Yamaha Bikes

Yamaha started off as a musical instruments manufacturer and gave the famous three tuning forks a whole new meaning where melody, harmony and rhythm were complemented by technology, production and sales. It only began its motorcycle business in 1955, and here’s how the Japanese brand’s story started in India:

Two-stroke glory:

After three decades of existence, the Japanese manufacturer entered our shores in 1985 through a joint venture with Escorts Group. This collaboration gave birth to the iconic Yamaha RX100, the motorcycle that single-handedly etched the brand’s name into the hearts of countless enthusiasts. The 98cc two-stroke motor producing 11.5PS might not be much, but coupled with the bike’s featherlight dry weight of just 95kg forged it into a force to reckon with. Following that, RX100 dominated motorsport events across the country. 

This paved the way for upgraded models like the RXG and the RXZ 135 (with the 5-speed transmission) but none of them managed to make a hard-hitting impact as the RX100.

Another notable product from the auto manufacturer’s portfolio is the one and only RD350. Even though it was not manufactured by Yamaha in India, the bike was insanely fast for its time and became a prized possession, or at least a dream motorcycle for almost every other two-wheeler enthusiast in India. The India-spec RD350 was rebadged as Rajdoot 350 and 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, that with the exorbitant asking price led to the demise of the bike by 1990, with the RD disappearing from the production line.

A solo journey, facing a brave new world:

The stringent emission norms and fierce competition in the two-wheeler market sounded the death knell for Yamaha’s two-stroke motorcycles. This resulted in the Japanese bikemaker concentrating on commuters for the Indian market, which was ever so hungry for bikes with better mileage. 

Yamaha launched bikes like the Crux, the 125cc Fazer with the insect-like dual headlamp, and the Gladiator, which were technologically sound, but they never captured audiences’ attention as they didn’t exactly stand for what Yamaha was associated with - 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 there was a profound transformation in how the brand was perceived, in 2008. That year marked the arrival of the YZF-R15. The combination of R1-inspired styling with a fully-faired bodywork and an advanced liquid-cooled gem of an engine really put the Japanese bikemaker back in the spotlight. Adding to that, the R15’s agility and competitive pricing made it one of the best enthusiast motorcycles at the time, that too, by a huge margin!

Yamaha did not stop there, just three months after the R15’s launch, the auto manufacturer 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 engine. It had the show to match the go too, as it got a fat 140-section rear tyre which 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. 

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

Yamaha also dabbled in the scooter segment with the sporty-looking Ray range and the retro-styled Fascino, which racked up consistently healthy numbers. The Japanese brand launched the Aerox 155 maxi-scooter in 2020, adding a performance scooter in its lineup. The Aerox 155 is the only liquid-cooled scooter in the sub-200cc scooter segment, and is a stellar performer. 

A performance-centric future:

 
Later this year, Yamaha is expected to re-launch the YZF-R3 and finally introduce the MT-09 and Yamaha R7 in the Indian market with the Blue Square flagship dealerships set up in many parts of the country. The Japanese bike maker will also be launching its first electric scooter in India, the Neo’s, sometime next year.