Know Your Two-wheeler Brand: India Yamaha Motor

From the nostalgic RX100s to modern R15s and FZs, Yamaha’s racing genes have remained unperturbed by changing trends!

From manufacturing musical instruments to countless MotoGP titles, Yamaha is one of the most desired motorcycle maker in the world. It gave the famous three tuning forks a whole new meaning where melody, harmony and rhythm were complemented by technology, production and sales. Here’s how the Japanese brand’s story started in India:

Two-stroke glory:

Where else can we begin its Indian adventures other than the much-loved and now highly desired two-strokers. The Japanese manufacturer entered our shores in 1985 through a joint venture with Escorts. This joint venture gave birth to the legendary RX100, for one. This motorcycle single-handedly etched the brand’s name into the hearts of countless enthusiasts. The 100cc two-stroke motor churning out 11.5PS might not be much but that engine in combination with the bike’s featherlight dry weight of just 95kg made it truly a force to reckon with. The RX100 dominated numerous motorsport events across the country. 

It was then followed by different upgraded models like the RX G and then the RXZ 135 (remember the one with the 5-speed transmission?) but none managed to make as much of a hard-hitting impact as the RX100.

Also Read: Top 5 Reasons Why We Want The Yamaha RX100 To Make A Comeback

Another notable motorcycle that deserves a mention is the RD350, which was technically not a Yamaha in India. The bike was so blisteringly fast for its time that it became a prized possession, or at least a dream motorcycle for almost every other two-wheeler enthusiast in India. The one made in India was rebadged as Rajdoot 350, and it was low on power and torque in favour of fuel efficiency. The move did make sense for India (read cost-conscious and mileage-centric market). However, the thrilling performance wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and the high asking price meant that by 1990, the famed RD disappeared from the production line.

A solo journey, facing a brave new world:

Emissions killed the two-strokes and gone with that were the exciting Yamaha two-stroke motorcycles. So post that, Yamaha tried concentrating on commuters for the Indian market which was ever so hungry for fuel efficient bikes. Remember bikes like the Crux, the 125cc Fazer with that insect-like dual headlamp, and the Gladiator?

While technologically sound, the bikes simply failed to capture audiences’ attention, as they didn’t exactly stand for what Yamaha was known for -- sportiness and performance. In fact, the Japanese brand also tried its luck in the cruiser segment with the Yamaha Enticer, which also failed to make an impression. 

Back in the game:

But then came the bike that once again ignited the spark of performance motorcycling, motorcycling that Yamaha stood for. 2018 marked the arrival of the legendary YZF-R15. The magical combination of R1-inspired styling with fully-faired bodywork and an advanced liquid-cooled gem of an engine really put the Japanese bikemaker back on the centre stage. Also, the R15’s agile handling and competitive pricing made it one of the best enthusiast’s motorcycles at the time, by a huge margin!

Yamaha didn’t just stop with this, as in September (just three months after the R15’s launch), it launched the FZ16. While it didn’t have an engine that was as powerful as the R15, it still managed to decimate its competition. This was thanks to its air-cooled 153cc motor. It had the show to match the go too, as that fat 140-section rear tyre put it straight into the league of big bikes (or at least it gave that kind of an impression). Needless to say, the FZ sold like hot cakes, and sometime later the brand also launched a slightly sportier-looking variant, the FZ-S. Yamaha also dabbled in the scooter segment with the sporty-looking Ray range and the retro Fascino, which racked up consistently healthy numbers.

A performance-centric future:

After the subsequent iterations of the FZ and R15 range, Yamaha then expanded its performance portfolio with the YZF-R3. Its latest addition is the MT-15 and it’s evident that the brand’s racing genes have remained unfazed. 

The Japanese brand seems to be playing its performance card even in the scooter segment with the scheduled launch of the NMax 155. This scooter will most likely be the first one to sport a liquid-cooled engine in its segment. All these developments are surely bound to rev the heart of enthusiasts!