Yamaha RX 100 is considered a legend by its fans around the country. The 2-stroke motorcycle was launched in the Indian market in 1985 and went out of production in 1996 due to the implementation of strict emission norms. The on-road price of the legendary motorcycle was around INR 19,700 in 1989. Here are five must-know facts about the mighty Yamaha RX 100.
5 Must-Know Facts About RX 100
1) Engine & Performance – Yamaha used a 98cc single-cylinder engine with two-stroke construction for the RX 100. The brand was able to achieve 11BHP of maximum power at 7500 rpm and 10.39Nm of maximum torque at 6500 rpm. The same sort of output can be expected from the present-day 125cc bikes. Yamaha RX 100 weighs just 103kgs, making it lighter than almost every possible 100cc rival motorcycle. An average 125cc motorcycle is 20kgs heavier than the given weight and thus, the performance of RX jumps right into the 150cc category when experienced on the road.
2) Design & Style – Many brands tried replicating the success of RX 100 with a basic round headlight design and a flat seat but they failed miserably with none of them getting a niche fan following in India. The charm of the Yamaha RX 100 is still on the top and modifiers are using the least innovative ways of restoring the old RX100s to keep originality under check. The chrome fenders, exhaust, and headlight casing are as elegant as retro-design lovers of India can imagine something to be for this segment. The decent-looking engine casing is also seen on other two-stroke Yamaha bikes.
3) Instrument Console – Yamaha RX 100 had a three-piece instrument console with a left section for the neutral and high beam light, the centre one for the speedometer and the one right for the key section. The indicator lights are divided into extreme left and right sections. Yamaha also mentioned the gear speeds within the speedometer and the fourth gear was good for 100kph of top speed from the motorcycle. The red section is practically not-achievable while slopes can help the needle wander into the forbidden section for a short period of time.
4) Successors – Yamaha RX 100 went out of production and the brand came forward with RX 135 and its variants for motorcycle fans. The 132cc engine was available with four and five-speed gearbox options under different names. The overall output was improved to touch 14 BHP while torque was even good at 12.25 Nm. The present-day 150cc bikes are not that quick as the Yamaha RX 135 weighs just 116kgs. The use of a catalytic converter made the RX 135 emission norms friendly and thus, Yamaha was able to retain some of the fans through these new bikes. As of now, Yamaha has no plans to relaunch the RX 100 or the RX 135 with a 4-stroke engine in India.
5) Two-Stroke Ban Report – In March 2019, most the Yamaha RX 100 owners were confused when someone circulated an image online stating that the Indian government has banned the use of 2-stroke bikes in India. We want to make it clear that the image was fake and that no such ban has been implemented. The bikes that have already been registered with the authorities cannot be permanently banned from being used on the roads. Moreover, no further report has been received from any government agency regarding the ban.