Rumor: Yamaha Developing Inline Three Roadster

French motorcycle outlet Moto Revue reports Yamaha is developing a new three-cylinder middleweight.

Citing an internal Yamaha document, Moto Revue reports the new naked model will feature an inline Triple engine, aluminum perimeter frame, upside-down fork and a triple-pipe exhaust like the MV Agusta F3 and Brutale 675.

Yamaha has produced a Triple before, offering the XS750 from 1976-1979 before replacing it with the XS850 in 1980 and 1981 (pictured above is the 1981 Yamaha XS850.)

The potential new model is still likely to be years away, so its look is yet to be determined, though Moto Revue does have a rendering that borrows some of the design elements from the FZ8.

The new middleweight model could be a potential replacement for the FZ6 which has been discontinued in most markets (except in the U.S. where the FZ6R is still available) after the introduction of the FZ8 and Fazer8. In Europe, Yamaha also offers the XJ6 which is powered by a 600cc inline-Four engine.

[Source: Moto Revue]

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By Dennis Chung