KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Yamaha India has recently rolled out a new 'Call Of The Blue' 4.0 campaign.
- Yamaha currently has no ADV in its lineup.
- The Yamaha XSR 155, the YZF-R7, and the Nmax were showcased at the Bharat Mobility Expo.
- The R7 is also among the few bikes that have been shown in the video.
Yamaha has had quite journey in India, and having recently rolled out its 'Call Of The Blue 4.0' campaign, we believe the Japanese bike maker may finally be considering launching some of its world-class products in India. Imagine, seeing a Yamaha Tenere 700 finally on sale here!
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In the new 'Call Of The Blue 4.0' campaign video, apart from the Indian lineup, we can also see the Yamaha Tenere 700, the XSR 155, the MT-09, and the Nmax 155. In fact, if you looked closely with a keen eye, one can even spot the YZF-R7.
The Tenere 700, the XSR 155, and the Nmax 155 have generated a lot of interest among the Indian customers, and while the latter two, along with the R7 have been showcased at the Bharat Mobility Expo earlier this year, the Tenere 700 was missing. However, Yamaha knows that the Tenere enjoys a fan-following among adventure enthusiasts, with part of the credit going to Pol Tarres' crazy antics with his heavily-customized Tenere 700.
Interestingly, Suzuki launched the V-Strom 800DE not too long ago, at a price of Rs 10.30 lakh (ex-showroom), and Honda also continues to sell the XL750 Transalp at Rs 10.99 lakh (ex-showroom). The Triumph Tiger 850 Sport and the BMW F 850 GS come in at slightly higher prices. All of the mentioned motorcycles come in as CBUs, and if Honda and Suzuki have done it, there is no reason Yamaha can't.
The R7 was one motorcycle you could miss if you don't have keen eyes. However, Yamaha has showcased both the R7 and the MT-07 in India on multiple occasions. Meanwhile, the MT-09 is a name that has been missing from Yamaha India's lineup for a while. It is believed that the MT-09's return is on the cards, as it has just received a global update, with which also came a new automatic transmission.
According to reports, Yamaha is setting up a new CKD line at its plant in Chennai, which could help bring down costs to a certain extent, and thus help in pricing its big bikes correctly. The bike maker is yet to make an official announcement, but if things fall in place correctly, we can expect the new big bikes to make their way to India from mid-2025 onwards.
Moving to the more affordable side of things, the XSR 155 should easily be the next big thing, considering that it shares its platform with the R15 and the MT-15. While I truly believe that the RX100 will never have a successor, the XSR 155 can be a cool option for those who've been wanting a neo-retro motorcycle from Yamaha; something that can remind people about the RX's legacy, while matching up to the MT-15 and R15 in terms of performance and riding thrills.
Yamaha hasn't completely ruled out the possibility of launching the XSR 155, and it could arrive sooner than the big bikes. However, even by those standards, the XSR 155 might take some time to come.
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The Nmax 155 was also among the few products showcased by Yamaha India, and it could certainly serve as a more comfortable alternative to the Aerox 155. While the centrally-located fuel tank may hinder practicality to an extent, it will certainly be a bit more practical and comfortable than its performance-oriented cousin. We can expect an official announcement from Yamaha in the coming months.
Verdict
Given that Yamaha has had the R1 and the MT-09 on sale here previously, it is clear that the Japanese bikemaker has potential, and with demand for big bikes now growing stronger, performance bike enthusiasts definitely feel the absence of Yamaha in those segments rather strongly. While the arrival of these big bikes will help Yamaha regain some user interest, it knows that pricing will be key, and hence it has to price its products correctly.
