Around the globe, motorcycle OEMs love to reminisce about the past, and Yamaha is clearly no different with recent RZ250 and RZ350 trademark applications.
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Nothing concrete yet, apparently. Should we keep the hopes up or prepared ourselves to be disappointed?
My hopes:
Highly optimistic: a 2T euro 6 complaint.
Realistic optimistic: 250 to 350cc high revving small naked bikes or an electric.
Possibly what may happen: rehash of the name to sell bikes in Asia.
I do hope they don't screw up with names... And make something worthy.
Ps: the RZ is one of my top 10 best bikes ever produced, so I have high hopes for this one, for now.
The existing Euro 6 compliant production R3 engine is 321cc so kinda close, and there is a <250cc version of it sold elsewhere in the world (as the R25 ... same bike as the R3) in markets that have higher taxes or license classifications beyond 250cc.
I'd say there's a high probability that whatever they come up with, will be a styling-makeover of the R25 and R3 just as the MT03 is a styling-makeover of the R3.
I'd say there's a high probability that whatever they come up with, will be a styling-makeover of the R25 and R3 just as the MT03 is a styling-makeover of the R3.
Re-using old product names always runs that risk, but as with the re-use of the R7 name, most people in the market for that bike today won't have any experience at all with what previously carried that name.
Re-using old product names always runs that risk, but as with the re-use of the R7 name, most people in the market for that bike today won't have any experience at all with what previously carried that name.
So, what re-use of the RZ350 name would you *not* consider to be a disappointment? Practical, sellable, real-world answers that conform to today's emission standards only!
And ... Let's suppose for a moment that you were in charge of picking a name for the bike that Yamaha chose to bring to market as the current R7, subject to a constraint that it had to be reasonably consistent with their recent naming conventions. What else would you call it besides R7?
The R7 was a unicorn... There are going to be more modern R7 buyers that were not aware the OW-02 even existed, than "RZ350" buyers not being aware of the RZ/RD.
Like... to me Yamaha just used R7 because it logically slots into their lineup. "RZ350" is different, they're pulling it intentionally to use it as a brand. Which is honestly weird to me, because of course RZ means two-stroke in my mind. I guess they would be going for "small and exciting"? As you say, there's zero chance of a two stroke streetbike ever again, so they don't have to worry about brand dilution
The R7 was a unicorn... There are going to be more modern R7 buyers that were not aware the OW-02 even existed, than "RZ350" buyers not being aware of the RZ/RD.
Like... to me Yamaha just used R7 because it logically slots into their lineup. "RZ350" is different, they're pulling it intentionally to use it as a brand. Which is honestly weird to me, because of course RZ means two-stroke in my mind. I guess they would be going for "small and exciting"? As you say, there's zero chance of a two stroke streetbike ever again, so they don't have to worry about brand dilution
I don't really see a need to resurect 2T street bikes. Emission nightmares and a level of maintenance most street riders would find troubling.
For those who never had the 2t streetbike thrill, it didnt come from a well engineered bike... mostly the opposite, a squirrely combo of a punchy motor on a cheap and dirty chassis. With today's standards I doubt that thrill is remakeable.
That said, I love the smell of 2t in the morning...well anytime. Its nice out now, I guess the DT needs a spin around the block.
Anything, really, this bike does fit the R line of performance. If anything, the could create a new tamed sport bike line up, that would be more understandable than R7.
Rotax has a turbo two stroke that passes California clean air... something like that would be nice. I am of the opinion that Yamaha is much smarter than Rotax/Bombardier, so a 2T turbo bike is probably doable
Rotax's two-strokes meet marine emission standards (outboard motors), not automotive standards (and keep in mind that Yamaha wants to build bikes for worldwide sale, which means they would have to meet Euro 5, which is more stringent than US standards). The standards cannot be directly compared, because the test procedures are different, because the usage patterns are different, but I'll just about guarantee that the level of technology necessary to achieve Euro 5 motorcycle emission standards is much, much higher than what's necessary to meet the marine standards. Regulations for Emissions from Marine Spark-Ignition Engines | US EPA
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