Yamaha Ray ZR 125

Pros: Attractive styling, peppy 125cc engine, fuel efficient

Cons: Attention to details, ride quality

Yamaha Motor India created a niche for itself in the Honda Activa-dominated 110c scooter segment by introducing the Ray ZR Street Rally over two years ago. The scooter was pitched as a product that can go off the beaten path. Now, the scooter has received an upgrade to comply with the BS6 emission norms, and during the transition, Yamaha has also bumped up the displacement and gave it a styling revision to make it even more appealing. The only direct rival to the scooter is the new Aprilia Storm 125, although the Yamaha product is more affordable. We tested the Yamaha Ray ZR Street Rally, and here is our road test review about the scooter.

The Yamaha Ray ZR Street Rally looks and feels like a quality product. There aren’t any squeaking noises from the body panels while the paint, decals and the overall fit and finish look neat. The switchgear and the multifunction, too, works well. On the downside, the one thing that makes the Street Rally stand apart from the standard model is also a negative for the scooter. The knuckle guards aren’t properly installed, and they sit slightly above the brake levers. The material, too, looks flimsy, and it may not offer much protection in a crash. Excluding that, there aren’t any issues in the quality department of the scooter.

The Yamaha Ray ZR Street Rally rides on telescopic front forks and a single-sided spring at the back. The suspension is on the stiffer side, and you will feel every bump and undulation on the road when riding solo. Add a pillion, however, and it works really well and filters most of the undulations effortlessly.

Riding the scooter in the city is quite fun, and the scooter easily filters through the traffic. The ergonomics are upright, and on the comfortable side. There’s sufficient space on the saddle to accommodate two adults. The legroom, on the other hand, isn’t the most comfortable in the segment. The knees come quite close to the body panel behind the apron, and you’d occasionally hit the handlebar while making U-turns.

The scooter can also go off-roading, and while you can stand on the footpegs comfortably, do not expect an ADV motorcycle-style ergonomics. The footpegs, however, are rubber covered and they tend to get slippery when wet.

The 125cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled motor on the Street Rally makes similar power and torque output as the standard Ray ZR. The engine is tuned to produce 8bhp of power at 6,500rpm and 9.7Nm of torque at 5,000rpm. While the power and torque output numbers aren’t segment-leading, the light kerb weight of just 99kg aids the scooter’s case.

The power delivery of the Street Rally is linear and the scooter feels peppy right from the go, while the acceleration until 80kmph is brisk. The pace at which the scooter gains momentum starts to fade post 80kmph, but you can still achieve 90kmph fairly easily. The 60-70kmph range is a sweet spot to cruise without much stress on the motor. The Street Rally feels stable even near its top-speed.

The braking setup feels progressive, although it lacks the initial bite. You can still confidently drop the anchor, and the scooter comes to a standstill without much drama. The safety net of CBS ensures that the braking force is distributed on both wheels.

The block-pattern tyres add a rugged look to the visuals, and also deliver a satisfactory response on dry roads. However, they aren’t very forgiving to any antics pulled over wet tarmac.

Then there’s the practicality aspect of the scooter. The Yamaha Ray ZR Street Rally boasts of a 21-litre under-seat storage that can be used to store an open-face helmet or a small backpack. The saddle, too, is large enough to accommodate two adults comfortably.

The modern features on the scooter include a fuel-injection system, Smart Generator Motor, Start and Stop technology, CBS tech, and a side-stand engine cut-off system. The compact, yet stylish digital instrument cluster displays information such as tachometer, speedometer, fuel gauge, an odometer and a trip meter. An Eco indicator is part of the instrument cluster, and it informs the rider when the scooter is delivering maximum fuel efficiency.

The Ray ZR Street Rally, similar to the standard model, delivers a real-life fuel economy of 50kmpl. With its 5.2-litre fuel tank, the Street Rally can cover over 250kms before it needs a refill. The only thing that bothered us during the test ride was the lack of external fuel filler cap.

The standard Ray ZR and Street Rally aim to attract young buyers, and it ticks all the right boxes to make it happen. Its looks stylish while being practical too. The engine complements the muscular looks of the scooter, and it keeps up with other vehicles on the highway effortlessly.

With its added equipment such as the knuckle guards and the bold colours and graphic, the Street Rally looks even more appealing than the standard Ray ZR. It catches attention wherever it goes, and it should help the company attract young buyers. The engine complements the styling of the scooter while the fuel economy and large under-seat storage make it practical.

There are a few negatives that Yamaha needs to address. For example, the Street Rally misses several crucial features such as an LED headlight, a Bluetooth-enabled instrument cluster, an external fuel filler cap, a pass switch and a boot-light, which may push away some of the buyers towards its rivals. Surprisingly, the scooter also misses the parking brake mechanism, which will cause some inconvenience while parking. Lastly, the stiff ride quality is bothersome.

Otherwise, the Yamaha Ray ZR Street Rally is a very appealing package and fun to ride scooter. It retails at Rs 73,530, which is just Rs 1,000 more than the disc brake version of the Ray ZR. For the additional Rs 1,000, you get bolder graphics, knuckle guards and block-pattern tyres. Moreover, the only other product that directly rivals the Street Rally is the Aprilia Storm 125, which is over Rs 13,000 more expensive than the Yamaha scooter.

All prices are ex-showroom Delhi

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi