The Yamaha Moto Cage-six concept bike has been inspired by the motorcycle stunt riding scene which has now become an integral part of the motorcycle sub-culture. Stunt riders like Mattie Griffin and Chesca Miles are now rightly seen as professional athletes, and stunt riding competitions and shows have started to attract huge interest.
 |
| Yamaha Moto Cage-Six Concept |
The Moto Cage-six is equipped with heavy-duty metal tubes that accentuate the stunt-inspired look and also offer extra protection to the engine cases. Built for the urban jungle, Yamaha says it has been inspired by a new generation of riders who want a machine that complements their lifestyle. This also explains the sump guard/skid plate under the engine.
Featuring next generation colouring and graphics, and a large rear sprocket, the Moto Cage-six demonstrates Yamaha’s interpretation of contemporary trends to young free-thinking riders; top speed isn’t everything anymore!
From the photos, it looks like the Moto Cage-six designers have had a ball raiding Yamaha’s extensive parts bin - the front end of the bike and the wheels come straight from the MT-03, complete with the universal hand guards used on the MT and XT range of road bikes; the 4 cylinder powerplant would most likely have been donated from the XJ6, which itself uses a heavily detuned R6 engine.
I think if it ever made it into production this engine may not be the most suitable choice for the type of riding the Moto Cage-six would be used for, due to its high revving nature. Possibly the new triple cylinder engine Yamaha have been beavering away on for a while would be the best compromise; it would have plenty of grunt throughout the rev range, as well as keeping overall weight down on the machine.
I love the styling; Yamaha certainly know how to make eye-catching concept machines, and many of the ones that have later made it into production have barely changed – good examples of this are the MT-03 and recently retired MT-01. Watch this space!
Article by Angela Freeman