Yamaha introduces M-Slaz, the newest addition to their small-displacement bikes and it looks like a most worthy offspring of the mighty MT-10 naked superbike. However, despite the awesome looks, it appears that the M-Slaz will not make it into the western markets. And this is sad.
Apparently, the M-Slaz is a treat Yamaha prepared for Thailand, Indonesia, and possibly other South-Asian markets in the region. Still, there is a slight possibility that Yamaha has a similar bike in the works for the European and North American markets, and we will be all eyes, hunting it down.
Until then, it's time for new and returning riders to gasp at the M-Slaz and keep dreaming. Sure, we have the MT-125, but this new bike brings extra displacement.
The M-Slaz is built on the YZF-R15 platform, and it most likely sports the same 150cc single-cylinder 4-stroke engine. If this is correct, we're looking for a 16.8 hp max power and 14.7 Nm (10.8 lb-ft) at 7,500 revs per minute, which, for such a bike, is not bad at all.
Yamaha had Tech 3 satellite team rider Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith launching the model in Thailand. The shooting appears to have been pretty fun, especially with two M-Slaz machines in the hands of MotoGP riders.
We're bringing you more photos of the bike soon. Until then, we remind you that Bradley Smith will only wear Tech 3 leathers until Valencia this autumn. After the final race of the season, he will be donning Mttighofen's livery as he was recently confirmed as one of the KTM factory riders for the next two seasons. As for his teammate, there are no news as to where he will go. Chances are he will also be switching teams, as Yamaha MotoGP boss Lin Jarvis referred to him, too, when he said that the satellite riders would most likely be free to go after 2016 if no spectacular results are obtained.
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