Yamaha RayZR 125 (2024 – ) review

It’s almost impossible not to be impressed by Yamaha’s new 125 scooter, the RayZR. Although humble and average looking at first glance, its launch price of just £2,301 (at time of writing) significantly undercuts Japanese rivals like the Suzuki Avenis 125 and Honda’s best-selling (and admittedly posher) PCX125. But even at that price (achieved with the help of being made in India) the RayZR doesn’t come over as a poor relation, is smartly styled, has all the equipment you need (including start-stop), bags of storage space and goes perfectly acceptably as well.

The RayZR is a fairly standard, typical sport-styled scooter with the upright riding position that goes with it. The impressively light 99kg dry weight is Yamaha’s lightest ever and makes it ultra-manageable for riders of all types, it’s not so small that taller riders will feel cramped (your 6’ 3” tester included), knees and lower legs easily slot behind protective bodywork, the bars are slim yet comfortable and riding is thoroughly predictable and as easy as pie. For a 125cc scooter there is nothing unfamiliar or deserving of criticism here.

125cc scooters are about as practical as two wheelers get and make great, affordable commuter transport. As a 125, from 17 you can ride one on L-plates with a CBT certificate while ‘twist and go’ automatic transmissions make them ridiculously easy to ride. With 70mph potential and great economy they’re great commuters while simplicity and affordability makes them great introductions to powered two-wheelers in general. All of which goes a long way to explain why they’re so popular. The new RayZR is typical of the breed and brings no extra practical virtues apart from a bigger storage compartment under the seat than most. A useful ‘stop-start’ facility also aids economy while the prestige of the Yamaha badge and its stunningly affordable price add to the appeal. All that combined means that it’s right up there with the best.

This is where the built down to a price nature of the RayZR starts to show, but it’s not by much and it’s nothing to worry about. Where more premium sports scooters such as Yamaha’s own 12 horsepower XMAX 125 use liquid-cooled four-strokes the RayZR has a more basic, air-cooled single producing just eight horsepower at 6,500rpm. If you were to compare the two side by side you’d notice it. In isolation, though, the RayZR just about has enough and will max out at about 60mph. You notice the budget aspect in terms of the RayZR’s brakes as well. The single front disc and drum rear isn’t as premium or as powerful as the XMAX’s but, again, in isolation you’ll never have reason to complain.

The RayZR 125 isn’t as flash or quite as capable as more premium scooters when it comes to its chassis and cycle parts either, but for the most part that’s not a problem. There are slightly spindly and basic telescopic forks and wheels are 12-inch front and a 10-inch rear. This is a little smaller than some and means slightly ‘twitchy’ handling at times but, again, it’s not a biggie. And, yes, the suspension does seem a little crude and basic over the harshest of Britain’s many potholes, but the overall ride and handling is perfectly adequate and significantly better than many lesser-known ‘budget’ 125 scooters.

125cc scooters have running already about as low as it gets, given they’re cheap to buy, insurance and tax and even cheaper to run due to basic performance and associated minimal wear and tear on consumables such as tyres and brake pads. On top of that Yamaha’s new RayZR 125 should be among the best by virtue of its low purchase price, while the cachet of coming from a premium brand should help ongoing residual value. This also brings expectation of above-average reliability and durability thanks to the build quality. In short, if you want a cheap runabout over the longer term they won’t get much cheaper.

We have to hold back one mark here simply because the RayZR 125 is an all-new model and the fact it’s built in India leaves a (slight) question mark over its durability. That said, in every other respect we have no cause for concern. Yamaha has a long, enviable reputation for reliability, the RayZR is a relatively under-stressed machine and plenty of premium brands, including KTM, BMW and Triumph, build some of their bikes in India these days so there’s little need to be snobby about the expected quality of workmanship.

As with all Yamaha powered two-wheelers, the RayZR 125 scooter comes with a Yamaha factory-backed warranty covering all parts and labour for two years from initial registration with unlimited mileage. As for servicing, maintenance checks are recommended every 3000 miles or annually.

The Yamaha RayZR is a sports styled but fairly basic, novice-friendly 125 scooter with the emphasis on value, meaning you shouldn’t expect much by way of fancy equipment. Accordingly, it doesn’t have much but it does have everything you actually need. The dash is a fairly basic LCD digital affair rather than a fancy colour TFT and there’s no Bluetooth smartphone connectivity. But it shows speed, fuel level and has the usual warning lights and is enough. On top of that there’s a bigger than average under-seat luggage compartment and a useful stop-start engine function when static in traffic, which aids fuel economy.

If you have a budget of around £2,000 and are after a stylish, sports 125 scooter the RayZR is a no-brainer. It’s significantly cheaper than its Japanese rivals, looks good, is easy to ride, practical and looks decently built. Yes, you can buy cheaper from Chinese brands such as Lexmoto, but they’ll feel crude in comparison and won’t be a patch on the Yamaha for things like durability, residuals, warranty, dealer network and so on. Even better still at the time of writing you can get a RayZR on a PCP finance deal for under £40 a month.