Yamaha Readies 250 Class Sportbike to Compete with Kawasaki and Honda

Beginning with the Kawasaki Ninja 250, inexpensive, small displacement sportbikes have been a big hit here in the United States. Kawasaki, of course, has moved ahead to 300cc and the Ninja 300, while Honda does battle in the category with its single-cylinderCBR250R. Yamaha wants in on the action, and it is planning to manufacture a 250cc sportbike in India next year to be sold as a 2014 model.

Pictured above is the Indian-made YZF-R15 version 2.0, featuring a 149cc single. Yamaha is looking to export the R15 to other markets, and there is a good chance the 250cc bike would be available in the U.S. during its first model year given the success of Kawasaki and Honda with similar displacement sportbikes. Whether the new Yamaha would be a single (like the CBR) or a twin (like the Ninja) is unknown at this point.