Production Yamaha R25 finally unveiled

EU-spec R3 expected to follow

YAMAHA has finally pulled the covers off the production version of the YZF-R25.

The quarter-litre sports bike makes 35.5hp and 16.7lbft from a parallel-twin 249cc engine.

It's got a steel frame and weighs 166kg.

It's just been unveiled in Indonesia, where Yamaha is billing it as the 'baby YZR-M1', after the factory's MotoGP bike. 

The R25 was first unveiled as a concept with no lights at the Tokyo Motor Show in November, but this is the first time an official image of a production version has been seen.

The Indonesian-built R25 will go on sale in Asia in July. A 300cc R3 version is expected to follow for Europe, although Yamaha is staying tight-lipped on the subject.

Over here it will go up against Kawasaki's Ninja 300 and Honda's forthcoming CBR300R, and on paper it looks competitive. Even without the extra 50cc, it's not far behind the Ninja 300, which makes 39hp and 19.9lbft.

Honda's CBR300, production of which has been postponed, makes a claimed 30.4hp with 19.9lbft.

The R25 will go on sale in Indonesia for 53million Rupiah (£2,756), slightly more than the local price of the CBR250R but less than the Ninja 250R.