Yamaha RX100

The Yamaha RX100’s relaunch in India is facing some difficulties. Read more about it here. The Yamaha RX100 was undoubtedly one of the most iconic motorcycles to be launched in the country. This bike was responsible for single-handedly changing the way India travelled, also setting a benchmark for two-stroke bikes with its class-leading performance figures. Since its launch in 1985, it more or less ruled the two-wheeler market up until 1996, the year Yamaha discontinued it. The Japanese manufacturer was forced to pull the plug on the icon thanks to stringent emission norms enforced by the government, which spelled doom for all two-stroke vehicles on Indian roads.

Interestingly, Yamaha launched the RX100 in order to compensate for the RD350’s lack of success in the Indian two-wheeler market. And that was how the RX100 became the legend that it is today. In fact, many enthusiasts are still willing to pay a bomb for a well-maintained example.

The RX100 was powered by an air-cooled, carb-fed, 98cc, single-cylinder motor that produced 11PS at 7500rpm. The company also claimed a 0-60kmph time of 7.5 seconds. Its excellent reliability and the affordability factor made the Yamaha RX100 the obvious choice for enthusiasts back then. In fact, it was one of India’s best-selling two-stroke machines until Yamaha replaced it with the RX-G.