Yamaha RX100 Launch Is a Real Challenge, Says Chairman

Yamaha RX100 was a unique 100cc two-stroke bike that was pretty light and quick for its time. Relaunching RX100 in its modern avatar won’t be easy because of these reasons:

The Yamaha RX100 is as iconic as it gets, and we have been hearing rumours about its revival for quite some time, and the enthusiasts have been keenly waiting for it. 

However, Eishin Chihana, Chairman of Yamaha Motor India, said in an interview that they are still studying the RX100 project, which has a lot of challenges, like its styling, and replicating the sound with a four-stroke engine. 

There’s also its performance – the Yamaha RX100’s 2-stroke engine was a quick and light bike. With the current regulations, a 2-stroke powerplant is out of question, which leaves it with a 4-stroke engine. Now to comply with modern regulations while having that kind of performance, it is said that Yamaha would need an engine that is at least 200cc. 

All this while, Yamaha also has to consider the image that the RX100 and the brand has. They have to get everything right on the RX100’s successor, without which they risk damaging the legacy. However, it seems like with current 4-stroke technology, replicating the RX100’s success will indeed be challenging. The nearest possible alternative is to mildly redesign and rebadge the Yamaha XSR155 as it not only offers retro looks but also the performance of the Yamaha R15. 

Yamaha had earlier mentioned that the launch of the modern version of the RX100 will happen after 2026. But considering the current challenges faced, and if Yamaha decides to make a completely new bike from scratch, we believe its launch is at least 3-4 years away from now.

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