In what is seen as an emerging trend every automobile manufacturer in the country is packaging a best-selling product in the trendiest of wrappings with a host of goodies and a striking new appellative. Style is the key word here. This has brought about a breed of vehicles where style means everything. In one such exercise Yamaha, a brand synonymous with no-nonsense biking has released the second of its stylised motorcycles, the CruxR (the first being the refashioned and very attractive YBX). OVERDRIVE's Bertrand D'souza got his hands on the bike and came across some interesting insights into this multifaceted bike.

Circa 2001, Yamaha Motors releases the Crux. Bracketed in the 110cc segment the Crux engages Hero Honda's Splendor and Bajaj's Caliber in grim sales battle. First to envision the need for stylised motorcycling were Hero Honda who released the Passion in spectacular fashion. The mechanicals of the best-selling Splendor now came dressed in nifty new clothing. The chic upgrade reeked style in every curve, fold, nip and tuck and set sales charts ablaze. Soon after Hero Honda refurbished the CD100SS and called it the Joy in a brilliant marketing strategy. Following suit were Bajaj, with the Caliber Croma shod in dapper headlamp treatment and racy colour combos. The smartest revamp yet saw the Croma sport a front disc brake, an addition none had thought of incorporating to aid braking Performance.

So would Yamaha be left out of the fray? No way Jose! Yamaha jumped onto the bandwagon only too willingly and before you could spell Crux they added an 'R'. The R in the equation denotes revised, refashioned, remodelled, resurrection, call it what you may. Now that Escorts has faded from the picture, Yamaha should have seen a surge in Performance biking. Instead it has restructured itself into the four-stroke economy segment. The essence is towards capturing the masses, but didn't the power packed Performance of the RX-100 do that admirably? And isn't the blazing RD350 (sadly departed) still the most coveted bike in the country? Sad but true, Yamaha has staunchly supported the green revolution. In stretching the petro-buck but at the same time providing above average Performance the Crux did score brownie points. In terms of fashion statement does the recently released CruxR justify itself? In the sales stakes will the figures represent forward motion for a company that has decided to forge ahead solo? Let's get to the crux of the matter.