Yamaha already two big motorcycles in India - the YZF-R1 and the MT-01 - both of which were launched last year. And now they plan to launch another big bike, the Yamaha FZ1 soon.

The FZ1 is powered by a four cylinder 998cc liquid-cooled engine, producing a maximum power of 150 PS at 11000 rpm. The 2009 Yamaha FZ1 comes with optional ABS (anti-lock braking system. Abroad, the motorcycle is available either with a quarter fairing a la the Hero Honda Karizma, or will get rid of entirely and opt for the complete naked bike look. It looks good in either guise, anyway.

Rumors say that the bike will take the SKD (Semi-Knocked Down kit) route - not imported as CBU, completely built units. That will help Yamaha keep the price of the FZ1 in India under control. Right now, the Honda CB1000R is the cheapest imported liter-class motorcycle, and the SKD route may mean that the FZ1 may be priced even less than that.

Even with the low price, it is still going to cost quite close to the Rs 10 lakh mark. At that kind of price, this is a motorcycle targeted only at the very top end of the market in India. In the international market, the Yamaha competes with Suzuki Bandit and Kawasaki Z1000S in the international market.

In India, Suzuki and Ducati are also planning to introduce liter-class motorcycles.

At this point, we have no more specific info regarding exact launch date or

Yamaha FZ1 Specifications:

Engine: 998cc liquid-cooled inline 4-cylinder; DOHC, 20 valves
Bore x Stroke: 77 x 53.6mm
Compression Ratio: 11.5:1
Fuel Delivery: Fuel injection
Ignition: TCI (Transistor Controlled Ignition)
Transmission: 6-speed w/multi-plate clutch
Final Drive: O-ring chain
Chassis, brakes and suspension
Suspension/Front: 43mm fork; fully adjustable, 5.1-in travel
Suspension/Rear: Single shock; adjustable preload and rebound damping, 5.1-in travel
Brakes/Front: Dual 320mm floating discs w/4-piston calipers
Brakes/Rear: 245mm disc w/single-piston caliper
Tyres/Front: 120/70-ZR17
Tyres/Rear: 190/50-ZR17
Dimensions
Length: 84.3 in
Width: 30.3 in
Height: 47.4 in
Seat Height: 32.1 in
Wheelbase: 57.5 in
Rake (Caster Angle): 25.0°
Trail: 4.3 in
Fuel Capacity: 18 liters
Fuel Economy: 9.24kmpl
Wet Weight: 485lb.