* Maximum power : 33PS (31.56 hp) at 11,000rpm (USA AND CANADA)
* Maximum power : 30PS (29.59 hp) at 10,500rpm (EUROPE Model, India gets this one)
* Maximum torque: 21.7Nm (16 ftlb) at 10,000rpm (USA AND CANADA)
* Maximum torque: 21.0Nm (15.5 ftlb) at 8,500rpm (EUROPE Model, India gets this one)
* Cooling: Liquid
* Carburetion: Keihin CVK30 x 2
* Ignition: TCBI with digital advance
* Transmission: Six-speed
* Final drive: O-ring chain
* Frame: Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel
* Wheelbase: 1390mm(NA Model) - 54.72 in
* Rake / trail: TBD
* Front suspension / wheel travel: 37mm hydraulic telescopic fork / TBD
* Rear suspension / wheel travel: Uni-Trak with aluminum linkage / Preload Adjustable
* Front tire: 110/70-17 IRC
* Rear tire: 130/80-17 IRC
* Front brake: Single 290mm hydraulic petal disc with two-piston caliper
* Rear brake: Single 220mm petal disc with two-piston caliper
* Overall length: 2080mm - 81.88 in
* Overall width: 710mm - 27.95 in
* Overall height: 1115mm - 43.89 in
* Seat height: 780mm - 30.70 in
* Dry weight: 151kg - 332.89 lbs
* Fuel capacity: 18 liters - 4.755 gal
* Color choices: Lime Green, Ebony, Passion Red, Candy Plasma Blue

Specs from bhp!

2008-08-26T22:24:00.001+05:30

Yamaha's are known for their excellent quality and style. It has rebuilt a strong brand image in India in recent years. It has increased its sales in the first six months of 2008 and has doubled its market share from January to July 2008. Motorcylce industry in India has witnessed a growth of 21.8 percent in last six months while Yamaha has marked an increase of 34 percent from January to July 2008 as compared to same period last year.

“Yamaha is striving to carry forward the global Yamaha brand image in India. The increase in our sales figures validates our success in re-establishing ourselves as a company, which delivers high quality and high performance products. Our sales performance between January and July this year is a testimony to the success of our customer centric business philosophy. Month over month, Yamaha has been recording increasing sales, signifying the success of our new models launched in the current year. Our bikes are doing extremely well in the market,” says delighted Pankaj Dubey, Division Head, Sales and Marketing, Yamaha India.

He further added that the company has opened new lifestyle stores in Delhi and Pune along with strengthening its dealer network. The new Yamaha model YZF-R15 has gained 24.2 percent market share thereby gaining second position in Premium Motorcycle segment.

Source: Reuters..:p

2008-08-26T22:00:00.002+05:30

Pics: Courtesy Nits.in

Suzuki 150cc--The true Zeus (known as the LAnza)

The Zeus 125 didnt do justice to its name. I'm not saying that just because it is a 125 cc bike, but because it had low power and didnt match the competition. Yes, it was a refined mill and had great low end torque but nothing else. And it didn't set the sales chart on fire or even simmer them!!

Suzuki seems to have taken correct measures this time with a few spy pics of the new 150cc being visible around the net. The engine is said to borrowed from the Raider(step thru) and the FXR 150 which has a top speed of 140km/hr, 6 gears and16 bhp max power! The indian version might be air cooled though it would be no surprise if it is an air cooled and slightly detuned one.(keeping in mind the mileage conscious people)

The front end of the bike is inspired from the Gixxer series(not fully faired!!) and the bike looks quite nice. It isnt boxy or outadated like the Zeus and heat but it isnt revolutionary either.
As is clearly visible in the photograph, the bike has black aloy wheels and a silver chain cover and engine block. Other features include a digital console and Aluminium foot pegs among others.

2008-08-26T21:52:00.003+05:30

Bigger and better????????

TVS - Menacingly powerful yes, that's what the new bike from TVS promises to be. Buoyed from the great response to the Apache/ RTR 160/ RTR160 efi, TVS is soon going to launch the 180cc variant of RTR come this Diwali. Code named "Menace", the engine will be an air cooled one, pushing out around 18bhp(enough to zap the current crop of 200cc's n more :p as 18bhp combined with light weight = !!!! ). Their will be slight changes in the design of the bike two(a half fairing) and it is expected to have a price tag of around 80 grands, which is great VFM. (R15 won't have it easy even after being technologically advanced--it will need the ECU update around Diwali to keep the momentum going in its favour)

PS: Expect TVS to roll out even more powerful bikes if this one is a hit.

2008-08-26T17:48:00.004+05:30

NEw FZ150 spied

Yamaha R15 tested...

Suzuki India ready to fight it out with their 150cc bike!

HOnda CBF stunner---Review

MM buys Kinetic

Babaj launching the Ninja 250 and the KTM's + upgrade to the pulsar 200

Set to be amazed this Diwali~~~

TVS Menace 180--200cc bike in the pipeline..

This and much more in a week----------- :)

2008-07-06T10:17:00.002+05:30

Its official ….Yamaha are including an ECU remap and a booster as a package for approx 20000!
This will boost power by about 50%-(yippee)....= 25bhp

Just imagine---

25bhp and 120kg's at a price of 1.22 lakhs....

And fyi...even TVS are introducing a performance update kit for their RTR fi....with performance figures close to that of the present R15!!!!

2008-07-02T21:20:00.004+05:30

The FZ 150 has been spotted while it was being tested in some area, by a team-bhp member-- the bike looks exactly like the one seen in the expo is speculated to be launched by November this year!!!

-----------After the Yzf R15---here's the other "killer" of a bike that is set to rock the nation!! The FZ150---Based on the original FZ 1000--this bike will be no slouch---and will have the R15(San liquid cooling) engine--tuned to around 15 bhp. What will work in its favour is its price, which is expected to be somewhere between 60-70 thousand INR. Of course, if we leave the price factor aside, this bike is stunningly beautiful and will cater to the demand of all those who love a naked bike rather than a faired one! Its lines are more muscular and it has all the oopmh factors, be it the nice big tyres or the cool looking front works!! The front end looks aggressive--the side looks is very sexy and the rear end is very sporty--WOW!!!

To sum up, this will be one helluva bike which will take the battle to the Pulsars -RTR's and the Hunks that roam our roads today. More info on this bike soon.. :) Yamaha is set to rules the heart of Indians once more!!! :-D
Notice:

The exposed chain--Split grab rail--Nice, Fat tyres---Agressive front end--- Meaty shocks--Stubby silencer which looks awesome--Looks are awesome--The power will be awesome too.. ;-) Stay Tuned!!!

2008-06-23T22:23:00.003+05:30

FRONT PAGE MATERIAL!!!

Yeah, that's what the R15 is....hehe...it on atleast 2 of the Magazines...OD and BS Motoring!!! And i guesss that will be the case on almost all magazines.... ;) barring one or two..:-P

R15 rocks!!!!

2008-06-12T19:48:00.003+05:30

Some more updates:

Those who think that 17bhp is too less....think again... ;-)

A person who has just ridden the bike in Chennai says :

Source : Overdrive Forum .. Killer wrote : Just received word from a friend who has been testing the Bike on the Chennai track since morning. He is simply blown away by the performance and says it is not just faster than any Bike in the market now, but phenominally faster!. ZMA/ P200 etc, nothing measures up, even in 5th the acceleration is stunning. Dont go by paper figures, this Bike will perform better than you think.

Price is : 97425 ex showroom (all over India)--which acc to me is cool!!!!! A bit expensive..but you are getting your money's worth man!!!!!!

2008-06-12T12:53:00.004+05:30

The D day has arrived and the YAMAHA R15 is here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I must confess that i was a tad bit dissapointed when i first read the power figures - 17bhp.....But then...150cc..17bhp was cool...HOWEVER...it was when i looked at the weight of this mean machine--- Just 120kgs!!!!!! = Awesome power to weight ratio----coupled with a superb fuel injection system and a rev happy Liquid cooled engine, that made me excited and i was 110% assured that the R15 will be one damn good bike in EVERY aspect!!!!!

Just look at the attention to detail..it oozes QUALITY...!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm in love with it.... :D :D :D :D :D

............Some lucky people must have already got te keys to their lil monsters...hehe..and i cnatw ait until i get a review outta them...;-) R15 rocks!!! Drool time for all you people out there..enjoy..;)

PS: Chennai riders can go and get free rides in the race track!!!! Contact your nearest Yamaha Dealer!!

2008-06-12T12:50:00.000+05:30

YAMAHA R15 specifications

Engine type	Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 4-valve
Cylinder arrangement	Single cylinder
Displacement	149 .8cc
Bore x Stroke	57×58.7mm
Compression ratio	10.4:1
Maximum power	17PS / 8,500rpm
Maximum torque	15 N.m / 7,500rpm
Starting system	Electric Start
Lubrication	wet sump
Engine oil capacity	1.0 liters
Fuel tank capacity	12 liters
Fuel supply system	Electronic fuel injection
Ignition system	T.C.I
Primary / Secondary reduction ratio	3.042 / 3.000
Clutch type	Constant-mesh wet multi-plate
Transmission type	Return type 6-speed
Gear ratios	1st=2.833, 2nd＝1.875, 3rd:=1.364, 4th=1.143, 5th=0.957, 6th=0.84

Frame type	Deltabox Frame
Caster / Trail	26° / 100mm
Tire size (Front / Rear)	80/90-17 / 100/80-17
Brake type (Front / Rear)	Hydraulic, single disc (Front / Rear)
Suspension type (Front / Rear)	Telescopic / Linked type Monocross
Headlight	12V35W / 35W＋35W

Overall length x width x height	1,995mm x 670mm x 1,070mm
Seat height	790mm
Wheelbase	1,290mm
Minimum ground clearance	160mm
Dry weight / Curb weight	120kg / 131kg

2008-06-11T15:25:00.008+05:30

Only 1 day remains now!!!!!!!!! The excitement is unmatched. The Most anticipated bike of the year....is about to be launched tomorrow i.e. the 12th of June- 2008!!!. Ever since the first pic of this bike was reported in the now defunct blog (yzfr15.com) , the air has been rife with speculations of a bike true to the Yamaha name...and those speculations were not rumours, as as witnessed by all in the auto expo. The YZF R15 stole all the eyes(though the Nano eclipsed it...dumb media guys) at the auto expo and sent Alarm bells ringing!!! Yamaha was back and how!!!! Along with the R15 was another beast...the FZ150..but we will talk about it later on.

Lets focus on the R15..India;'s first SUPERSPORT bike- as titled by Yamaha officials!

Everyone knew that this machine will be one helluva bike with oodles of style and technology thrown in, however, exactly what the specs would be, no one knew(and we don't know anything as of now too..just a few hours away from the official launch!!!)..Yamaha has been successful in keeping, everything it wanted to keep a secret, under wraps pretty successfully. But... the rumours had started long before the R15 was showcased in the auto expo. Some said that its going to be the same engine as the Vixion sports(in Thailand)...other said it will be a 22 bhp machine(i say it will be 20PS) etc etc...but this is a completely new engine, as made clear by Yamaha!!! The R15 has been in the news for a quite some time now....various sightings have been reported(see previous posts for refrence..dont want to stretch this for too long)...various people have commented on the figures- Some say it will be 18bhp...some say it will deliver abysmal efficiency, and some even go the extent of blasting away the R15 as a total gimmick.."what can a 150cc do..and with that price tag..its called fooling the public"...That is what SOME people say...BUT...that is complete hogwash--rubbish...bakwaas!!! CC does not matter!!! Abroad, you have 125cc bikes that can do 130+..i.e. the restricted ones..lol..so why can't this Yamaha, which is so much better than all other bikes currently in production in India in terms of design..engineering..latest tech....and more power..(+ some other things) be called a gimmick or a bike which has all the useless technology. Agreed its a 150cc..but...its a superior product and it doesn't fall into the league of the current crop of 150cc bikes that roam our roads today!!! (Oh!! I forgot..it will be behind in efficiency..!!! :p and will be more expensive). The bottom line is that you have to wait for a few hours more...and when you wake up tomorrow--you will know all the information for which you..and all of us...have been craving for...the search for the specs will be over in a very short time. Keep your fingers crossed...coz even i ont know the exact figures. All the previous posts about the specs and all are not confirmed!! Anything can happen...but this time..i'm sure Yamaha will not dissapoint us. The all new Yamaha R15 is going to rock the Nation!!!!

....btw..at this point of time..i remember Rajiv Bajaj saying "I fear Yamaha the most among all the competitors"----and his fears have come true..but he is a smart man...(check previous posts...the man under which almost all the deve of teh R15 took place --Yamaha's international specialist who was responsible for Yamaha's south asian revolution-- is now with him..as a full time consultant!!! --so do not expect Bajaj to lie low..it will compete with all gund blazing..which wioll be more fun for us consumers...though this time, Yamaha has moved the game to a very high level where catching it would be an uphill task for anyone!!)

------------The R15 will be a revolution in more ways than one. It is this one bike which has the capacity to bring back Yamaha from the brink of extinction in India....(maybe something like what the Pulsar did for Bajaj?)

------------I am eagerly waiting for the launch of this bike..and the consequent reviews..plus my own personal review!!!! I am way too excited an cant wait until this bike is launched in Lucknow. Until then, its the Chennai and Bangy guys who can enjoy the party!!!!!!

-----------IT's the BIG Day tomorrow....Do visit my blog for the latest info on the R15 tomorrow!!!And yes..more pics coming up for all you R15 aficionados out there!!! ;-)

Some Features of the R15

1: The Liquid cooled - FI Engine which uses technoligically advanced parts (Diasl Cylinder + forged piston-which is light and reduces friction --aids heat dissipation!!!)

2. The 6 hole fuel injection system -26 pin ECU which optimizes fuel efficiency and smoother delivery of power!!!

3. The Delta box frame which delivers superior rigidity balance!!!

4: Its aerodynamic design---(note the engine cowl which has been designed after much testing in the wind tunnels)

2008-06-06T20:01:00.001+05:30

2008-06-05T06:44:00.001+05:30

2008-06-03T15:09:00.004+05:30

Latest update on the R15

------Its Official now...The R15 is going to be launched on June 12th...BUT....hehe....the veil covering the spec list and the price has not been removed ......but some say the price is 1 lakh on road..maybe Yamaha will price it at 99000!!!!..hehe....but my gut feeling says it will be less than the P220..anywa.s.lets wait & watch!!!

------Bookings have started in some areas...like Chennai and Bangalore....and the booking amount to be paid is 10000 to 150000!!!
However, bookings have not started here in Lucknow and many other areas!

------It is speculated that this bike is going to set the sales charts on fire..:D...and bring Yamaha back its long lost position in India i.e. , in the hearts of all and sundry !!!!

Updated info about the R15

-----Launch confirmed : 12th June!!!! (Red Letter day..---:-) )

-----Specs: Dunno :p...between 18-20PS...

-----Price: Less than P220..or maybe slightly more..some say more than 1,00,000.!!! Anyways..it will be quiet cheap considering the performance potential and the quality and tech used in the bike!!!

----Rest of the specs remain the same!! :-)

2008-05-22T22:32:00.003+05:30

Hmm...OKzz..d cat is out of the bag, RIGHT??...:P....not completely though;-)....as far as i know, the bike will be launched on june 12-13-14th in Chennai and then it will be launched all over India in a phased manner:). Here in Lucknow, the showroom guys are completely clueless about the power figures and all...infact the bookings havn't yet started here...:((. Guess we will have to wait for some more time...:)...hmm..lets see.

However, in the meantime, one thing is stark clear, ie that this bike will be powerful(IMFY predicts 20bhp..;-)...n a top speed of 145km/hr..:D) ..will have oodles of style!! (THE BEST BIKE OF THE YEAR FOR OUR BABY THEN..right..;-)...)...and will have all teh enw tech...which might be useful or maybe not so much useful..;-) [happy delta bro]...that will only be known when the bike comes out...& is tested by the INDIAN PUBLIC(pretty rough lot we have here..hehe) I will be posting some pics here..soon..:p....n will keep it up-to-date from now on..coz the real action is about to begin...R15's have been caught being tested(with UP no plates--damn..n no news about it in lukcnow..d capital city of UP..its unfair...injustice...discrimination...:p..lolzz)..n they have been doing some serious speed...:) So keep ur money bags ready...Yamaha is finally...BACK!!!!!

Specs...once again---

150cc...liquid cooled...6speed transmission...20bhp....Digi meter...6Hole FI....Delta Box frame--- Full Fairing---- +----its a true R series bike....;-)..that's all for now folks...keep ur eyes open..:)...

2008-05-02T20:25:00.002+05:30

As june approaches nearer and nearer....the rumours are flying thick and fast. Someone says that it is being detuned to 18bhp....some say it will be 20bhp(I heard it will be around 20bhp). Whatever be the case, its going to be one hell of a bike..coz 150cc making between 18-20bhp is awesome..and being loaded with such high tech gizmos and that awesome design,(the blue lit speedoi....ahhh!!!) it will surely turn all heads towards itself wherever it goes!!!! So start saving money...and start searching for prospective buyers of your respective bikes....Its time to buy something truly YAMAHA. And re price...(the second thing thats being kept a tight secret apart from the bhp figures)...guess it will be close top 85-90 onroad....but i don't know the exact figures.

And yes, there have been sightings of these ALIENS....hehe..ie the R15 and thos ethat have seen it are quite lucky, coz they saw it when it was standing still at the traffic signal...and as soon as the signal ended...vroom..and they were outta sight!!!!!!! And yes.,..fyi those blokes were on RTR's...and then someone saw 15 R15(coincidence eh?) being tested in bangy...with UP number plates(unlucky me!!! Living in UP but havn't seen one R15 here...and can't make the trip to the showroom coz moi exams are going on..:((....anyways...7th may..i'll ask them a zillion questions regarding the R15)..and they were, yeah, you guessed it right, vrooming away into d distance...:)

Here is the promo....its d one you might see on tv...most probably *rolling eyes* ANd yes, if anyone whose reading this is from the South...then plzz...go visit a Yammie showroom....it must be standing there..:-))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5twOUAyttmY

Watch this and plzz..comments guys!!!!

And once moi exams get over...get ready for some cool pics of this beast!!

2008-04-08T15:43:00.002+05:30

http://www.orkut.com/FavoriteVideoView.aspx?uid=14498740011275628780&ad=1206527934

Promotional video...watch it and post ur comments..originally posted by Payeng/...

2008-04-03T20:49:00.002+05:30

Yes!!! It is coming this jUne...and will most probably be priced somewhere between 85-90ks. Dont know the specs...but i guess it will be the class leader by a large margin..and might even be the most powerful bike in INdia(R1 and MT01 excluded,...hehe)..

Will post a video son..guess its the promotional video...

2008-03-20T18:01:00.001+05:30

New Delhi: Yamaha Motor India plans to introduce forged piston which enables lighter piston design and better power development. The forged piston is used on the new 150cc YZF-R15, which was unveiled at Auto Expo 2008, as the first on an Indian market model and a feature that reduces the reciprocating mass of the piston by approximately 20 per cent.

Introduced in 1997, Yamaha ''controlled forging technology'' has been used successfully for over a decade for the mass production of forged aluminum pistons because it utilizes a system of precise control of the piece temperature, mold temperature and the forging force.

Yamaha's controlled forging technology tightly controls the forging conditions, including (1) the initial heating of the work piece, (2) controlling the temperature of the mould so that it keeps the work piece in the ideal 400 to 500 range (3) applying just the right amount of pressure to the mold in the forging process and many more factors.

According to Sanjay Tripathi, head, poduct planning and strategy, ''Pistons for car and motorcycle engines are usually cast by pouring molten aluminium alloy into a mould. The other type of piston is the forged piston, with which the alloy is not melted but heated to the point where it can be forged into a mould under pressure.

''Since the aluminium is not melted in the forging process, it retains a stronger metallurgic quality. This makes possible a thinner, and thus lighter, piston that has less reciprocating mass and also contributes to weight reduction. The result is better revving and lesser engine vibrations.''

''However, there are exacting requirements involved in manufacturing a complex shaped piston and difficulties in maintaining precise temperature in the "forging" process. Due to which such pistons are expensive to produce. But Yamaha's "controlled forging technology" enables production of the forged pistons at a lower cost'', he adds further.

The forged pistons made with Yamaha ''controlled forging technology'' have excellent strength characteristics that enable the design of a thinner, lighter piston with smaller reciprocating mass achieve higher rpm and performance as well as providing the greater reliability of the higher strength aluminum. For this reason they are used in YZF-R15 and many Yamaha motorcycles.

2008-03-20T17:57:00.000+05:30

YAMAHA YZF-R15 150CC TO HAVE DIE-CAST ALUMINIUM SILICON(DIASIL) CYLINDER

Parallel to a slew of launches, Yamaha Motor India is aiming to demonstrate its technological prowess with the launch of DiASil Cylinder in the Indian market. Yamaha “DiASil Cylinder” is used on the new 150cc YZF-R15 which was unveiled at Auto Expo 2008 and will be released in the market later this year.

Developed in 2002 by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd, Yamaha “DiASil Cylinder” is an all-aluminum die-cast cylinder with 60% better cooling performance and 30% cheaper production cost than a conventional cylinder (*1). Yamaha “DiASil Cylinder” (*2), is the world’s first all-aluminum die-cast cylinder and it achieves cooling performance equivalent to that of a nickel-plated cylinder, which is currently recognized as the best in the industry, but at a significantly lower production cost than a nickel-plated cylinder.

DiASil”, an abbreviation for “Die-casting Aluminum-Silicon”, is a technology which brings together an ideal combination of material, manufacturing technology and environmental friendliness. The material used is a 20% silicon content aluminum alloy, the manufacturing technology is the Yamaha CF Aluminum Die-cast Technology (*3), which enables the production of an all-aluminum die-cast cylinder. It is Yamaha’s exclusive CF Aluminum Die-cast Technology that enables the mass production of a die-cast cylinder made completely of 20% silicon content aluminum alloy, something that could not be done with conventional die casting methods.

According to Mr. Sanjay Tripathi, Head of Dept- Product Planning & Strategy, “Conventional engine cylinders have a steel liner to reduce the friction resulting from the piston’s movement. The “DiASil” cylinder is made by the exclusive Yamaha Aluminum Controlled Forging (CF) technology. Because the “DiASil” Cylinder is all aluminum, it has excellent heat dissipation qualities and reduces engine weight at the same time. In comparison to cast steel liner type aluminum cylinders, the DiASil cylinder has 60% better cooling performance at 30% lower manufacturing cost and enables 30% lighter design which results in better power to weight ratio besides excellent recyclability”.

“Considering the environment-friendly nature of aluminum, we have made aluminum technologies part of our core technology and actively increasing the use of aluminum in our products. Our CF Aluminum Die-cast Technology enables the mass production of die-cast aluminum parts that are both thinner and larger than was possible in the past. This same technology has been applied to the manufacture of engine parts. This is also a technology that can be easily transferred to overseas Yamaha manufacturing bases. Yamaha also plans to apply to new areas automobile and outboard motor engine parts”, he added.

This next-generation technology promises to contribute to improved function and product quality for the majority of Asian market motorcycles and automobiles that presently use conventional pistons with cast steel liners

2008-03-11T17:47:00.000+05:30

Cool race!!! ....

...Dovi came ahead of Rossi(Dovi looks promising..considering his bike isnt even factory supported!!) ..sadly..his 250cc buddy Alex crashed out.

...Stoner..hmm.well..initialy i thought he wont be able to get away like he always does....but he just kept going and going..and on the starights..boy..was he fast.. ...though poor toseland would have done well but he lost out on the straights ..lest see..what happens when he gets the pneumatic valved M1.

Pedrosa started very quick but Lorenzo, Rossi, Toseland & Stoner were on his tail...was quite an exciting race..and then Lorenzo went ahead..leaving Pedrosa and Rossi fighting for third..then he too went ahead(along with Stoner..)..and by now Dovi and Toseland were also coming close to the doc..and in the last 2 laps...Dovi went ahead of him... time for the Doc to think what went wrong..but credit goes to Doivi...well done!!

It looks as if this season is going to be one of the best seasons ever... ....Lets see waht happens in the next race...

2008-03-09T08:50:00.001+05:30

3 Yamaha's(M) occupy the top 3 spots in the opening race!!! Stoner will start from 4th while Rossi will start from 7th. It is interesting to note that Toseland and Edwards do not have the pnuematic valve engines which are 8.76mph slower than the Ducs on the straights!! This race will be quite exciting(Can we have an all Yamaha finish..1..2..3..n 4..hehe ) And yes...anything can happen in the race as there is a lot of diff betwen the race and the qualifying!!!!

Qualifying:

1. Lorenzo
2. Toseland
3. Edwards
4. Stoner
5. de Puniet
6. Hayden
7. Rossi
8. Pedrosa
9. Dovizioso
10. Hopkins
11. Vermeulen
12. de Angelis
13. Capirossi
14. Elias
15. Nakano
16. Melandri
17. Guintoli
18. West

2008-03-08T10:58:00.002+05:30

Yes...This is going to be MotoGP's first ever NIGHT race. I will post the timings so that none of you miss this race. The competition is fierce this time around with a lot of young guns promoising to give a good fight to reigning champ, Stoner, who himself looks in superb touch. Yamaha has 4 riders..all world champs, in the fray and all have been performing quite well...except....Rossi!!! Dont know whats the problem but he isnt up to his best and looking at the times of todays free practice(he finished 8th while SToner came first and the next 3 spots were occupied by the 3 Yamaha's) i dont think he will be able to finish in the top three............

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 55.442 secs
2. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 55.453 secs
3. James Toseland GBR Yamaha Tech 3 (M) 1min 55.812 secs
4. Colin Edwards USA Yamaha Tech 3 (M) 1min 55.942 secs
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Scot Team (M) 1min 55.963 secs
6. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 56.120 secs
7. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1min 56.234 secs
8. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1min 56.269 secs *
9. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 56.279 secs
10. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 56.478 secs *
11. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 56.922 secs
12. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 57.011 secs
13. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 57.045 secs
14. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 57.085 secs *
15. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 57.091 secs
16. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 1min 57.311 secs
17. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 57.934 secs
18. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 1min 58.500 secs

Acc to me..Dovi..Angeles and Randy will surely make a big impact on race day!! Watch out for these riders and dont be surprised if some of them finish on the podium!!!

Race is on the 9th...Timings: 1027pm on StarSports

2008-03-06T11:37:00.003+05:30

BREAKING NEWS: Oil reserves to be exhausted in 40yrs!!!!

what the Crap!!!....All this hogwash about oil reserves drying up in 40-50yrs is nothing but false rumours!!!. Though i also know that eventually they will dry up(so you should switch off your cars at signal if you have to wait for more than 30sec) but not so soon.....so we have to start searching for some alternatives, infact we have been searching for some alternatives.

1. Electric Scoots/BIkes/Hybrids: Right now, this technology is making its presence felt in all types of autombiles, be it Cars, Bikes or even three wheelers(btw..Tata is muling to sell its ACE in the US with an electric engine option) and the cost per km is quite low + it doesnt pollute ie directly. However, it indirectly contributes to global warming since the elctricity that will be eventually used to charge these vehicles will come from where??..From Hydel dams, or thermal powerplants which lead to habitat destruction and pollution. Another point which goes against this tech is that it cant be used by all people as we dont have enough elctricty to power our homes, so how can we supply enough energy to charge such a large number of vehicles!!!! Ofcourse, nuclear enery is a viable option but it will take a long time before sufficient amount of electricity can be generated!!! Thus, we can cross this option as a proper substitute for oil.
2. CNG/LPG: Nowadays most cars come fitted with CNG or LPG kits but i'll not lay much stress on these they too will not last too long, though they have their own benefits!! First of all they are cheap and ofer better running costs.

3. BIODIESEL or JATROPHA: A plant which grows on land which is unsuitable to grow crops and it also requires less water,ect. Infact, it will bring prosperity to poor villagers who owned tehse lands which until now were useless for them. The oil extracted from Jatropha can be mixed with deisel and then we have Biodiesel which can be used without much alterations in the original engine!!! This makes for an interesting proposition as here people will benefit(employment will grow..esp in areas where there is poverty now). Mercedes has been conducting test and it has found no problems with biodiesel. Below is a short extract taken from wikipedia:

Currently the oil from Jatropha curcas seeds is used for making biodiesel fuel in Philippines, promoted by a law authored by Philippine senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Miguel Zubiri. Likewise, jatropha oil is being promoted as an easily grown biofuel crop in hundreds of projects throughout India and other developing countries. The rail line between Mumbai and Delhi is planted with Jatropha and the train itself runs on 15-20% biodiesel.

The concerns are that since it is a crop it will take time to grow which, in turn, will lead to a huge demand supply gap!! Also, can we produce enough Jatropha to fulfill our needs??...If any of you has some answers please comment!! Oh..i forgot..what when diesel supply is finished?

4. HYDROGEN: NOw this is best option acc to me!!! You just cant go wrong with this. First of all, it wont get exhausted easily and then equally important is the fact that its by-product is water!!! It doesnt pollute the environment at all which is a really good thing. There is continuous reserach being conducted on this technology and progress is being made and it will not be long before we will have this tech available on everyday cars. Infact, hybrids have been developed by some manufacturers which are running without problem. The biggest problem will be in getting the cost down(and that can only be achieved if thsi technology is adopted on a large scale) plus more research has to be done to make it more safe(Its hydrogen!!!). Once this is achived, i am sure that this will replace petrol and when this transition is complete, it will play a huge role in bringing down the emission of green house gases and thus help in controlling Global warming and therefore make earth a better place to live.

Lets just hope that no problems crop up in the deve of this technology and that we motorheads have something thorugh which we can run our cars...er..ok..i forgot one important point. Until now, all research has been done on CARS.....what about us bikers??....hceez...what will happen when the oil supply finishes!!!!!..Noooooooo....:((....but then, i think that our brainiac scintist will think of something for us bikers by then....

2008-01-19T13:36:00.001+05:30

Yamaha launches lifestyle store

We all know Yamaha has been mesmerizing its riders with their jaw-dropping bikes. And while if you are wondering how they were planning to move into your everyday life, padding up your biking experience, here they are with their new lifestyle store in the capital city. In a move to rev up the spirit of youth and corral the young bike-lovers in the city and later in the country the Japanese motorbike firm has launched a company-owned lifestyle store Delhi. Called the ‘Bike Station’, the store has been launched offering a ‘complete biking lifestyle’ experience. The Bike Station will obviously sell bikes. What is not obvious is that the Bike Station would sell apparels and accessories ranging from chic shirts to jackets, jeans mugs and gloves. The store is designed keeping in mind what Yamaha stands for- touching people’s hearts. There are various zones inside the store as you move from a gaming zone to an internet area to a coffee bar and then to a concert area where live rock shows happen once or twice in a week. Well, of course, there are the bikes as well on display.

A beaming Takahiro Maeda, Chief Sales & Marketing officer of Yamaha India said, “The idea is to create a new culture of biking lifestyle that the Indian youth is looking for.” He also ad

ded that their mandate is to establish a high level of satisfaction for the Indian customers. And who are Yamaha’s customers you might ask? Young at heart and in mind and not just in age was what Maeda made clear. Research also indicates, he said, that the Indian consumers are highly demanding. Hence it would be a challenge for Yamaha to keep up to the demands. By the end of 2008, 10 such stores would have been launched around the country in Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Lucknow.

For all those bike lovers, Yamaha’s Gladiator SS and RS (125 cc) would arrive in India in February, the YZF –R14 (150 cc) in the middle of the year and FZ (150 cc) during November. Till then you can decide what jacket and apparel will go along with these machines at the Bike Station sipping coffee. At Yamaha, they believe technology is an art. And it is with this art they might want to add colour to your everyday life.

2008-01-11T17:05:00.000+05:30

2008-01-10T22:00:00.000+05:30

Yamaha is all set to launch 4 bikes in 2008. Out of these 2 will be 125cc bikes to be launched in February while 1 150cc bike will be launched in mid 2008 (most probably the FZ150) and the enxt one will be here around November(YZF-R15).

What i think is that the two 125cc bikes might be upgrade versions of the present day Gladiator(SS-stylish and sporty) & (RS-Racing Sport) which are going to have more goodies(the Yamaha site confirms this) and better features + a a much more sportier design(engine cover and paint scheme similiar to that seen on the Gladi that was their in the auto expo 2006. All these make the Gladiator even more desirable and i think its high time the public also gave it due respect and chose it ahead of the Discos and Super Splendours...:P

.......While the FZ150 is quite similiar in design to the FZ1000 and the YZF-R15 is similiar to the YZF-R1. All the images can be seen in the Yamaha web page (link provided in earlier post) Infact they have set a wonderful webpage and i think you should all visit it and start saving your money.

All the images will pe put up tomorrow. So keep watching this space :))))

2008-01-10T17:42:00.000+05:30

The media guys were fools that they didnt cover the yamaha launch.......

here's the link to Yamaha's website...

YAMAHA rocks..will update the webpage soon...

http://www.yamaha-motor-india.com/Auto-Expo08/home.html

2008-01-10T14:25:00.001+05:30

Tata's 1 lakh car, the Nano has clearly taken away the limelight from Yamaha's offering which is being launched at around this time only. Lets see when we can see thuis bike on the news channel. Though we can say that my early assumption that it would get launched somewhere around mid 2008 might be true!!! Will keep you pdated abouit all the information as soon as i get it.

PS: The launch time of around mid 08 suits me better ..hehe..as i have an RTR which i purchased 4.5 months back...sooo...am not going to get a bike immediately. Maybe in 2009 i'll be able to get this beast!!!)

2008-01-09T18:47:00.000+05:30

We have more pics, courtesy http://cubiccapacity.blogspot.com/

Now its confirmed that we have one hell of a bike coming from Yamaha's stable!!!!!!

Start saving you money friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yamaha's back with a bang!!!! Watch out for the expo tomorrow!!!

2008-01-09T11:45:00.000+05:30

More images of the much awaited 150cc from yamaha have been clicked. This bike was doing the rounds of delhi when these pics were clicked.

The indicators are plaed low down which indicates that this bike is a fully faired one. It has twion lights (pics taken later confirm that) and and front and rear disc brakes.

NOw the only thing that is left to be confirmed is the engine specification.

The pics are posted below!!!

NOt9ie, The grab rails and indicators!! They match with the ones preent in the teaser pic. Also, theindicators are placed quite low down, indicating that it is a fully faired bike!!! Now, we are just 1 day away from knowing the full details!! Goooooooo Yamaha!!!

2008-01-05T23:32:00.000+05:30

This is the real machine:

2008-01-05T22:50:00.000+05:30

YZF R15

According to sources:

YZF-R15: Yamaha's 150cc -(p220 beater) will finally be unvieled at the auto expo 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But first i should thank two people...rearset and ofcourse another blogger who was the first to post the images and stats of this bike!!! I just pray that all this is true and that this bike reaches a showroom near me as soon as soon as possible!!

This bike might be India's FIRST FULLY FAIRED BIke...150cc...Fuel injected..4 valves..monoshock at the rear .....Front and rear discs......awesome power....i'll post the stats and pics soon.... :))

Stats:(as given on this blog : http://yzf-r15.blogspot.com/) The stats may cary...so plzz..dont raise your expectation from right now!!!

150cc - 4valve Fuel injected

India's First Fully Faired Bike!!

22 bhp

0-60 - 3sec

0-100- 9sec

Top Speed: 145km/hr

Efficiency: 30-40km/pl if you ride sedately

_____________________________________________________________

And this is what its likely to look like thsi machine from Yamaha...

Looks awesome na??....well it does!!! (and if the stats are true, then it does mean that we are in for a treat!!!!

If this piece of machinery is available at around 80-90ks, i will not be surprised if i sell of one of my bikes and buy this one..pretty soon :)) BUt i just hope this piece of news is not a rumour!!!

It will have a full black chassis and it will have monoshock most probably!!! Front and rear discs will be present but front up side down forks are unlikely to make it to the bike.

Ofcourse, Rearset says that this piece of info might be tru as he too has some close contacts who hinted that their next ofering will be the true PERFORMANCE Bike..infact we have not tasted true performance yet!!! These comments and this news from this blog make this news seem credible but it would be better to wiat till the 10th...one of the MOST AWAITED DATE!!!!....

I'll keep u all updated on this matter.... Just keep praying that this bike comes into production soon!!!

This year's auto expo is gonna rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (loadsa new launches..but i'll give u[dates on Yamaha only....well..ok...supposedly...A P250 and 300cc might also be shown..along with TVS Apache's RTR sport version and its 200 / 180cc counterparts!!!! Suzuki may also bring in their 150cc bike!!(But it wont be in the league of our YAMAHA).....keep your fingers crossed ppl... :)))

In the end....i just wanna pray that this news is true....if this machine is priced at the price indicated in the blog (80-90ks)....then its gonna rock the biking scene!!!

I know i will have dreams about this bike tonight and the rest of the week... until i see it in full flesh and blood...awwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....