After what has seemed like an exceedingly long wait, Yamaha has finally told us that two of its big bikes will be launching in India this year. These include the R7 sportbike and the MT-09 SP middleweight naked bike, both of which will likely come to our country towards the middle of this year.
- Yamaha R7 supersport shares its engine with the MT-07
- MT-09 SP is the top variant in the 09 family
- Both bikes will come to India only on an order basis
Yamaha has announced that these two models will be brought to India via the CBU (Completely Built Up) route and they will only be brought when customers place orders for them. As such, expect the pricing of the two big Yamahas to be on the premium end of the spectrum in comparison to their rivals.
The R7 is a supersport based on Yamaha’s acclaimed CP2 platform and this will mark the first time one of the 689cc, twin-cylinder mill powered bikes will be officially sold in India. The engine is rated for 73.4hp at 8,750rpm and 67Nm of torque at 6,500rpm. Save for dual-channel ABS and a slipper clutch, the R7 has no rider assists to speak of.
Since it uses a cable throttle, the optional quickshifter will only work on upshifts. With its 13 litre tank fully brimmed the R7 weighs 188kg and it has a 835mm perch. Rivals to the Yamaha R7 include the Suzuki GSX-8R (Rs 9.25 lakh), Triumph Daytona 660 (Rs 9.72 lakh) and Honda CBR650R (Rs 9.99 lakh).
Coming to the MT-09 SP, this is the most trick variant of Yamaha’s middleweight MT. Powering it is an 890cc, 3-cylinder engine making 119hp and 93Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed gearbox with a bidirectional quickshifter. In stark contrast to the R7, the 09 is brimming with rider aids which include riding modes, traction control, cruise control and the like, all supplemented by a 6-axis IMU.
Since this is the SP variant we’re talking about, it gets a KYB fork, Ohlins monoshock both of which are fully-adjustable as well as Brembo Stylema brake calipers. With its 14 litre tank brimmed, the MT-09 SP weighs 194kg and it has a relatively lower 825mm seat height. Rivals to the Yamaha MT-09SP comprise the Triumph Street Triple RS (Rs 11.81 lakh) and the Ducati Monster SP (Rs 15.95 lakh).