Yamaha has established itself as one of the big names in the sportbike market with its R-Series models. The lineup caters to a vast range of riders, consisting of daily commuters like the YZF-R125 and YZF-R15, high-revving weekend toys like the R3, punchy supersports like the R9, and full-on superbikes like the R1.
Despite the variety of bikes in the stable, it seemed as if Yamaha was looking for more. So much so that it decided to target a new portion of the market with an entirely new R-Series model: the YZF-R2.
The Yamaha YZF-R2 is the Japanese brand’s newest introduction in India. It’s powered by a newly developed 204cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, four-valve engine that delivers 26.14hp at 10,000rpm and 19.1Nm at 8,000rpm. The R2’s horsepower figures, Yamaha claims, are the best in the 126-200cc class.
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The YZF-R2’s powertrain is mated to a six-speed manual transmission with an up-and-down quickshifter, something that you don’t always get with these small-segment motorcycles. It also gets front and rear disc brakes with dual-channel ABS. A TFT instrument cluster with YConnect functions, Yamaha Ride Control (with Street, Sport, and Rain modes), and an assist/slipper clutch are also available.
Yamaha’s new sportbike—which it actually calls a ‘supersport’—borrows styling directly from the R1 and R9 with that striking front design. It sits on 17-inch front and rear wheels and gets a telescopic upside-down front fork. It weighs 149kg and has an 810mm (31.89 inches) seat height. It comes with a 12-liter fuel tank.
Given Filipinos’ reception of the YZF-R15, we don’t see how a bigger and, theoretically, more fun R2 (and R2M) wouldn’t be a fit in the market. What say you, riders? Would you like to see the Yamaha YZF-R2 in the Philippines?
