Earlier this year, we reported that Yamaha India was working on introducing the YZF-R2 in our market around the festive season. The new motorcycle is expected to offer a step up in performance over the hugely successful R15, and a media invite from the company now suggests it is likely to launch on August 27.
- Could get a single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine displacing around 200cc
- May become Yamaha’s flagship model in India following the R3’s discontinuation
Yamaha YZF-R2: What we know so far
R2 is expected to be sold alongside R15
The Yamaha R2 is likely to be powered by a single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine displacing around 200cc or possibly slightly more. The R15 has long established itself as one of the most impressive beginner-friendly supersports on the market, and the R2 could offer a natural progression for riders looking for more performance without sacrificing everyday usability. The R2 name also follows Yamaha’s established R-series nomenclature and may become the flagship model in the company’s India line-up following the discontinuation of the R3.
For reference, the R15 is powered by a 155cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine producing 18.4hp and 14.2Nm. With a modest increase in displacement, the R2 can be expected to offer a bump in performance while still being quite fuel efficient – a combination that has long been one of the R15’s strongest attributes.
The R15, MT-15 and XSR155 are all expected to continue alongside the R2, and the new model is unlikely to replace any existing product in the line-up. It will be designed, developed and manufactured entirely in India at Yamaha’s Chennai facility, with exports to several global markets also planned.
The Yamaha R2 will likely rival the KTM RC 200 (Rs 2.24 lakh) and Hero Karizma XMR 210 (Rs 1.88 lakh). We also know that Yamaha is working on bringing the NMax 155 maxi-scooter to our market, having filed a design patent for the model just a few days ago. However, that scooter is likely to be launched here either at the end of 2026 or in early 2027.