Yamaha Alpha Review, Test Ride

The Alpha is Yamaha’s latest answer to the growing need for easy and efficient mobility in India.

The Yamaha Alpha has been designed specifically for the Indian market, which means that it should be able to perform smoothly under varying conditions. The Alpha doesn’t have the same aggressive styling as the Yamaha Ray Z, but it does feature the same engine. Its air-cooled, 4-stroke, 113cc engine has been engineered for reliability and good fuel economy, and is paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which is mounted in a body that combines good functionality with a modern design to answer the needs of the Indian scooter buyer. The design is modern, but very practical, and it gets a nicely styled handle mount headlight – along with a stylish instrument cluster, and a large comfortable seat. There is also a decent size footboard to make the ride even more comfortable.

Yamaha Alpha is that its dimensions remain much the same as other scooters that have similar engine displacement, but it weighs much less – 104 kilograms with a full tank of petrol. Because it is quite light, it’s also very agile and really easy to manoeuvre around city streets. The seating position is also very good and gives the rider easy leg reach, plus the handlebars are situated in a good position, which means that you can cut through tight spots with as little effort as possible. The suspension is also brilliant, and the rear telescopic suspension has been set up to provide a smooth ride on all road surfaces. The Alpha also performs very well on city streets, and its power output of 7bhp and 8.1Nm of torque is adequate for crowded road conditions. The throttle response is nice, and you don’t need to use too much throttle for the Yamaha Alpha to get moving – and this takes some of the strain off your arms, especially in stop-and-go traffic. The brakes are drums for both the front and rear, and they don’t seem particularly effective until you really press hard in order to reduce speed.

The scooter we had for our Yamaha Alpha also got some added features, such as a large storage space under the seat that can fit a full size helmet. It also has a convenient hook between the floorboard and the seat, so you can carry your bags with ease.

Towards the end of our Alpha, we realised that it is a great commuter scooter, and with a price of Rs. 47,435 (Ex-showroom, Delhi) you’ll be getting great value for your money, since you get a good all-round package that provides easy riding, comfort, modern style, efficiency, and performance.