Yamaha RX 100: The motorcycling fraternity in India went into a frenzy yesterday, when Yamaha India put an end to all speculations which had been going on for decades – The Rx 100 is finally back in the country! During an address to the media in Delhi, Yamaha Motor India senior management disclosed the intentions of reviving the legend that ruled a generation, stressing on the retaining of its raw soul while adding the needed touch of the modern times.
Yamaha RX 100 The Legend Returns
Not many motorcycles could reach the level of legend that the Yamaha RX 100 had in the Indian motorcycling folklore. Made from 1985 to 1996, this 98cc two-stroke was much more than transportation a hypnotic symbol of freedom, rebellion and mechanical purity.
Even to this very day, decades after they were last being produced, mint examples can fetch ridiculous sums on the used market, in many cases being sold for several times their original price.
“We’ve been hearing our customers for many years,” Lear claimed Eishin Chihana, Yamaha Motor India Chairman, at time of announcement. “The RX 100 was not just a motorcycle, it was an emotion, and an experience that we’d like to reintroduce into the market.
And today we are excited to announce that this motorcycle that centralized our landscape of two wheelers in India will be back soon in a showroom near you.
Striking a Balance between Tradition and the Contemporary
It is a very difficult task to create a new take on a classic that is loved so much. And by all accounts – at least from what we’re hearing from the friends and family of the development team – Yamaha has managed to tread that fine line of keeping the essence of the original while making sure that the new version would comply with modern emissions demands, safety features, and – most importantly to us riders – what we expect our street bike to do.
The biggest change is with the powerplant. Peace out: The RX 100, with a distinctive exhaust note and brisk acceleration due to a 98cc two-stroke engine churning out 11 bhp of power, enjoyed a cult status among fans but changes in pollution norms have rendered two stroke engines not feasible for today’s market. Happily, the new RX 100 will switch to an in-house 100cc air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke motor.
The new engine is said to make 9.2 bhp and 8.7 Nm of power – a step down from the original engine but easier to extract for that displacement, given the torque now made over a longer mid-section of the rev range.
Engineers have apparently put a lot of work into the exhaust note to give it some of the special flavor that drew people to the original model despite the move from a two-stroke design to a four-stroke one.
Yamaha RX 100 Design: Honoring the Original
Aesthetically, Yamaha has remained quite true to the original. The teaser images indicate classic teardrop tank retro-fitted with period-correct Yamaha badging, a basic round headlamp, simple and narrow side panels, and the traditional curved flat bench seat which was a hallmark of the original motorcycle.
Modern touches are subtly integrated — LED lights are nestled within barn-looking housings, a basic digital-analog dash keeps its vintage appearance while displaying necessary modern info, and disc brakes provide welcome stopping power without breaking the clean visual lines.
Available in four colourways, though mysteriously not the one that many refer to as the definitive RX 100 livery – black with gold pinstriping, the bike’s profile remains slim, with chrome lining the exhaust, mirrors, and some body hardware that return the bike to the 1980s.
A bridge for today’s towns and villages
Yamaha returns with the silhouette of the original bike intact, but with an all-new chassis and running gear. The old-fashioned double-cradle frame layout has been updated with a more modern steel alloy for a higher strength-to-weight ratio.
The suspension components are also traditional telescopic forks at the front and twin shocks at the rear, stylistically same as the classic ones but updated internals and better damping characteristics.
The biggest improvement can be seen in the braking where it now has a 240mm front disk with a rear drum mechanism – a small price to pay when you think about the safety it brings.
The linked braking system complies with current standards and offers much better stopping power than the double drum of the original.
Wheels remain spoked for that authentic period look, but now they’re shod with tubeless rubber to bring safety and convenience. The whole lot weighs just 117kg overall, so the handling is as sharp as the new look would suggest.
Market Position: Who is it For?
Analysts believe Yamaha is trawling for three different types of customer with this resurrection. Just as organically there’s three other potential buyers that will very likely benefit from this bike: the older, Gen X RX 100 owner now in their late 40s or even 50s looking for a piece of their childhood; the younger enthusiast eager for a retro looking motorcycle minus the build quality hassles, because let’s face it,
the young person isn’t too keen on roadside fixes; and finally, the collector who gets to keep a piece of motorcycling history along with the peace of mind offered by the warranty and parts availability.
Expected to be priced in the ₹85,000 to ₹95,000 (ex-showroom) range, the RX 100 finds itself towards the premium end of the 100-125cc class, much more than the commuting end of the spectrum but justified by its venerable status and character in an increasingly copy-pasted marketplace.
Production Reality
Production is said to be happening at Yamaha’s Surajpur plant, with an estimated production of 20,000 units in the first year. Pre-bookings are likely to be opened next month across Yamaha dealerships with delivery prior to the festival season – which is generally favoured for new vehicle sales in India.
Dealer sources report unprecedented demand already simmering, and orders are being informally logged at many showrooms, even though there’s no official booking.
A few dealers also mention that they have deposit offers from fans that would like to secure a early build slots and again points to the emotional response this car evokes.
Yamaha RX 100 Market Impact
Much more than just a new product introduction, the return of the motorcycle betrays the increasing relevance of heritage and emotional connect in variety-obsessed India’s maturing two-wheeler landscape.
While commodified transportation evolves toward lifestyle and identity play, OEM’s are hooking into a desire for real roots, a true source of authenticity with authenticity hungry customers.
For riders whose bedroom walls were lined with posters of the RX 100, or riders who were old enough to experience the original for themselves, this revival serves as a living link to simpler times in motorcycling, when pocket-sized machines with middling power outputs delivered outsized experience.
Whether this resurrection will be able to recapture the mojo that made the original one a legend still remains to be seen, but Yamaha’s insistence on respecting the RX 100 while making it relevant for today’s riders goes to show that they aren’t questioning the RX 100’s inexplicable charm factor.