In the last quarter of 2020, Yamaha slowly started releasing their 2021 lineup, with the alarming omission of the R6. It looks like Yamaha is aiming to replace the R6 with an MT-07 build that features fairings.
We had an assumption that R6 was delayed due to the new Euro 5 regulations or declining sales induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the lack of R6 in the 2021 lineup leaves only the R3 and R1, which means that there is a lack of a suitable bike for riders looking for a motorcycle between beginner and expert ranges.
Still, there is hope for these riders, in the form of a revised MT-07 with full fairings that will resemble the R6. It’s supposed to release before the autumn of 2021. If this bike has the same frame build, it will have a less sporty but more ergonomic feel – not unlike Aprilia’s Tuono 660, a sportbike with an upright riding position.
Keep in mind that there is a difference in horsepower between the latest R6 variant (110 horsepower) and the current MT-07 (74 horsepower). Still, there is much more focus on torque in the MT-07’s CP2 engine, but it seems that this combination will be good enough to replace the R6.
The CP2 engine will be newly-made, but it seems unlikely to get further power updates, so we can probably put this updated MT-07 alongside bikes like CBR650R and not the CBR650RR, which competed with R6.
When it comes to the naming of the new model, will it be called R7 or MT-07F? We will find out later during this year, that’s for sure!
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Source: Web Bike World
