Why doesn't Yamaha make any 250cc sport bikes?

[scottyp256]

My dream bike is an R6 and since I'm a beginning rider i would definitely go with a Yamaha 250 over the Ninja 250 which is more than likely what I'll be getting. I think that a 600 would be too much power. I wouldn't ride balls to the walls but i wouldn't want to wreck an R6.
but making a 250 model would be an expansion to beginning riders such as myself.

 

[DimoJ]

Something like the YBR250? http://www.yamaha-motor.co.uk/products/motorcycles/street/ybr250.jsp?view=explorer or the XT250X? http://www.yamaha-motor.jp/mc/lineup/sportsbike/xt250x/ They make it, but not for the U.S..

 

[James]

They make them; they just don't come to North America.
Historically, small displacement bikes have not sold well in North America. This is gradually changing, both because of the high cost of insurance and the increasing cost of fuel. But, for the time being, North American distributors are very cautious about importing smaller bikes, because they are afraid of getting stuck with them.
Any model imported into a given market has to be certified by that country's DoT. This is an expensive and time-consuming process, so it only makes sense to import models which will sell in significant numbers.
Once distributors import a given model, they own them and do not have the option of returning them to Japan for a credit or refund. If their dealers don't buy them, they will be stuck with them. Their only options are then to (a) try to lure the dealers into buying them at ridiculously reduced prices, (b) send them to the crusher, or (c) give them away to riding schools. All of these options are money-losing propositions.