Yamaha puts the spotlight on its BSVI compliance and technological upgrade with improved engineering.
Story by: Deepti Thore
Yamaha has taken a slew of measures to upgrade. Testimony to it is the company’s BSVI compliance established with the multi-product launch on December 19, 2019, in Chennai. The company then launched the BSVI compliant Ray ZR 125 FI, Street Rally 125 FI, Fascino 125 FI making a grand foray in the 125-cc scooter segment. The company also launched the MT-15 in the roadster segment and FZ 25 in the streetfighter segment. Reiterating Yamaha’s commitment towards attaining Bharat Stage VI compliance for its two-wheeler product portfolio with key technological upgrades to meet consumer expectations, commented Motofumi Shitara, Chairman, Yamaha Motor India, “The company is delighted to enter the 125-cc scooter segment so that with more power, new technologies and improved engineering, Yamaha can fulfil the passion of riding and adventure for scooter customers.”
Starting the production of its newly launched two-wheelers from January 2020, Yamaha has earmarked an estimated investment of 14 crores for the production of BSVI compliant vehicles. With its current 1.7 million units manufacturing capacity, Yamaha is claimed to have already invested an estimated 1500 crores over four years in its production facility. Confident of recovering from the economic slowdown, Yamaha according to Shitara is confident of the two-wheeler segment bouncing back soon after the transition to BSVI emission norms. Maintaining high performance and quality product standards, Yamaha is banking on its 125 cc scooter portfolio to win over the youth.
Premium positioning
After launching ‘The Call of the Blue’ campaign in 2018 to maintain Yamaha’s global image of ‘excitement, stylish and sporty’, the company with it’s ‘Blue Square’ initiative (in line with the 2020 strategy), a 4000 sq. feet outlet in Chennai, built for driving Yamaha’s premium positioning in India. The company expects to create a pull with premium motorcycles and scooters in the future with a strong network across the country. With the move, Yamaha aims to grow its market share from five per cent to 10 per cent by 2025. By expanding the Blue Square to 100 outlets in the year 2020, the company eventually plans to consolidate the 125 cc scooter market share and sports market share for
the brand.
Fascino 125 FI
Powered by a BSVI compliant, air-cooled, fuel-injected (FI), 125 cc blue core engine, the new Fascino 125 FI offers a peak rated power output of 8.08 hp at 6,500 rpm. It offers a torque of 9.7 Nm at 5,000 rpm. With a 30 per cent higher power output and a higher fuel economy of 16 per cent than the previous generation, the new Fascino is expected to create a pull. Among other attractive key features are the stop and start system, front disc brake with Unified Brake System (UBS), Smart Motor Generator (SMG) and the side stand engine cut-off switch. The Fascino is designed with classic European styling and features an all-new exterior design backed by high-quality bodywork, newly designed headlight and new gauges. At 99 kg, Yamaha claims to have shaved
off four kilograms in a light-weighting exercise.
Ray ZR 125 FI and Street Rally 125 FI
Powered by a BSVI compliant, air-cooled, Fuel-Injected (FI), 125 cc blue core engine that produces a peak rated power output of 8.08 hp at 6,500 rpm and a torque of 9.7 Nm at 5000 rpm. In the disc brake variant, Yamaha offers the digital instrument cluster as a new feature. Yamaha launched its BSVI compliant, Ray ZR 125 FI and Street Rally 125 FI with a styling concept of ‘Armored Energy’. With the sporty, sharp-looking headlight, class C compliant and the Y-shaped LED position light, both the scooters also successfully underwent a light-weighting process to knock off four kilograms. The fully digital instrument cluster, side panels designed to look like a rugged frame, block-pattern tyre, sporty coloured wheel stripes (front and rear) and side panels designed to look like metallic protectors lend motorcycle-like elements to the new Street Rally 125 FI.
MT-15
The new BSVI MT-15 features the VVA engine for agile acceleration with model-specific ECU. An optimised secondary reduction gear ratio for snappy riding in town, Assist & Slipper (A&S) clutch for stress-free gear shifts, motard like riding position is claimed to offer a great deal of freedom on a tight, concentrated silhouette. The 282 mm front disc brake with single-channel ABS is claimed to offer excellent stopping power. Known for its balance of torque and agility along with enhanced control postures and single-channel ABS, the new BSVI MT-15 gets a rear radial tyre which is standardised in MT-15. With a minimal-look, dynamic headlight, short tail and overall finish the unpredictable MT style come to
the fore.
FZ 25
Yamaha unveiled BSVI compliant FZ 25 along with the all-new FZS 25. The FZ 25 features a 249cc air-cooled, SOHC, four-stroke, single-cylinder engine on a lightweight frame (153 kgs) and dual-channel ABS. It has a peak rated power of 20.51 hp at 8000 rpm and a torque of 20.1 Nm at 6000 rpm. The new FZ 25 attracts with a feature bouquet of multi-function negative LCD instrument cluster, LED DRLs, class D bi-functional LED headlight, under cowling and side stand with engine cut-off switch. ACI
With inputs from Ram Kumar
Maxxis Tyres partners with YAMAHA
The Maxxis Group recently announced its partnership with Yamaha as its Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) partner. As per the partnership clause, Maxxis India will be producing tyres for the 125 cc, BSVI compliant scooter range including the Yamaha Ray ZR, Fascino and Ray ZR Street Rally 125FI. The scooters will come fitted with 90/90-12 M6307 front and 110/90-10 M6220 rear tyres. Street Rally 125 FI, on the other hand, will come with tyres specification of 90/90-12 M6309 on the front and 110/90-10 M6310 at the rear. The tyres are claimed to be suitable for both city driving and off-roading and high-speed touring. Available at select Yamaha and Maxxis dealerships across India, Maxxis tyres will be the OE fitment to Yamaha scooter with an objective to offer extra strength and safety to the Yamaha range of vehicles. With an aim to capture 15 per cent of India’s two-wheeler tyre market share in a five-year timespan, Maxxis tyres in collaboration with Yamaha plans to create a pull and subsequently new market for its tyre range. The company will especially focus on the penetration in rural markets of the country.
