Yamaha MT-15-based ADV In The Works?

If the rumours are true, this motorcycle will be Yamaha’s smallest adventure tourer

The upcoming bike could bear the Tracer, Yamaha’s product family of sport tourers, moniker. The render is based on the Yamaha MT-15. Yamaha could unveil a concept model at this year’s EICMA show in November.

Rumours are running rife that Yamaha is working on a small-capacity ADV. It is reported that this motorcycle will be based on the MT-15, and it could bear the Tracer moniker. For the uninitiated, the Tracer range comes under Yamaha's sport touring lineup, based on the MT-09. And if the rumours are true, this motorcycle would be the smallest road-biased ADV from Yamaha. Expect Yamaha to unveil the concept at this year’s EICMA show in November.

This rendering by Cxrider draws inspiration from both the international-spec MT-15 and the Tracer. It features long-travel inverted forks with muscular Tracer-like tank extensions and headlamp, and the handlebars get knuckle guards as well. The rear seems to remain unchanged.

Also Read: Yamaha YZF-R15 V3.0: Same Price, Other Options

However, the displacement is unknown so far. Reports are that it would either be a 125cc or 150cc motorcycle. Interestingly, Honda dabbled in the small-capacity ADV segment last year by unveiling a 125cc ADV concept. Commissioned by Honda’s R&D centre in Rome, it was intended for beginner riders. We could see the production version at this year’s EICMA and a 125cc ADV from Yamaha seems to be the perfect answer as far as the competition goes. While Honda’s concept is an off-road-centric ADV, we don’t know what kind of approach Yamaha would take. However, if Yamaha plonks a 125cc engine, it would restrict the bike’s availability to the European market, and it doesn’t exactly makes sound business sense.

If Yamaha makes a 150cc ADV based on the MT-15, it could do really well in regions like South East Asia and even Latin America. That’s because there’s a huge demand for such bikes in these developing markets. Moreover, thanks to VVA (Variable Valve Actuation) technology, the 155cc powerplant is adequately powerful. To give you a perspective, the MT-15 makes slightly more power than the Hero Xtreme 200R which comes with a bigger 199.6cc engine.

Yamaha is unlikely to launch such a motorcycle in India as the ADV segment is still in its nascent stages. Hero already offers the XPulse 200, a potent machine in the entry-level ADV space, at a competitive price of just Rs 97,000 (ex-showroom Delhi).

Source: tmcblog.com