- Could be launched in India
- Displayed alongside other 300cc bikes
- Showcased only to select dealers
Yamaha India is keen on expanding its portfolio in the country with some bigger bike options. In the latest developments, the Japanese bikemaker hast showcased the YZF R7 and the MT-07 alongside a few other bikes to select dealers.
Notably, both the 700cc twins are likely to debut by the second half of 2023, around the festive season. Meanwhile, the bookings could commence slightly earlier, around the third quarter. The MT-07 and YZF R7 use the same motor as well as the hardware setup to some extent but differ completely on the design front.
The MT-07 features a naked bike styling with a futuristic design approach. Its fascia features a projector LED headlight flanked by an LED slat on each side. Meanwhile, the fuel tank looks butch and contributes a fair bit to the visual mass, followed by a split seat setup. On the other hand, the YZF R7 gets supersport styling with a nose-down fascia. It houses a similar headlight setup as the MT-07 and sports a fuel tank with creases and large side fairings.
Both bikes pack a liquid-cooled twin-cylinder 689cc engine linked to a six-speed gearbox. Even the output figures for the streetfighter and the supersport are the same – 73bhp at 8,750rpm and 67Nm at 6,500 rpm. The motor is nestled in a diamond-type frame. On the feature front, Yamaha has provided them with a TFT screen that packs various readouts like the speedometer, odometer, trip meter, gear position indicator, quickshifter, and more.
Now, the front suspension for the two motorcycles is different. The MT-07 gets telescopic front forks, whereas the YZF R7 features USD front forks. Both of them get a linked monoshock at the rear. Meanwhile, the braking duties are handled by a pair of 298mm front discs and a single 245mm rear disc with dual-channel ABS. Even the 17-inch wheels wrapped in a 120/70 front and 180/55 rear tyre are shared among the Yamaha 700 siblings.
Once launched, the MT-07 will rival the Kawasaki Z650 and the Triumph Trident 660. Whereas, the Yamaha YZF R7 will have the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and the Honda CBR 650R as its competitors.
