Yamaha RX135

First of all, The RX135 was passed on to me by my dad, he bought it in 2003 and I got my hands over it, at the start of 2023 so we can clearly figure out that it’s a reliable piece of art and performance. The RX has always been an old-school charm in the 90s its first model the Rx100 was revealed in 1985 and since then it has been turning heads on the road. The riding experience is on the stiffer side but because of the very low seat height, it makes a lot of sense to daily commute on Indian roads. The light body and the overkill engine make this machine the ‘death racer’ of its time. The RX135 of course comes with a 135 cc engine with a 14bhp of power which wouldn’t let you feel sluggish with modern-day budget bikes. The candy red colour is the eye-catcher in the public, though it’s an old machine you’ll pull every eye on the road because of its unique design, its crisp sound and the amount of smoke trail it leaves behind because of the 2T oil used to lubricate the piston. Though it’s a reliable machine, I only had to spend 6k on its repair after it had stood in the garage for straight 7 years but sourcing the spares can be a bit of a task depending on the geography of your area. In the metro cities, you’ll find the spares very easily and at a cheap price. The maintenance is almost negligible as it doesn’t require your attention until you treat it respectfully. If you are someone who wants to collect old bikes like old bullets, Jawa's Yamaha RX is a pretty cheap option to start with. City rides and highway touring capabilities with luggage is very easy on the 135 cc variant you can easily cruise about 70 to 80 kmph.
Pros :
1. Till date you can expect a mileage of about 35+kmpl.
2. It’s an eye-catcher and one of its kind. Be ready to answer questions like ‘Will you sell it’ on a frequent basis.
3. Very Reliable a machine.
4. The resale value is almost triple.
Cons:
1. Sourcing spares can be a challenge.
2. Finding a seller with all the paperwork and green tax clearance is a task.

About the Reviewer

I own a rx-135 4-speed for the last 22 years! I use it for everything including touring. In cities, I ride at 60-70 kmph, but on highways always at 90-110 kmph! everyone knows the acceleration and the exhaust note, so I will skip that. I don't care for road humps and bumps while riding as I just slightly stand off the foot pegs and everything is butter smooth. To get the best riding experience of rx, one must ride in ghat sections with lots of hairpin bends (e.G. Masinagudi to ooty, bisle ghat, western ghat, dhimbam ghat, etc). For long trips, i usually carry a clutch cable and a spare tube, that's all. To date, it has not failed me despite me literally abusing the bike regularly. I have fallen off the bike at least 5 to 6 times while learning when it was new, and except for broken indicators, no major damage to the bike happened. I have not visited yamaha service center after the first 3 free services. All the spares are dirt cheap and all repair works are done by local and roadside mechanics. I sometimes wonder why modern bikes come with roadside assistance. the way I ride, the mileage is around 25 to 30 kmpl. I service the bike based on the usage and abuse it has taken, not by standard service intervals. I keep all papers up-to-date and still use the stock silencer, so no worries about traffic cops. I never got bored of this bike, so never thought of selling it! my overall experience with the bike is awesome!!!!!

About the Reviewer