With the Indian scooter segment seeing exponential growth in recent years, most two-wheeler manufacturers have moved up the ladder and are offering higher displacement 125cc scooters, the latest being Honda to have joined the bandwagon with the Activa 125. Not feeling left out by competition, Yamaha has also been working on its 125cc offering and the Japanese automaker will launch the Ray 125 in India that made its debut in Taiwan recently.
In terms of design, the international spec Yamaha Ray 125 is significantly different albeit with similar creases and body lines. The sharp knife-flow triple headlights look smarter than ever, while an additional headlight is mounted on the top as well. The styling on the Ray 125 is a lot more commuter friendly than the one found on the Indian spec model. We do expect Yamaha to retain the good design bits from the Indian spec Ray, when the 125cc version is launched next year.
Internationally, the new Yamaha Ray 125 is powered by a 124cc 4-stroke, air-cooled engine with fuel injection and O2 sensor for improved fuel efficiency and performance. The scooter gets telescopic front suspension and sports a dual-shock set-up at the rear. Stopping power on the other hand comes from spray dish type disc brake at the front and a drum brake setup at the rear, riding on 100/90-10 tyres wrapped around alloy wheels. With a dry weight of just 106 kgs, the Ray 125 seems to be a spirited performer on paper.
In India though, expect a carbureted 125cc mill to make an appearance on the Yamaha Ray 125 with an output of around 8.5 BHP of power and 10 Nm of torque. The Indian spec Ray will weigh similarly, while the overall dimensions are expected to be the same as well. You could expect Yamaha to offer a front disc equipped variant of the Ray 125 upon launch that will be priced at a small premium. Competing against the Honda Activa 125, Suzuki Access and Swish, Vespa and the likes in the segment, the Ray will appeal to many who want a peppier scooter that offers excellent handling and riding dynamics, along with adequate power delivery.
[youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDkoVsVjlLM 540 375]
[youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9JZRVwGM74 540 375]
