Yamaha has registered a new wordmark – FZ-X at the Indian intellectual property office which leads us to believe that the brand might be planning to introduce a new small-capacity adventure-style motorcycle in the Indian market. The new motorcycle could be based on the existing FZ naked roadster series of motorcycles and is likely to come in the quarter-litre capacity.
The adventure and touring segment have been gaining popularity for a few years. Initially, the only available adventure tourer in the small to the mid-capacity segment was the Royal Enfield Himalayan but recently KTM launched the 390 Adventure at the beginning of 2020 and the 250 Adventure closer to the end of the year taking up the ADV segment by storm. Even the Hero Motocorp’s Xpluse 200 which is an entry-level enduro as opposed to the proper ADVs from Royal Enfield and KTM, witnessed close to 1,400 units in sales in just November 2020.
The Indian road conditions which sometimes turn to ‘off-road’ conditions in some places, especially during the monsoon season, is partially to blame for the trend shift towards the ADV segment that we see today. The motorcycles with long travel suspensions are also practical and able to traverse across potholes with much ease. Yamaha could be targeting such client mindshare with the new FZ-X.
It is speculated to be based on the Yamaha FZ-25 and is likely to come with an ADV style beak on the front, tall windscreen, spoked wire rims, tail rack integrated pillion grab handles, knuckle guards, a high-set handlebar, etc. The FZ-X is likely to retain the fuel tank design, the side panels, the tail section and the seats from the existing motorcycle. Of course, the FZ-X is expected to receive the all important, uprated long-travel suspension unlike the street tuned suspension on the FZ 25.
The engine is expected to be retained as the brand has recently upgraded the motor to achieve BS6 conformity. The 2020 FZ 25 and FZ-S 25 are powered by a 249cc single-cylinder, air-cooled, 4-stroke 2-valve SOHC engine with fuel injection technology that produces 20.8 PS of power and 20.1 Nm of torque matched to a 5-speed transmission.
If the brand launches an adventure tourer based on the FZ 25, expected it to demand at least INR 20,000 more than the FZ-S 25 which is priced at INR 1.57 lakh ex-showroom.