USED GEMS FROM £2.5k ★ Beat the commute with a scoot
Yamaha’s new pair of 125cc scooters are designed to be a commuter’s dream
‘Better to have traction control and not need it…’
Yamaha have updated the D’elight and NMAX scooters for 2021, with hopes for the NMAX of pinching the top-selling crown from Honda’s PCX125.
Both machines have had a refresh with new styling and an updated engine but it’s the NMAX that steals the show. Underneath the skin there’s a new frame, allowing for a larger fuel tank bumping capacity up to 7.1 litres, which Yamaha say is enough to last 200 miles.
The 125cc water-cooled, fourvalve engine gets a new cylinder head to boost efficiency and reduce emissions to meet Euro5 standards. Economy has also been improved with a new stop-start system, where the engine can turn itself off at a standstill, and then quickly and quietly restart as soon as you open the throttle.
It’s not the only technical treat the NMAX gets for 2021. It now has traction control – yes, really.
That might seem excessive for a bike boasting just 12bhp, but for something that’ll spend its life in a world of wet drain covers, diesel spills and gravelly potholes (and perhaps in the hands of lessexperienced riders), it seems more sensible to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
All this comes in addition to the existing ABS and variablevalve actuation, meaning an impressive tech spec for a smallcapacity machine. There’s keyless ignition too, for convenience, and also a new Bluetooth integration feature that lets it talk to a Yamaha smartphone app.
To ride the NMAX feels as nippy, slim and light as ever. Through traffic it’s a breeze, with lowspeed balance, loads of steering lock and a kerb weight of 131kg. Price is £3399 on the road, which is remarkably reasonable for a bike offering so much tech, along with a generally impressive feeling of fit, finish and quality. However, its biggest rival is Honda’s PCX125, which is slightly cheaper at £3169. For those who don’t want the flashy features, the D’elight brings the same ideas under the hood for £2899.