2016 Yamaha TFX-150 First Ride Review: When Performance Meets Character

After the buzz that it has created overseas and after much speculation, Yamaha Philippines has finally brought here the Yamaha TFX-150 – a sporty naked-styled street sports bike that is sure to give bikes in its range a fierce competition.

We tested the bike a couple of weeks ago in an almost empty Batangas Racing Circuit and we enjoyed every twist of the throttle while riding the then confidential Yamaha TFX-150. This article is an initial first ride description and we would want to test this street bike in a more comprehensive manner, hopefully very soon in the environment where it truly belongs – the streets. The bike is equally powered by the same engine as the beautiful YZF-R15. The 149.8cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, 4-valve, single cylinder engine is mated with a smooth 6-speed constant mesh transmission and a fuel-injected system. As a street bike, the TFX-150 yields 14.3 Nm of Torque @ 7,500 rpm and a maximum horsepower of 12.0 Kw @ 8,500 rpm. This bike is performance-oriented but at the same time will yield an approximate 45 kilometers per liter.

FULL LED HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS
Provides a bright view up front and maximum visibility from behind.

The bike rides very stable on twists, turns and straights thanks to the 37mm inverted forks for its front suspension and the aluminum swing arm and monoshock for its rear. Like its brother, the YZF-R15, this bike is built on a delta box frame. The bike is equipped with 110/70-17 front and 130/70×17 rear IRC Exato tubeless tires on 10-spoke alloy wheels which guarantee you a combination of good mileage and adequate grip for your travels.

REAR ALUMINUM SWINGARM
Equipped with a Linked Type Monocross Suspension and comfortable cushioning.

SUPER WIDE FRONT TIRES
World-class frame type with rigidity and im[roves handling stability.

This is a good choice in equipping this bike with wider tires as compared to its other counterparts in the 150cc segments, as most of the bikes in that class still offer almost underbone-like narrow tires. Actually, upon checking the swing arm, the space allows for a slight increase in the tire width. The 10.2-liter fuel tank will give you a mileage range of close to 400 kilometers per full tank of gas so constant gas ups like in underbones and scooters will be a thing of the past in case you will be upgrading to this bike. The curvy fuel tank also adds to how the bike projects itself. Although the bike is sporty and aggressive, the handle- bar position is a bit upright. With other riders looking for more stability and safety in their rides, this bike will be one of the choices definitely. With its 135 kg curb weight, the added weight should not surprise those who have recently upgraded. The bike offers stability on straight roads and great handling on corners as well.

FULL INVERTED LCD SPEEDOMETER
Clearly displays riding instruments with adjustable backlight settings.

MT STARTER SWITCH
Signature MT switch for easy starting.

WIDE HANDLE BAR
Contributes to the new Upright Riding Position. For ease maneuverability and agile riding feel

Fierce indeed as the bike we tested suggested ferociousness in the street not only with its performance but also with the Matte Yellowish Gray color scheme. It’s almost a guarantee for people to give you a second (or maybe even a third) look once you pass by them, so either you ride fast or slow on this bike it doesn’t matter. The bike also features an all LED setup with its full LED headlight and LED taillight which both give out bright illumination. The fully inverted LCD is also a thing of beauty and only adds styling points to this bike as well. The instrument panel gives you everything you need for your ride – digital speedometer, bar graph type tachometer, a couple of trip meters, digital odometer, clock, fuel gauge, and a bunch load of warning lights on top. Even the electric starter is unique because instead of pressing a button like in other bikes, the TFX-150 electric starter needs to be pulled down to start the bike. The bike’s overall look is aggressive. One look at the headlamp and you could see fierceness in it. The main headlight is positioned lower with a separate headlamp. Even the alloy wheels give the bike an edgier look. The shape of the fuel tank complements the bike’s overall muscular look. The golden USD forks more than complement the bike’s image.

37MM UPSIDE DOWN FRONT FORKS
Build to absorb shock better and instantly responds to all road conditions.

Some of those who would want to purchase this would be those who finally want to get out of the underbone and small scooter segment and are looking for a worthy upgrade. This bike has everything you need when looking for a modest upgrade as your next step in motorcycling. Yamaha put it best when it said that the TFX-150 was developed for the city with its versatile design allowing it to easily traverse through busy streets and the maze of traffic. The riding feeling is also taken into account with the active riding position that places the rider always engaged on the motorcycle. This look and feel, beams with attitude and precision that showcases the character of the motorcycle without sacrificing its function of being a highly reliable mode of transport.

ENGINE – COWL
Design for outstanding aerodynamics, and cooling effect and mud splatter protection.

Complete with world-class quality that is provided by Yamaha, this motorcycle will create an action-packed journey in the city. Because of its overall size, it is easy to ride in traffic and through the tight streets of the Philippines. If you would ride this around town, there is no doubt that you will get a lot of stares, and for all the right reasons, and will definitely elicit 2nd or even 3rd looks. To say that this will be a headturner would be an absolute understatement. It will be one of the premiere bikes of the last quarter of 2016 and will capitalize on that momentum to have a strong start in the next year.

It has the same modern aggressive street fighter looks and comfortable sit-up ergonomics giving it a youthful but serious character.

Al Camba “The New Prince. In my opinion this is closely related to the MT series of big bikes. It has the same modern aggressive street fighter looks and comfortable sit-up ergonomics giving it a youthful but serious character. The TFX-150 is built on a Deltabox frame and has a 150cc liquid-cooled engine and gearbox combo. The down fork and LED headlamps give it its own unique look. The Y spoke alloy wheels and IRC sport tires, swing arm, rear set controls and tail lamp/plate holder cluster all look like they belong to a much bigger bike and I also like the reverse display instrument cluster which gives it a more premium and sophisticated character especially in this price class. It even has handlebar controls similar to the bigger bikes complete with passing switch. The seat is a bit higher than most bikes in the class, but once you sit on it settles down a little and you can easily manage the bike with your legs. The handlebar is quite wide and is placed near the rider. Probably this is what gives it its quick steering and agile handling. The seat and handlebar position also makes you sit always to slide backwards on the seat. Of course the engine is strong and smooth and is more than enough for the TFX-150 to leave most of the scooters and underbones behind. The details, quality, performance and equipment level is quite high for the price and I think it will challenge the European brands in this segment. The Yamaha TFX-150 gives you more street presence, performance and style that will be attractive to those eyeing to move up from underbones or scooters.”

Philip Bonza
“The new and appealing TFX-150 has an attitude to offer. The sharp curves and pointed lines replicate the latest and innovative design. This new model will be admired and riders will be crazy about the style and the character. It is quick and nimble to ride and has a smooth and powerful engine. It also has superb stopping power on the front and good play of suspensions. It is a bit small for my height, my butt is stuck on the seat and the handlebar is near. I still need to ride this model for more days to give my full review. Nevertheless, the different charm of this model offers new character and will unleash your fierceness.”

Ricci Abrina “The new standard-looking Yamaha TFX-150, the same racing line of the Yamaha R15 breed, in my opinion, will create ripples in the standard small bike direct competitors. The gold anodized USD or upside down forks made it even more handsome and sturdy. The aggressive forward design of the Yamaha TFX-150 made it all the more looking like a little street fighter and with its huge IRC 130/70/17 in the rear and 110/70/17 up front it’s like I was riding on rails at the Batangas Racing Circuit (BRC). The top speed I garnered while doing 8 laps in the BRC front straight is 112kph and 108kph in the back straight – not so bad straight out of the box.”

*This article was published in InsideRACING’s  Volume 14 Number 8  2016 issue.