Hacked By Badc0de
May 10, 2013
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Yamaha RX100 – A Cross Between Nostalgia & Adrenaline Pumping Excitement
When it comes to bikes, Indian customers have always been pampered with some truly iconic models over the years. From the Hero Honda CD 100 to the Yamaha RX100, there have been models that have defined uber cool down the decades. The RX100 is easily one of the most popular and legendary bikes in India.
What gave it this iconic status is not easily decipherable. On the face of it, the bike looks simply like any other two stroke behemoth you see on the roads. However, the sound of the motor, the eminently masculine design touches and the overall experience are things that are unexplainable for the most part.
An entire generation has grown up cherishing or coveting the RX100 and Yamaha still counts this bike as one of its biggest successes in the country till date. The RX100 knocked over the competition when the market was still in its infancy and succeeded in being the bike of choice for passionate youngsters and practical adults alike. Such was the popularity of the bike that Yamaha is today considering bringing it back in a modern avatar to satiate customers.
The Yamaha RX100 is one of the finest two stroke bikes made and came with a single cylinder at the time of its inception. This 98 cc bike offered decent horsepower and came with revolutionary air cooling properties too! These bikes were mainly manufactured and sold in the period between 1985 and 1995 in both India and Japan. The RX100 was first unveiled in late 1980 in the Japanese market and continued to be produced there till the year 1983. Thereafter, the models produced between 1985 and 1987 were usually CKD or standard progression kits. These models were straightway sent for assembling in both Indonesia and India and disc brakes were provided solely with the bike variant made in Japan. The bike only had a few changes over the years and these are mapped below:
- Upgradation of the electrical system from 6 volts to 12 volts
- Introduction of CDI for both timing and ignition
- Replacement of the faulty ignition system for the 11.8 BHP RXG 132cc
The production story went on till 1996 and there were several modifications that took place throughout this period including those for the 5th gear, expansion chambers and other aspects. The rebadged RX 135 did moderately well in the market and was essentially a rebadged version of the legendary RX100 itself. This 16 BHP rebadged bike and the RXYZ variant both possessed 5 speed gear boxes and catalytic converter silencers which were top featurs at the time. The four speed version of the RX 135 also came with a similar silencer, speedometer and fuel gauge. This bike was sold for a short period of time in the year 2003 but faded out due to lack of popular interest in the same.
There are multiple Yamaha RX100 bikes that you can actually find the market for used bikes. However, most of these are close to 13 years old but are still in mint condition. Many people still keep an eye out for this iconic bike and its original advertising campaign hit the big time with the perfectly justifiable Ahead of the 100s and Born to Lead slogans. This was one mean machine and made no bones about it. People all over the country were thrilled with this aggressively and attractively styled bike that also had a gorgeous exhaust note.
There are various alternatives being explored by Yamaha with regard to bringing back this famous bike to the country. This includes delving deep into styling and engine aspects. Yet, the original design will be maintained exclusively according to certain company sources. The basic design type will most probably be kept intact along with some contemporary tweaks and touches. The RX 100 was always regarded as an agile and fast bike and many youngsters took to it like fishes to water! The bike was launched by Yamaha as a result of a partnership with Escorts Ltd. According to Yamaha’s national business head, Mr. Pankaj Dubey, the company is still working on similar lines and may well look to launch a product of the same nature in the country. No specific details have been divulged by Yamaha yet but a similar product certainly looks set to be launched soon.
The RX100 was phased out by the parent company on account of several laws and guidelines relating to emissions. There were multiple control norms introduced in India and going by the same, the RX100 was quite a high polluter after all. The two stroke engine always had a problem fitting into the clauses of these norms and the issue came up in the mid 1990s first. Almost all manufacturers of two stroke bikes started replacing their offerings with four stroke versions or stopped production altogether in favour of newer models. Yamaha chose to phase out the popular bike and instead focused on bringing out more efficient, low maintenance, hassle free four stroke bikes.
Yet, multiple owners loved riding two stroke bikes for the sheer power and control they offered. This was one of the biggest USPs that made the RX100 what it was and still is today. In comparison, four stroke engines appeared too tame indeed. The bike could also be operated at really low rpm when in higher gears. The bike will not be launched in its original two stroke avatar, going by the even stricter norms for emissions in the offing for India. The Bharat Stage IV upgradation should be coming through soon and the bike can only come through with a four stroke engine. The Yamaha RX100 can actually catapult the company into the big league in India owing to the thousands of eager customer waiting to lay their hands on this iconic bike model. Yamaha can actually expect to break into the top tier of the Indian market with the re-launched RX100. Indeed, as the famous saying goes, A thing of beauty is a joy forever!
