Opinion: Dear Yamaha, Let The RX100 Rest, Give Us The XSRs

“RX 100 helped establish the Yamaha brand image in India in terms of high performance and premium positioning. I have full respect for the brand and it is important to keep the legacy alive.” Yes, it is important to keep the legacy of the RX 100 alive and unlike previous vague attempts by the company, current Yamaha India boss Eishin Chihana knows that the legacy shouldn’t be ruined. 

So, what should Yamaha do? How does it fulfil the yearner’s needs while still staying true to the core identity of what the RX 100 was: a lithe pocket rocket that had an incredible sound and presence about it. The answer: let it be in the past, I say. Instead, let’s get the XSR series here. Here’s why…

The Challenge

We all remember the RX 100 being a puny, diminutive, quick runabout that bellowed an iconic ring-a-ding-ding two-stroke sound and spewed engine oil-infused fumes (a petrolhead’s perfume of the time for sure). Yes, that was a trip back to the 1990s where countless of these two-strokers ran amok on our city streets. Emission norms came into effect and ultimately the possibility of a two-stroke surviving the very basic emission checks was impossible. 

Come 2024 and BS6.2 emissions which are almost a hundred times more stringent than what it was in the 2000s, and the chances of a two-stroke revival are similar to the amount of germs that Dettol claims to not kill: 0.01%. And asking for the same from a four-stroke 100 cc mill, well, why even try. In his own words, Chihana said, “How to replicate this image with a 4-stroke bike is the challenge.” But is this a challenge worthy to be taken upon?

Don’t Chase The Unicorn

“I am constantly looking for answers.” Well, the answer is simple: leave the RX 100 alone. The internet might need it. Classic enthusiasts might need it. But it simply cannot be reconceived in 2024. Instead of putting in time, effort and bucket loads of cash into a project that might not work, why not chase what the realistic enthusiast wants from the Japanese bikemaker: good accessible performance products. And the ideal place to start would be the XSR 155.

Ain’t That Just A Retro R15 Sans Fairing?

Circle back to August 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic was almost 8-9 months away, the BJP had formed its government yet again and Yamaha Thailand had stayed true to its motto, Revs Your Heart. This was something that Yamaha India had done in 2008 with the first-generation R15, something that it has tried to do with every generation of the sport bike but nowhere else does it feel the same for its other products, barring a handful of other two-wheelers. Anyways, what the Thai arm of the company had produced was the lovely XSR 155, channelling the neo retro spirit of the larger XSR 700 and XSR 900. The XSR family has stood for modern performance but with classy looks, giving another dimension to this performance-oriented Japanese brand. 

The XSR 155 was, and still is, no hack job. It might use the same engine, chassis and suspension components from the R15 (V3 initially and then the V4), but it had its own lovely identity. The styling and ergonomics played a crucial role in this evocative feeling.

Jump forward two years and Yamaha India was teasing a similar retro revolution. We thought it was obvious that the XSR 155 too would arrive in India, right? And how wrong were we proven. Because what we got was a hotchpotch of a motorcycle that neither did the performance bit justice nor the neo retro. Yes, the FZ-X still remains an eyesore and a motorcycle that doesn’t really live up to what the Yamaha brand stands for globally.

So, Why Bring It Now?

Because why not. Yamaha says it is keen to listen to its enthusiasts in India. The XSR 155 opens up another dimension for potential Yamaha buyers who feel the R15 V4 is too aggressively stanced, the MT-15 V2 too compact and cramped and the FZ-X… well… I don’t need to go further.

The XSR 155 would also be a neat little tribute to the RX 100. Yes, technically it wouldn’t be a 100 cc bike but it would still evoke the retro vibe while being reasonably quick on our city streets. The sound tuning would need to be worked upon and the fumes won’t be there to accompany you but that’s okay. But it would suggest that Yamaha is fully interested in hearing the actual “Call of The Blue,” the actual prayers of fans of the brand that grew up watching their fathers rave about the Yamaha performance. 

To sum it up, “reproducing the RX 100 kind of bike will be difficult,” said Chihana. Agreed but let’s give birth to a new cult of followers. One that will very much appreciate what the RX’s ideology was and what the XSR will offer. And who knows, the 155 could pave the way well for the larger 700s and 900s to come. But that’s a call that can wait.

Interview Source