Yamaha Ray ZR 125 review, test ride

It appears as if everyone wants a piece of the growing success of the 125cc scooter segment. Yamaha is the most recent entrant with not one, but two offerings – the Fascino and the Ray ZR – and we aren’t complaining. It’s keen competition like this that has given us some really special two-wheelers, but does the new Ray ZR fall into that category?

What’s different?

The biggest differentiator between this and Yamaha’s other new 125cc scooter, the Fascino, is the styling. Just as the Fascino 125’s design is an exaggerated version of its 110cc predecessor, so is the new Ray ZR’s. The apron, for instance, is divided into matte plastic and gloss-paint panels, while faux air vents on the sides give the front end a wide appearance. The edgy design even continues to the handlebar, where you’ll find a little windscreen with a unique LED DRL. While, overall, it does appear quite over the top, some may find the cyclops-looking front end rather appealing. The rest of the scooter isn’t as aggressive, but it does carry elements to tie-in with the front. The side panels look sporty and rake upwards to meet a matte black section that houses the tail-light.

Equipment and features

The puffy bodywork and the new platform have resulted in a relatively larger scooter. Despite this, Yamaha has brought the kerb weight down to an impressive 99kg, which makes it one of the lightest 125cc scooters. There’s a fairly spacious 21-litre boot, but no underseat storage light, while a USB charging socket is available as an accessory. The fact that it’s not standard is surprising, considering this scooter is aimed squarely at the youth.

Coming to equipment, unlike the Fascino, the Ray ZR does feature digital instrumentation. While it is quite informative, it’s nowhere close to that of its direct rival, the TVS Ntorq 125, and neither does it offer Bluetooth connectivity.

How does it perform?

The Ray ZR uses the same version of Yamaha’s new fuel-injected 125cc engine that you’ll find in the Fascino. It puts out 8.2hp and 9.7Nm of torque, which is on the lower side in the segment, but the low kerb weight results in the Ray ZR being among the quickest scooters on sale in India. Despite testing it in wet conditions, the scooter managed to get to 60kph in just 8.46sec and the roll on-test figures were impressive as well. This scooter performs well, it is quite refined, and the motor remains smooth throughout.

The low kerb weight is a gift that keeps on giving, with the scooter’s fuel efficiency being an impressive 56.79kpl in the city and 62.80kpl on the highway. The stop-start feature is another contributing factor; we noticed how quickly the scooter would turn off at signals. Unfortunately, the system doesn’t start as quickly as it should when you twist the accelerator, and so we preferred keeping it turned off after the efficiency tests were completed.

Similarly, the ride and handling are similar to the Fascino’s as well. The ride is quite firm at low speeds, with the suspension transmitting undulations to the rider. The Ray ZR’s slightly different seat does help to a minor extent, but most of its rivals are more comfortable. The Ray uses a 12-inch front- and 10-inch rear-wheel setup that offers decent handling and stability, but it’s not as surefooted as its primary rival from TVS. The brakes on this scooter aren’t the best feeling either, but they get the Ray ZR to a stop quite quickly.

Should I buy one? 

In summation, the Ray ZR 125 has a lot going for it, but it misses out on some features, and the comfort factor could improve. There’s also the fact that the design is quite polarising and will not have the mass appeal of its rivals. On the upside, it performs well while also being quite fuel efficient. With prices ranging from Rs 69,530 for the drum brake variant to Rs 73,530 for the disc brake equipped Street Rally variant, the Ray ZR is a very competent product, but not a game changer.

Also see:

Yamaha MT-15 long term review, second report

Yamaha Fascino vs TVS Ntorq Race Edition vs Suzuki Access SE comparison video