Yamaha SZ review - Double-edged Yam

With the new SZ, Yamaha has set their sights on two segments - the premium 125cc in terms of price and considering its displacement, obviously, the 150cc segment. They’ve promised the best of both worlds with the SZ and it sounds too good to be true. However, the impressive thing is, the SZ actually comes close to giving you the best of both worlds!
LOOKS

The SZ comes in solid block colours, while the SZ-X offers graphics as an extra, while also coming in other shades. The SZ is a full-size 150 with a sporty-ish stance and it needs the brighter colour options to fully highlight its sporty shape. Instrumentation is bare-basic and there isn’t even a tachometer or a front disc brake. However, fit and finish is up to Yamaha’s usual standards.

ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN

The 153cc motor pushes out 12 bhp@7500 rpm and 1.3 kgm@4500 rpm. While that might not sound like much, the SZ never feels underpowered during normal riding conditions. Only on neverending highways, it struggles to get past an indicated 110 kph. But high-speed cruising is not what the SZ is made for anyway. In the city, the motor feels extremely smooth as does the five-speed gearbox. It pulls well from as low as 30 kph in top gear, lending it good commuting charactersitics. And while we haven’t had a chance to accurately measure fuel efficiency yet, over our 450 km ride at the bike’s launch hinted that a 55-60 kpl number will be easily achievable.

RIDE AND HANDLING

The SZ is a neutral handler and does well in this department even though it comes shod with TVS tyres, which are not really the best in terms of grip. Combine that with a missing front disc and what we have is a motorcycle that falls behind other 150s in the braking department. The 150 mm front drum did not suffer from brake fade, but it certainly is no disc. That aside, the SZ did not disappoint on the curves. It confidently holds a line around corners and even under hard braking, it maintains its poise. The riding position is comfortable for commuting and even though ride quality is a little on the stiffer side, it falls into the ‘plush’ category nonetheless.

WHAT TO EXPECT

For Rs 54, 340, ex-showroom, the SZ is fair value for money, given that it’s a well-built motorcycle that does almost everything well and undercuts its competition by a fair margin. However, we’d like to see better tyres and a front disc at the same price, which would make the SZ a much stronger value-for-money proposition.

MOTODATA

Yamaha SZ-X

POWERTRAIN

Displacement: 153 cc

Max power: 12 bhp@7500 rpm

Max torque: 1.3 kgm@4500 rpm

Transmission: 5-speed

CHASSIS

Type: Single downtube with engine as stressed member

Brakes: 150 mm drum (f), 130 mm drum (r)

Suspension: Telescopic forks (f), Shock absorbers (r)

Tyres: 2.75 X 17 (f), 100/90 X 17 (r)

DIMENSIONS

L/W/H (mm): 2050/730/1040

Wheelbase: 1320 mm

Kerb weight: 132 kg

Ground clearance: 165 mm

Fuel tank: 14 litres

PRICE

Rs 54,340, ex-showroom,