Top 10 scooter and moped launches of 2021

Scooters and mopeds are all the rage these days in Malaysia as they are affordable, practical, lightweight, and easily maneuverable. The Malaysian automotive market witnessed a lot of new scooter and moped launches this year. So, here we bring a list of the top ten launches, have a look.

Honda Forza 250

Honda Malaysia added the all-new Forza in its lineup back in February. Targeting young riders, the sports scooter features a strong built and stylish layout. It is powered by a 250 cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled SOHC mill delivering a maximum power of 21.7 hp at 7,750 rpm and a peak torque of 22.6 Nm at 6,250 rpm. Key features of the 2021 Honda Forza 250 are full-LED lighting, dual-channel ABS, Honda Smart Key system, Emergency Stop Signal, extra-large utility box, Honda Selectable Torque Control, and 11.7-litre fuel tank. The Honda Forza 250 is priced at RM 25,388 and is available in three exciting shades viz. Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic, Candy Rosy Red, and Pearl Horizon White. 

All-new Yamaha Y16ZR

After a long wait, Yamaha introduced the next-gen sports moped, the Y16ZR, in Malaysia. The automaker gave the model a brand-new contemporary design and a new frame. It also gets a new LCD instrument cluster displaying all the important info to the rider. The moped is powered by a 155-cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine fed by EFI, which generates a maximum power of 17.7 hp at 9,500 rpm along with a peak torque of 14.4 Nm at 8,000 rpm. Raging Yellow, Phantom Grey, and Arrow Blue are three colour choices on offer. Priced at RM 10,888, the Yamaha Y16ZR is a great deal that one should not miss if looking for something in the same segment. 

Benelli R18i

In April 2021, Benelli launched the locally-assembled R18i super cub in Malaysia. It is available in two trim options - Standard and Special Edition. The Standard trim comes in two shades - red and black and is priced at RM 7,999. The SE, on the other hand, is on offer in a single blue tone teamed up with green wheels and retails for RM 8,299. The standard kit includes a projector-beam headlight, LED daytime running lights, LED tail lamp, a fully digital instrument panel, 17-inch wheels, and a 4.8-litre fuel tank. Powering the Benelli R18i is a 174-cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, SOHC mill producing 18 horsepower at 9,500 rpm along with a peak torque of 15.1 Nm at 7,000 rpm. 

2021 Yamaha NVX

The new Yamaha NVX hit the local market in April 2021 in two variants - Standard and ABS, retailing at RM 8,998 and RM 10,998, respectively. While the automaker continues all the styling bits of the scooter for 2021, it gets four new colours. The Standard trim gets Red and Cyan, while the ABS is on offer in Platinum SE and GP Blue hues. The latter is also fitted with alloy wheels for a more premium appeal. Key features of the upgraded NVX include LED lighting, integrated indicators, a 12V charging port, hazard light switch, and a digital LCD instrument cluster mated to the Yamaha Y-Connect app. Powering the 2021 NVX is a 155-cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, SOHC mill kicking out a maximum power of 15.4 PS at 8,000 rpm and a peak torque of 13.9 Nm at 6,500 rpm. 

SYM Jet X 150

Mforce Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd rolled out the new SYM Jet X 150 Maxi scooter in May 2021. With a quite exclusive and neat design, the scooter features a full suite of LED lighting, a fully digital LCD instrument panel, a smart key system with a burglar alarm, a USB charger socket, 18-litre capacity of under-seat storage, 7.5-litre fuel tank, and 12V7Ah battery. At its core lies a 149.6-cc single-cylinder fuel injection mill delivering 12.3 horsepower at 8,000 rpm along with a peak torque of 12 Nm at 6,000 rpm. It is on offer in two versions - Standard and Special Edition, priced at RM 8,888 and RM 9,188, respectively. The former is available in Grey, Red, and Yellow colour choices, whereas the latter comes in Chameleon Blue shade only.

BMW C 400 X and C 400 GT

The German luxury carmaker BMW also launched the two new scooters in the local market this year viz. 2021 BMW C 400 X and C 400 GT. While the former is meant for riders looking to cruise around urban cities, the latter can be preferred by those who love riding on highways. Both are powered by a 350-cc single-cylinder engine pumping out a max power of 34 hp and a peak torque of 35 Nm.

Included in the list of the common features are 6.5-inch full-colour TFT screen, BMW Motorrad Connected App+, ABS, keyless ride feature, automatic stability control, a 12V socket, and two USB charging sockets. Offered in Black Strom, the 2021 BMW C 400 X retails for RM 44,500, while the C 400 GT priced at RM 48,500 is available in Callisto Grey and Alpine White shades.

Vespa Sprint S 150

The 2021 Vespa Sprint S 150 made its Malaysian debut back in September. It is equipped with a 154.8-cc IGET single-cylinder mill that delivers 12.7 horsepower at 7,750 rpm and a peak torque of 12.8 Nm at 6,500 rpm. Key features include a 4.3-inch TFT LCD instrument cluster with Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, 7-litre fuel tank, 12-inch wheels, and single-channel ABS. Available in two striking colour tones - Nero Opaco and Bronzo Antico, the Vespa scooter retails for RM 19,900, 

All-new Yamaha Ego Gear

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor launched the Ego Gear scooter in Malaysia in November this year. Priced at just RM 5,418, the affordable scooter makes the busy life of today's urban youth a bit easier. It gets energy from a new-gen BluCore 125-cc DOHC single-cylinder engine that is good for making 9.38 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and a peak torque of 9.6 Nm at 5,500 rpm. Included in the features are LED Light & Pilot lights, panel metre, an electric socket, and anti-slip floorboard & foot pedal. The three available colour options are Blue, Silver, and Red. 

New Honda RS-X

The much-awaited kapchai, the Honda RS-X, landed on the Malaysia shores just last month. It boasts a sporty aggressive design featuring dual-LED headlights, full-LED tail light, a new contour-shaped seat, 17-inch alloy wheels, a fully digital speedometer, and a seat opener switch. The power comes from a 149.2-cc single-cylinder engine that has four valves and is liquid-cooled. It churns out a power output of 15.8 hp at 9,000 rpm and a peak torque of 13.6 Nm at 7,000 rpm. Honda retails the model for RM 8,688 with three colour choices - Lemon Ice Yellow, Candy Caribbean Blue Sea, and Trico Edition. 

WMoto F15 

Hailing from the 150-cc undergone class, the all-new WMoto F15 scooter hit the local stores just last week. Priced at RM 5,999, the new WMoto F15 is on offer in three colour tones - Green, Turquoise, and Dark Blue. It is fitted with a 149.2-cc air-cooled, SOHC, single-cylinder, Euro-4 compliant engine that churns out a maximum output of 10.5 hp at 7,000 rpm and a peak torque of 11 Nm at 8,000 rpm.

So, there you go. These were the top ten scooter and moped launches of 2021 in Malaysia. Which of the following would you like to buy? Let us know in the comments.

Also read: Top 10 car launches of 2021