Yamaha YZF 250- R4

Yamaha is going to surprise all of us by launching a 250cc bike on R1 platform at the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo if we believe the photograph. To our surprise the bike is called R4 with 250cc engine though ideally it should be R2 or R250 but in any case if it is true that Yamaha is ready to compete (and probably going to win) with Kawasaki in 250cc true sports class, then it really doesn’t matter by what name it is going to be launched, isn’t it?

However Yamaha India have not commented on this but we can expect some surprise as committed earlier by the company’s top officials. Coming to the bike it looks like it is a combination of R1 and R6 and I have a gut feeling that if this bike is ever launched in India it will certainly take lead over Kawasaki Ninja 250R, if priced prudently by Yamaha. What are your opinion guys?

Yamaha YZF-R125

Yamaha has added yet more arsenal to the once decaying 250cc and under roadbike segment with the release of the sportsbike-inspired YZF-R125.

Yamaha claims the same engineers who created the YZF-R1 and YZF-R6 are behind the YZF-R125, which has a fuel-injected, four-valve, SOHC 125cc four-stroke engine (bore and stroke are 52mm and 58.6mm) that produces maximum power at a fairly lofty 9000rpm.
It has a six-speed gearbox, signature Yamaha Deltabox frame, aluminium swingarm, light five-spoke wheels, sharp bodywork, 1355mm wheelbase and 292m front disc, clearly aimed at those looking for some sporting DNA in the tiddler class.

There is a six-speed gearbox, and an R6-style mid-ship muffler

Yamaha claims it offers the strongest overall performance in the 125cc four-stroke class -- although it's not what you'd call a saturated segment.

Honda has its CBR125RW, while the venerable Cagiva Mito is two-stroke.

The CBR125RW is the fifth biggest selling bike in the 250c roadbike category so far this year, behind the Kawasaki Ninja, Honda CT110, Honda CBF250 and Hyosung GT250R.

Accessories for the $6999 YZF-R125 include a double bubble screen, seat cover, carbon yoke protector and tank pad.

Suzuki van-van

Who calls a motorbike a Van-Van? Especially in 2003? And, more to the point, why? Well, if you are Suzuki's marketing team, the answer is very simple. Suzuki call their cute little RV125 a Van-Van because they had one in their range in the dark ages, it was popular and it seemed like a good idea to resurrect it. So they did.

To be fair, the new bike does bear more than a passing resemblance to its antediluvian predecessor. The big chrome headlight, spoked wheels, single front disc with a drum on the back, the elderly air cooled single cylinder engine and the retro styling all hark back to a gentler age of motorcycling. Actually that isn't entirely true. The age of motorcycling that they invoke memories from wasn't gentle at all. It was full of evil handling semi reliable overpowered and underbraked animals of motorbikes. And a few gentle souls, which died out as more and more people were converted to the dark side of multi-cylinder high performance biking.

But they do say that what goes around, comes around. And that's certainly the case here, where there seems to be an increasing demand for a commuter bike that isn't a scooter but isn't a missile either. Plenty of people still have sufficient prejudice against scooters that they need something with big wheels, but at the same time they have a sufficiently realistic view of their abilities to limit the performance available to them. The bombsites that masquerade as road surfaces in our cities mean that a commuter needs pretty plush suspension, while the occasional need to go up the kerb to reach that last parking bay means that big balloon tyres will be a major plus. The seat needs to be large enough to handle a full size bottom and there needs to be some luggage capacity.

2010 Aprilia RS 125

The main features of the Aprilia RS 125:

• tried and tested yet extremely sophisticated Rotax two stroke engine;
• super-rigid aluminium frame and swingarm derived from Aprilia’s vast GP experience;
• upside down fork;
• front brake with radial caliper and four opposed pistons;
• RSV 1000 R style fairing, windshield and tail;
• RSV Factory style, crossed spoke wheels;
• analog/digital instrument panel with multi-functional computer;
• RSV Factory style, forged steering yoke;
• oval section racing silencer with riveted end plates;