FEATURE - 2021 YAMAHA D’ELIGHT 125 - JUST BIKES

FEATURE - 2021 Yamaha D’elight 125

Words: Phil Suriano

Photos: Yamaha Motor Australia

You can’t accuse Yamaha of limiting options for scooter buyers. At present, there are six models to choose from, ranging from the big TMAX 560 touring scooter to the compact D’elight 125 city commuter. There’s also the Tricity 300 and 155 three-wheelers in the range.

All are LAMS approved and all are affordable, but none more so than the D’elight 125, which comes in at a snip under $3,600 ride away. That pricing is set to increase when an updated, restyled and more advanced version arrives here later this year, but what won’t change is this scooter’s light weight, impressive standard features and unbeatable fuel economy.

FEATURE - 2021 Yamaha D’elight 125 — 2021 Yamaha D’elight 125

Smart Starter

If you’re keen to take up riding, but find a lot of motorcycles intimidating in terms of size and weight, the D’elight should ease your concerns.

The step-through design and low seat height (800mm) is perfect for shorter riders and the listed weight for the upcoming 2021 model is just 101kg. That’s an extra 2kg over the current D’elight, but still the lightest scooter in its class, according to Yamaha.

Even at 101kg, the MY21 D’elight will be easy to handle and manoeuvre, especially when parking and putting the scooter on its centre stand, while in the unlikely event that you drop it, it’ll be easy to lift as well.

Compact size and light weight make the D’elight 125 a smart choice for first-time urban riders, but its attributes don’t stop there and are set to increase with the arrival of the updated version.

Cleaner, Greener

The upcoming D’elight 125 features a Euro5-compliant 125cc single-cylinder engine that’s the same capacity as the current model, but uses the latest developments in Yamaha’s Blue Core technology to increase fuel efficiency and offer cleaner running.

Fuel economy for the MY21 D’elight 125 is listed at a miserly 1.8lt/100km, while CO2 emissions are claimed at 42g/km. Both numbers come thanks to the addition of an engine ‘Start & Stop’ function that can be deactivated.

Like similar technology in automobiles, the new Start & Stop tech in the Yamaha cuts engine power whenever the scooter comes to a halt at traffic lights and intersections, then restarts when the brakes are released and throttle is turned.

Given scooters are quite fuel efficient anyway, the addition of Start & Stop seems an extravagance, but if you’re looking at this market segment and price range in the first place, you’ll no doubt welcome any additional savings when it comes to running costs.

Full engine specs, along with maximum power and torque outputs, for the new D’elight are yet to be revealed, but using previous year’s models as a guide, expect maximums in the region of 6.2kW at 6750rpm and 9.8Nm at 5250rpm. Yamaha does say that maximum torque comes on at only 5000rpm with the 2021 model, which they claim is a considerably lower rpm than other scooters in the 125cc class.

Like most other scooters of this capacity, the new D’elight 125 will be best suited for inner city commuting – anything above 70km/h zones will be pushing this model’s capabilities and highway running is out of the question, in my view.

Unisex Appeal

While most – in fact, all – of the pre-publicity imagery for the upcoming D’elight 125 features a female rider, Yamaha make a point of labelling this scooter as a unisex design.

The styling has come in for some tweaks compared to the 2020 version and has arguably gone in a slightly more retro direction. The headlight is the best example of this, but Yamaha have by no means aimed to create a classic Vespa clone!

The large ‘V’ that bisected the legshield is gone, giving the front end a more solid look, but a position lamp remains. Front indicators are still flush-mounted, but now encased in a pair of boomerang-shaped design features that add a little bit of bling.

As part of the reshaped headlight/handlebar unit, the instrument cluster has been given a makeover, too, with a slimmer design and less bright metal trim. Warning lights now sit in separate openings outboard of the main instrument display, which features a new-look analogue speedo and digital odometer, fuel meter and clock.

Switchgear is mostly unchanged, but the incorporation of Start & Stop adds a button on the right-hand side to activate and deactivate this.

Beyond the front-end tweaks, which include a reshaped front mudguard, there doesn’t seem to be much else that’s been changed design-wise. The seat, side plastics, tail light, pillion grab rail and number plate hanger all have a familiar look, which isn’t a bad thing. For those with a particularly fine eye for style, there’s no obvious disconnect between the new front and carryover rear design.

The Practical Stuff

In terms of rolling stock for the upcoming D’elight 125, the six-spoke 12-inch front alloy rim appears unchanged, as does the 10-inch rear. Both wheels are small, but they’re very light and fine for this scooter’s intended urban environment.

In terms of braking, there seems to be no change from the current model, either, which should mean a single 180mm front disc and rear drum, which may seem meagre, but are sized and spec’d perfectly to suit this application. To ease fears for first timers, Yamaha’s Unified Braking System (UBS) is standard.

Not to be confused with ABS, UBS makes for smoother stopping by linking the front and rear brakes. Pulling the right lever activates the front caliper as normal, but also activates the rear drum, while pulling on the left lever increases the braking force.

Suspension will likely consist of the same telescopic fork front end and offset single rear shock as the current D’elight, offering 81mm and 68mm of travel, respectively.

I must stress that my take on the braking and suspension for the 2021 D’elight are estimates, but I’d be surprised if they deviated from the existing model in any major way.

Carrying capacity is where a lot of these small scooters fall down, but unlike most of its competitors, the underseat storage on the D’elight 125 can take a full-face helmet, with space left over for some shopping or other personal items. In my opinion, that’s a big tick for this scooter. The underseat storage offers 36 litres total capacity and is waterproof, too.

There’s the ubiquitous bag hook on the legshield but no other front storage space, unlike past versions of the D’elight that added an open tray below the multi-function ignition switch.

There’s no word yet on whether a USB charge port has been added, but given no mention of such a feature is made in Yamaha’s PR to date, it seems unlikely. With the need to keep our phones charged while on the go, a charging port has become an almost mandatory feature these days, so hopefully it’s added to a near-future model.

2021 Arrival

If this has whetted your appetite for the D’elight 125, that’s terrific, but you’ll need to be patient, as Australian deliveries aren’t expected until Q3 this year.

Pearl White will be the sole colour offered, and as mentioned, the 2021 model will likely carry a premium over the current D’elight’s $3,599 ride away price.

Final pricing, along with full specs and further details, will be announced closer to local release.

2021 Yamaha D’elight 125 – basic specs

ENGINE

TYPE: SOHC air-cooled 4-stroke single

DISPLACEMENT: 125cc

ENGINE START: Electric

ECONOMY: 1.8lt/100km

EMISSIONS: 42g/km

TRANSMISSION

GEARBOX: CVT

FINAL DRIVE: Belt

CHASSIS