India Yamaha Motor (IYM) today launched its much-awaited entry-level, quarter-litre Fazer 25 motorcycle priced at Rs 128,335 (ex-showroom, Mumbai).

The company aims to bank upon the rising demand for the entry-level midsize motorcycles that cater to the aspirations of young buyers and yet remain practical in terms of affordability, handling, styling appeal, performance and fuel efficiency.

Roy Kurian, senior vice-president, sales and marketing, Yamaha Motor India Sales, said, “We notice that commuter motorcycle riders are upgrading from typical 125cc-150cc models to 200cc-250cc motorcycles. There is also a surging trend of group rides taking place on the weekends. We were missing a model from our portfolio that offers the riders a motorcycle that they can take out on the weekends.”

According to Kurian, the Fazer 25 will cater to the sub-segment of riders of the FZ25, which was launched by the company earlier this year. The senior official says that the FZ25 has been well received in the market and the new model (Fazer 25) is expected to give a substantial boost to the overall sales.

Also present at the event, Masaki Asano, managing director, Yamaha Motor India Sales said, "Yamaha is known as the manufacturer of some of the versatile sport tourers that has created excitement in the motorcycling culture of the world. Since 2008, Yamaha has seen similar excitement in customers with the introduction of performance motorcycles in India. Now, its time Yamaha takes it to an all new high with the next line of the FZ generation bikes. With its improved looks and other suitable changes, the new Fazer 25 will keep up with the expectations of the FZ breed of riders."

Yamaha has commenced bookings for the new Fazer 25, which is offered in two colour options: cyan and red.  

Notably, both the motorcycles share the same four-stroke, air-cooled, single-cylinder, 249cc powertrain, which also offers the company's patented blue core engine technology. 

Yamaha's Blue Core technology focuses on three points: increasing combustion efficiency, increasing cooling efficiency and reducing the power loss.  

Reflecting the Fazer 25's long riding range, the company claims that its 14-litre fuel tank can offer up to 600km of uninterrupted riding. According to the company, it targets the young buyers in their 20s and 30s with the Fazer 25. 

To bank on the rising culture of group rides in metro cities, Yamaha now plans to organise similar initiative promoting the Fazer 25 under the theme 'great stories begin on weekends' by September 2017.