Yamaha Likely To Launch The NMax 155cc Scooter In India

With the NMax, Yamaha intends to target the 150cc scooter space rather than entering the already competitive 125cc scooter segment

It’s no surprise that the 125cc segment is packed to the core with offerings from most two-wheeler manufacturers, catering to a different set of audience. You have the Hero Destini targeted towards a mature crowd at one end of the spectrum while the sporty Aprilia SR 125 makes millennials its target market at the other. That said, there is one manufacturer that seems to be missing from this competition, and that’s the Japanese bikemaker, Yamaha. While that stands true, the games about to change, as sources close to the company have indicated that the bikemaker will bring the fight to the 150cc scooter segment, instead of competing in an already well-established segment.

Yamaha proposes to achieve this task by entering the NMax 155 which is a sporty maxi-scooter. So what about the Yamaha Aerox S spotted earlier in India? That was just a teaser from the manufacturer to give the Indian audience a taste of what's to come. Well played Yamaha!

While the Japanese brand was always known to produce thrilling two-wheelers, the oomph factor seemed to be missing, especially in the Indian scooter segment. But, that might just change with the introduction of the NMax 155 which will compete against Piaggio-owned Vespas and the Aprilia SR 150. It also packs some never-seen-before features in its segment, namely - LED lighting at both ends, a fully-digital instrument cluster, ABS, disc brakes, and an athletic exterior. Additionally, the scooter gets a long step-up seat, a split floorboard which makes you position your feet on either side and a windscreen up front.

The NMax draws power from a 155cc, liquid-cooled motor that churns out a maximum of 14.8PS at 8,000rpm and 14.4Nm of torque at 6,000rpm. It also gets Variable Valve Actuation (VVA), which provides better lower end performance and top-end grunt. To put things into perspective, that's a lot more powerful than the Aprilia SR 150 which makes 10.4PS at 6,750rpm and 11.4Nm at 5,000rpm in its current tune. However, considering the price sensitive market that India is, Yamaha might introduce a slightly detuned and air-cooled engine which is more fuel-efficient and affordable to manufacture.

Its 13” alloys are wrapped in 110/70 section tyres at the front and 130/70-13 sections rear at the rear. In terms of width, that’s an inch smaller than the Aprilia SR 150 up front, but an inch wider at the rear which adds to its sporty proportions.

Now let's get to the crux of the matter, and that’s the price. Remember, India is a market that thrives on the value-for-money factor. And, going by the price in Philippines which stands at Rs 1.5 lakhs (converted), it wouldn’t float too well with our mentality. 

But, there is a work around this, and that’s heavy localisation. This should bring the price down to about Rs 1 lakh, however, in doing so, the NMax might lose out on some crucial features. While that would still make the NMax the most expensive proposition in the 150cc scooter space, its sporty looks, performance and most importantly, the brand name should more than make up for it. We can expect the scooter to be launched in India mid-next year, so watch out for this space.

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