I brought the Yamaha Gladiator Type RS, one year ago after much market research. I must say that the bike is true to it’s name. This is a bike that has the unique mix of style, handling, & above all it’s features.Starting from front the front telescopic suspensions are really great & work efficiently. The disc brakes are well designed & highly effective. It’s having a analogue speedometer, fuel gauge & tachometer(A specialty found in no other 125cc bike) makes it superb.
The 123.4cc engine delivers 11BHP at 7500 rpm that’s the awesome part as no other bike in the 125cc segment delivers that much. It also produces a top torque of 10.4Nm at 6600rpm. The torque & power are so linear that you will feel really good driving in city. The gearbox is specialty of Yamaha even after 7000km no problem of shifting at all. The YTPS(Yamaha Throttle positioning System) it maintains the air fuel mixture in accordance to the acceleration & throttling. The silent camshaft chain is a real beauty, produces very less sound.
The handling is really nice, & riding is joy, but only good for those whoa are over the height of 5 feet 8 inches. The rider seat height is one of the tallest in the bike industry. The unique rear one piece tail lamp & indicator are the trademarks, but well refined. These can be changed to LED lamps offered by Yamaha.But costs more than Rs1000/-. It’s horn sounds a bit less active so I changed mine to a twin digital horn systems.
The bike has no chain case & hence gives sporting style & makes it dirt prone. The chain needs to be cleaned in every 2 months which need motul chain cleaner & chain lube which costs Rs800/-.
The bike’s rear & front mudguards are of no use, Rajeev_Vermacially in rainy season, rider’s pant & pillion rider’s shirt is gonna get dirty 100% probability.Some parts like some clips & nuts in important parts gets corroded. My disc brake’s disc is showing some corrosion too.But overall the bike is a beauty as no other bike is going to offer you such a bike at such a low price of Rs53500/-(Rs500/- extra for Type RS)My total mileage is over 7000km & it’s fuel efficiency is near about 62kmpl in city driving if one drives it properly, i.e. maintaining the engine rpm, braking & speed.
I tested it on my own terms driving above 80kmph for 60km gave me the fuel efficiency of 45kmpl.driving it under 60kmph in city & highway gives 62-66kmpl
It’s a nice bike but only if u can extract all from it.
UPDATED After 22000KMs
Well roughly after driving & meeting with an unfortunate accident with my bike I am up & running to write the review further.
The bike is such a beauty that even after I met with the accident It still is a stunner in all rRajeev_Vermacts.
I twisted the front telescopic forks, cracked the front visor & head light, side foot pegs.but the good thing was that it got all repaired in under Rs3000/-.
Now the bike feels the same as ever before.
Yes coming to some problems which I faced after riding it for 22, 000KMs
- The rear wheel ball bearing worn out(because of lack of lubrication & dust)
REMEDY: Replace it with one covered bearing from the NBC bearing Center at BBSR.@ Rs140-150/-
- As usual got my chains replaced at around 15, 000Kms Mark, & a regular replacement of engine oil & air filter is good for the bike’s health.(Engine Oil Rs240/- & Air filter after 10000Kms @ Rs150-200)
3.Recently The accelerator wire cover snapped at some points due to hardening of plastics(minor problem) & has been fixed.
- Yeah I also did replaced my Rear wheel for a CEAT Angular Design Tyre as the previous one from Dunlop was a big flop giving me punctures at every 60Kms. CEAT Tyre No problem till date.(MUST RECOMMENDED)
But the bike still rules the rooster & is a A Lister given it’s performance in all the departments, it still handles like a horse who just heard YES YAMAHA!