Yamaha Gladiator SS 125cc Review

Yamaha has given a great facelift to its 125cc bike. The new Yamaha Gladiator SS 125cc comes with designer colours and a pair of black alloy wheels to make heads turn. The cost of Gladiator SS type is Rs.53,800 (On-Road, Tamil Nadu).

Update (18.3.09): Yamaha India has brought in a new color variant into the Gladiator Type SS. The bike is now available in flaming red color. Yamaha Gladiator carries an on road price tag of Rs.46k.

Looks: Gladiator is in close competition with Hero Honda Glamour in the 125cc segment. The choice depends on the taste of the user.The engine guard being featured only in high end bikes is now present in Gladiator SS!

Uniqueness: Yamaha claims that the newly designed black alloy wheels is the lightest in its category. But if failed to mention the difference it would make for the end user. Perhaps it gives better mileage. The engine comes with YTPS, Yamaha Throttle Position Sensor which ensures outstanding combustion efficiency and amazing pickup.

What I feel: When I had a test drive of the bike, I felt that it is just another 125cc bike. Except for good looks, there is nothing remarkable in the engine, but it definitely makes a good choice for upgrades from 100cc range. If you need very good mileage and are not satisfied with the pickup of a 100cc segment bike, this one is for you!

Comfort: The riding position is very good. Very comfortable and spacious seats and you can ride it all day without stress and strain in your body. Higher segment bikes do not to give enough importance for the comfort of the pillion rider, but Gladiator’s passenger seat is as comfortable as the former one.

Engine & Gear: The bike comes with a 5-speed gear box which gives enough pickup to get ahead of other bikes when the signal turns green and great mileage for highway cruising. It is a perfect blend for both the highway and city riding conditions. The engine gives an output of 11 bhp at 7500 rpm which is quite good for a 125cc bike.

Details & Specifications: Yamaha Gladiator 125cc comes both in self start and kick start options. The fuel tank can hold upto 13 litres and the bike weighs 127 kg in dry conditions. Front brake has a 240mm disc and the rear one comes with a 130mm drum. The overall length of the bike is 2065mm. The brouchure states that Yamaha Gladiator gives a mileage of 67 kmpl under standard test conditions. The dash board has 3 dials as shown below.

Yamaha Gladiator 125 Specifications:

Engine type: Air-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 2-valve
Cylinder arrangement: Single cylinder
Displacement: 123.7cc
Maximum power: 11PS (8.0kW) / 7,500rpm
Maximum torque: 10.4 N.m / 6,500rpm
Starting system: Kick start / Electric start
Tire size (Front / Rear): 2.75 x 18″ , 42P / 3.00 x 18″ 6PR, 52P
Brake type (Front / Rear): Drum / Disc (Front), Drum (Rear)

Dimensions:

Overall length x width x height: 2,065mm x 730mm x 1,100mm
Wheelbase: 1,300mm
Minimum ground clearance: 160mm
Dry weight / Kerb weight: 123kg (Standards) / 127kg (Deluxe)
Fuel tank capacity: 13 liters
Max payload: 130kg

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