As it has now become known, Yamaha applied for a whole series of brand names at the Japanese Patent Office back in February.
The names YZF-R1, YZF-R2, YZF-R3, YZF-R4, YZF-R5, YZF-R6, YZF-R7, YZF-R8, YZF-R9, YZF-R15, YZF-R20 and YZF-R25, as well as the abbreviations R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R15, R20 and R25 were registered.
A mass of new models?
Many designations are already known and corresponding models are already on the market, but other designations are new. So far, there is no R2, R4, R5, R8 or R9 on any market.
The R7 is not yet on sale, but will probably be introduced soon. Rumors about it have been around for a while, and meanwhile filings with the U.S. emissions authority have been published confirming an R7. This is a fully faired sport version of the MT-07.
Every time there are reports about the R7, you can read comments calling for an R9 as well, which could then be based on the MT-09. Accordingly, it would be quite possible that Yamaha is also planning a model for the future here.
Whether however also a R2, R4 or R8 could come is currently open. The trademark application could speak for it, however, it would be also possible that Yamaha wanted to secure the names only, so that no other can publish a motorcycle with the name. On the other hand, there are also some numbers that Yamaha has not secured.
Probably Yamaha still has something in the pipeline, but we should not expect five completely new models.
