Yamaha 125ZR: What else can you buy?

Yamaha 125ZR is not any ordinary scooter. It’s a rare two-stroke underbone which is sold in limited quantity in Malaysia by Hong Leong Yamaha and that too with a special permission from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. It’s one of the fastest accelerating underbones of the country and generates 17.1 hp of power and 16.1 Nm of peak torque from its 125cc two-stroke engine. Surely the bullet speed acceleration is very enticing but if we look at other options in the 125cc underbone category, we notice that the Yamaha 125ZR is far more expensive with a price tag of RM7,888. If one is ready to spend that much money, he can find some good high-displacement, feature loaded options.

Here are a few alternatives to the Yamaha 125ZR in a similar price range.

1. Benelli RFS 150i

Benelli entered the moped segment in Malaysia last year with the RFS 150i. This racing inspired underbone moped has an amazing sporty design with an aggressive front and a sleek tail. The body graphics on the sides add to its sporty looks. Powering the RFS 150i is a Euro 4 compliant 149.8 cc, four-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that churns out 15.5 hp at 8,500 rpm mated to a 6-speed gearbox. It comes powered by Benelli B3SP System that uses trio spark plugs to maximize power and minimize emissions. To provide a comfy riding experience, Benelli has fitted the underbone with inverted front forks and monoshock at the rear.

The 17-inch alloy wheels are shod with a 70/90 tyre up front and a thick 120/70 tyre at the rear. Braking setup includes a 240mm single front disc and 220mm single rear disc. It also features LED headlamps and a semi-digital instrument console. Offered in four sporty colours- black, red, yellow and blue, the RFS 150i retails at RM7,407 (RM481 less than the Yamaha 125ZR).

2. Honda RS150R

Honda has also been a key player in the Malaysian two-wheeler market for long now and the RS150R is one of its popular offerings. The high-performance underbone features double stacked LED headlights, a stepped seat, a giant silencer, and thin lightweight alloys on thick tires. At the heart is a 149.7cc, four-valve, liquid-cooled, DOHC, fuel-injected engine which produces 15.6hp at 9,000 rpm and 13.5 Nm peak torque at 6,500 rpm, mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The engine is one of the most refined ones from the Japanese manufacturer. Long handlebars and a comfortable seat along with telescopic front forks and Kayaba monoshock at the rear results in a enjoyable riding experience.

It comes fitted with 17-inch alloys shod with a 90/80 tyre at the front and 120/70 tyre at the rear. Braking is done by a 296 mm single front disc and a 190 mm single rear disc. It also features a huge semi-digital instrument console with digital readouts like the tripmeter, speedometer, odometer, fuel gauge and a clock, while the tachometer is analogue. There are four colors to choose from- Candy Scintillate Red, Pearl Nightfall Blue, Repsol Orange, and Trico White. It is available in the Malaysian market at RM7,998 which is just RM110 more than the Yamaha 125ZR.

3. SYM VF3i 185 (Standard)

This might not look like a straight comparison but by shelling out just RM101 more you can get the SYM VF3i 185. It features a large front apron with LED lights, a sleek tail with metal grab rail, and a typical super cub design. The 183cc, four-valves, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled SOHC engine pumps 17.7 hp power at 8,500 rpm, mated to a 6-speed gearbox and features fuel-injection system. Rolling on 17-inch alloy wheels, the VF3i 185 comes fitted with a 90/80 tubeless tyre at the front and a 120/70 tubeless tyre at the rear which are attached to a 250mm disc and a 200mm disc at the front and rear respectively.

The suspension is handled by conventional telescopic front forks and non-adjustable monoshock at the rear. A semi-digital instrument panel consists of an analogue tachometer while the other readings are digitally displayed. Fuel is carried in a mighty 7-litre tank which comes very handy during long runs. Available in two colours-red and blue, the standard variant comes with a price tag of RM7,989.

If rocket acceleration is not the only thing you want and you are willing to pay between RM7K and RM8K, these three models are excellent alternatives to the Yamaha 125ZR.