2014 Yamaha Alpha review, test ride

We ride the Alpha, Yamaha’s aptly named new scooter for India.

Published on Mar 20, 2014 07:05:00 PM

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All the Alpha’s rubber and plastic components impart a quality, built-to-last feel.

The Alpha shares its engine with the Ray, a 113cc, single-cylinder, four-stroke and force air-cooled powerplant. It’s a button started, carburetor-fed, long-stroke (50x57.8mm) engine with gear-less, CVT-type transmission, making riding around in crowded, congested traffic conditions such a convenient affair. Maximum power is 7bhp, coming in at 7500rpm, and the Alpha feels sprightly enough for a scooter, accelerating off smartly from a standing start, with good throttle response and a reassuring, gossamer-smooth power delivery. The Alpha engine does well to feel every bit as refined and reliable as expected from every Yamaha built two-wheeler. Top speed is in the region of a true 85kph, but more on that in our full test report.

The Alpha is constructed around an under-bone type steel frame, and Yamaha has done well to give this new scooter good suspension, with telescopic forks in front and a single monoshock allied to the engine, a stressed member at rear.

It’s a comfortable steed, with a well padded saddle, nice upright riding position and well positioned handlebars, that don’t ever foul with even a six-foot-tall rider’s knees. Light to handle, and neutral to steer, the Alpha is just as able handling a scooter as any on Indian roads. Ride quality is likewise good, not overly plush and preventing the scooter from wallowing when faced with poor road surfaces mid corner. The Alpha rides on 10-inch pressed steel rims front and rear, with our test scooter coming with nice and grippy, MRF-made tyres. It would be nice if the Alpha also offered alloy rims, with perhaps even a front disc brake, at least as a paid optional. Having said which, its 130mm drum brakes do a good job, stopping the scooter promptly enough with nice progressive feel at the levers.