I got my Type SS a month ago, and a review is long overdue. A collective opinion of Yamaha Type RS / SS users is being presented here.
Prelude: My dealer called me on the 9-May-08 Thursday evening, saying that Yamaha has arranged a “party” on Friday at The Oberoi, M.G Road, (Bangalore:-)). Also there is a technical session on “how to get more mileage”.
Hosts: Mr. Sanjay Tripathi, Mr. Kurt Matsuda – Heads, Product Planning & Strategy, India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd
They were indeed listening, audience was at ease, & ST extracted veracious answers.
Audience: 7 members in the batch. 2 students, 2 office execs, 1 agri-biz man, 2 of IT.
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Buying Influence: - *a question from Mr. Tripathi to the audience:
Upgrade from a 100 cc+ test ride other bikes: 1 – appeared to be a wise buyer.
Mileage+ pickup+ sporty looks: 2 students
Goes well with my personality: 1
RX Legacy, Japanese image: 1
Overall value for money in the package, Japanese refinement, handling, Mouthshut reviews, Auto media reviews: 1
Mouthshut reviews, 100 cc upgrade: 1
Mr. ST: How did you come to know of the new RS / SS?
Audience: Word of mouth(yes, Mouthshut was rightfully bragging), showroom, mall display, online reviews; All despite the inconspicuous media presence. None in the audience recalled Hoardings, TVC, print.
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Mr. ST: What features did you like in the Type RS / SS?
Audience:
1. Handling, cornering, braking:
Corners like a dream – has great balance. People mistake you that you are performing a risky cornering stunt!
Stable when braking – doesn’t lose balance.
Handling very easy and not stressful.
2. Smooth gearbox, and nimble shifting. It only takes a gentle flick, not more effort than when you breathe.
3. Good low end torque; We’ll never have to ride half clutch in any gear, esp in the city traffic.
4. Handle bar design, riding position
5. Looks and feels like a higher capacity bike.
6. Right balance of power and mileage.
7. Overall engineering and build quality, engine refinement, value for money.
8. Head lamp assembly. Console layout wisely designed.
9. Racing cowl, looks of the exhaust from the rear.
10. Sporty toe shift lever.
11. Retractable foot rests. Neat R1 type pillion footrests.
12. Integrated tail indicator lamps. - Doesn’t get knocked off in the parking lot.
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Grouses: were far and few; most of them were personal preferences. Nothing that could be termed a design flaw.
Everyone was equivocal in their displeasure about the OEM number plate on the windshield:-). All agreed that it robbed the bike of some of its sporty look.
Seating could be slightly more comfortable, like the Honda Shine.(That’s the only aspect of Shine which everyone found good.). A black crash guard would look good, than the cheap chrome ones.
At this point, we were told there is an OEM Crashguard, insist your dealer for it.
Matt finished alloys would be good.
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Mr Kurt Matsuda: Grafitti costs less, and with near same features. Why didn’t you go for it?
Audience: This is a better package. The yellow Grafitti you showed looks like the cop bike Pulsar cheetah!
KM: What if it cost 3k lesser.
Aud: We’ll still go with RS / SS.
KM: 4k lesser. Audi: No. KM: 5k. Aud: Maybe!
Few drawing board profiles of future Grafitti, RS, SS were circulated. Great when looked in isolation, paled when compared the current RS, SS. Audience didn’t dig them at all. Grafitti grafix was amateur. One RS looked menacing though, with a side profile of FZ 150.
"Insider info": R15 to be launched mid year. FZ 150 during Diwali.
P220, you are pulverized. Ninja, gear up for the battle.
Overall Verdict: A satisfied bunch of customers, who knew it can’t be better with any other 125 cc bike out there.
There were Questions about the dealership, intial response on enquiring about the bike, servicing. All ok.
Few more meetings with other customers were held.
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Personal grouses:
Pillion seating is not comfortable. I felt I’m seated on the edge of a wall and about to tumble forward.
The engine cowl makes the engine fins unreachable for cleaning.
Electrical cabling is below par.
Front wheel throws mire on the engine in the rain.
Horn, indicator buzzer sound faint when wet in the rain.
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Mileage:
My Glady clocked 52 kmpl for 1st 100 km.
55 kmpl for about next 100 km.
Subsequently 57 – 59 kms.
1. For milking that last mile: 1. Shift to higher gears asap; ride at the lowest possible rpm at a given gear. City traffic doesn’t allow me to rev anyway.
2. Even if you don’t ride with a pillion, maintain rear tyre pressure of 36 psi.
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First service: Since it is a free service, don’t expect much. I had clocked 450 km by then. When collecting my bike after 1st service at Orion, the electric start was not working. The mechanic said that water had logged in, and would be ok after 2 km. The service clerk nodded. I set off, and after 5 km, indicator lamp+ buzzer, horn, neutral lamp, brake lights stopped working. There was a sound of electric arcing somewhere in the circuitry.
I later found that there was a loose contact b/w lead wire and battery+ve terminal.
There were scale deposits at the+ve end.
*a. Never take the mechanic’s word for granted. Contact the service supervisor.
b. Check your battery every 3, 4 days.
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Footnote: **you will never find a 100% perfect bike, and in the 125cc segment, this one comes close.