The Japanese bike maker YAMAHA has at last decided to crash the party of the true Racing Blue Fans by introducing a 113cc scooter in the Indian market - RAY. YAMAHA unlike the scooters they have launched globally claims RAY is targeted at the girls ageing between 18-24 and not meant for the Denim types. RAY is a very crucial launch for YAMAHA in India,not only because its their first scooter but also for the booming growth seen in this segment. The class of YAMAHA is too good to miss this opportunity. RAY is ready to take on the market, concentrating at the women folk and taking the risk of avoiding a lot of potential male buyers with its female oriented marketing strategy. So lets keep the market aside, Does RAY satisfy the buying criteria of their targets ? Lets take a look.
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The YAMAHA RAY is powered by a 113cc engine that produces 7bhp power and 8.1Nm of torque. The scooter weights only 104kgs , so translating the basic specs means that RAY is quick. Riding around the city and in heavy traffic conditions RAY will be quick of its feet giving the rider an advantage. The RAY can hit a top speed of 86kmph and gives out a mileage ranging between 45-47kmpl. The engine sounded smooth and well refined even after continuous travelling in cities and climbing the hills.
DESIGN & HANDLING
YAMAHA insists that the design and handling of RAY is suited to the taste of the women folk and I do feel the same after riding. But and argument against this can be that the RAY is not curvy and smooth in its design, instead it is sharp in design makeing it look sporty.May be the teenage girls would really appreciate this aspect. It has a few similarities in design with the Honda Dio but its really different in ride.Compared to the competition it has a larger wheelbase. The seats are a tad lower than the other scooters in this segment so that its easy to control especially for the ladies and the shorter ones.The boot space up front has been comprised while achieving this. To add to this the floorboard is a little sloppy that would again be a constrain to carry luggage up front.The tail lamp looks attractive and the rear grab bar has been designed in such a way that it can act as a hip rest too. Yamaha shows its love to pillion riders again ;).
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This light handling coupled with the Ray’s low weight makes it a breeze in the city.When it comes to handling the Ray definitely shows its true Yamaha DNA, it’s such an easy scooter to ride around the city. Its light weight and small dimensions help you zip through traffic ever so easily. The telescopic forks at the front definitely made an impression, as it made the ride quite comfortable and even with some spirited riding the suspension kept up.Ray marches through the tightest spots and emerging victorious on the first row right below the red light.It’s adequate for most city runs, and on those short highway bursts that the Ray has done, it felt composed even at 70kph. It soaked up most of the bumps that the roads had to offer, and felt composed on uneven surfaces too, thanks to the telescopic suspension upfront. The ray feels confident to steer and a pretty small turning radius makes it apt for commuting. The front and rear brakes were on the spot in every braking situation and its does not get locked unless we want it to.
KEY FEATURES & ACCESSORIES
YAMAHA has not set any benchmarks here , normally that is what everyone would expect. They have stuck to the basics. Everything that you would need is present. The Ray does not boast of a charging point , a shutter for the ignition or a front mounted fuel filler. Infront of the foot space is an inner box large enough to hold a 600 ml plastic bottle,and there is convenience hook designed for uses like hanging a day pack.While providing plenty of mud protection, the leg shield has a design with little intrusion into the inner panel. Its design accentuates the look of compactness and lightness.The instrument panel has an analog type speedometer and fuel gauge plus indicator lamps for the high beam and turn signals. It features a crystal lens for an added look of quality and radiance.But YAMAHA could have made up a few changes in the panel that would have differentiated RAY from its competitors. One commentable aspect here is the longer rear fender, that means you will not have to splash of dirt from your rare end always.This not only inhibits mud splatter but also has a structure that helps prevent clothing like the sari from getting tangled in the wheel which is very important for women folks.
The RULING
After you ride the Yamaha Ray for a while, you appreciate what a fun scooter it is. Apart from all the basic commuting that it’s good for, the Ray also offers the pleasure of some spirited riding. Its fits all the basic requirements of the target customers, add to it the YAMAHA DNA of handling I would really fit this scooter as a Buy! It is a fun scooter and I guess YAMAHA will be highly successful in the scooter segment.
Price : 56,400 (OTR , Cochin)
Specifications
| Engine type | Air-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 2-valve |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 113 cc |
| Bore & Stroke | 50.0 × 57.8 mm |
| Compression ratio | 9.2:1 |
| Maximum horse power | 7.1PS / 7,500 rpm |
| Maximum torque | 8.1N.m / 5000 rpm |
| Starting system | Electric and Kick |
| Lubrication | Force-feed Lubrication , wet sump |
| Cylinder layout | Single cylinder |
| Clutch type | Dry, centrifugal |
| Ignition system | C.D.I (Capacitor Discharge Ignition) |
| Fuel supply | Carburetor |
| Battery | 12 V, 5 AH (10 AH) |
| Headlight | Halogen bulb 12V,35W/35W X1 |
| Primary/Secondary reduction ratios | 1.000/9.388 |
| Tranmission type | V-belt automatic |
| Caster/Trail | 27.5 degree/103 mm |
| Gear ratios | 2.259～0.824 |
| Frame type | Underbone |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Telescopic |
| Rear suspension | Unit swing |
| Front brake | Drum brake, 130mm dia |
| Rear brake | Drum brake, 130mm dia |
| Front tyre | 90/100-10 53J(Tube type) |
| Rear tyre | 90/100-10 53J(Tube type) |
| Battery Type | 12MX5L-B /AB5L-B |
| Brake/tail light | 12V,21W/5W X1 |
| Turn signal light(Front) | 12V, 10W X2 |
| Turn signal light(Rear) | 12V, 10W X2 |
| Overall length x width x height | 1,835mm x 675mm × 1,075mm |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 104 kg |
| Wheelbase | 1,270mm |
| Minimum ground clearance | 128mm |
| Engine oil volume | 0.8 litres |
| Fuel tank capacity | 5 liters |
| Seat Height | 760 mm |
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| Test Drive and Image Courtesy - Richu Roy |
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| With Thanks & Regards Abey Daniel Abraham Please do comment on your suggestions and feedback's |
Yamaha Ray's razor-sharp features, the lean-yet-muscular build, the powerful engine or the excellent ergonomic design, gives the illusion of the Dio, but exploring its amazing features, that illusion fades away only too quickly. Yamaha Ray Price, models, features, dimensions, colors, engineering, mileage and performance information is available.
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