Four strokes started off in India as economisers and it was mainly the power based two-strokes like Yamaha RX-100 and the KB-100, Shogun etc, that hogged the prestige segment. With the advent of the Hero Honda Splendor four-strokes started acquiring a sheen of respectability as far as motorcycles go. Then came the Kawasaki Bajaj Caliber with an even more powerful styling statement. Together the Splendor and Caliber reigned as the two most desirable motorcycles, till the CBZ came and upset the applecart last year.

Escorts Yamaha had the first opportunity to change the rules of the game. Late in 1998 Escorts Yamaha fired its salvo at the duo in the form of the YBX125. Although far superior to these two machines in terms of power, the YBX failed to excite or raise the standards. This was later done by Hero Honda and more recently by the TVS-Suzuki Fiero. It has never been smooth sailing for the YBX, which has seen price fluctuations and a strike in the factory soon after its launch. With the Introduction of the AIS (air injection system) the price has again gone up to Rs 55,000 On the Road in Mumbai. The YD125 comes across as a makeshift arrangement to increase Yamaha's presence in the four stroke segment. What a pity EYML chose to downmarket instead of upmarket.