The Yamaha Aerox is a family of single-cylinder scooters that Yamaha has made since 1997. It began as a small European sport scooter with a liquid-cooled two-stroke engine, and grew into a 125 and 155 cc four-stroke line sold across Southeast Asia and India.
Yamaha Aerox at a glance
| Maker | Yamaha Motor Company |
|---|---|
| Class | Single-cylinder scooter |
| First shown | 1997, Europe |
| European engines | 49 cc two-stroke (YQ50) and 101 cc two-stroke (YQ100) |
| European power | 50 cc restricted to 45 km/h; 101 cc forced-air cooled |
| 2003 update | renamed Aerox R; 101 cc dropped |
| 2013 update | new body, Aerox Naked and four-stroke Aerox 4 |
| Asian engines | 125 cc and 155 cc four-stroke Blue Core with VVA |
| 125/155 power | 8.8 kW and 11–11.3 kW |
| Other names | Mio Aerox 155, NVX 125/155, Aerosports X 155 |
| Electric version | Aerox E, shown in India in November 2025 |
Based on one source (English Wikipedia).
History of the Yamaha Aerox
Yamaha brought the Aerox to Europe in 1997 in two forms. The YQ50 used a liquid-cooled Minarelli MA-50 horizontal two-stroke engine with front and rear disc brakes, restricted at the factory to 45 km/h to suit European moped law. The YQ100 had a 101 cc forced-air-cooled Minarelli two-stroke, a single front disc and a rear drum brake. Both had automatic lubrication from a separate oil tank.
In 2003 the scooter was renamed Aerox R and the 101 cc model was dropped. The 50 cc version received a new exhaust, a tachometer and a new ignition and CDI. A revised body arrived in 2013 together with the Aerox Naked and the four-stroke Aerox 4, still with a 50 cc engine.
The name then travelled east. A 125 cc Aerox LC was launched in Indonesia in January 2016 with a claimed 8.4 kW at 9,000 rpm and 10.4 N·m at 6,500 rpm, but it lasted only ten months. The four-valve 125 and 155 cc versions, known internally as GDR125, GDR155 and GPR155, were unveiled at Sepang in October 2016. They use a Blue Core engine with variable valve actuation shared with the NMAX and are sold as the Aerox 155, Mio Aerox 155, NVX 125/155 and Aerosports X 155. A facelift came in November 2020, the Aerox Alpha with Yamaha Electronic CVT followed in December 2024, and the electric Aerox E was unveiled in India on 12 November 2025.
Design and features
- Two-stroke beginning: the original 50 cc engine was liquid-cooled and built by Minarelli.
- Sport scooter styling: disc brakes front and rear on the 50 cc model set it apart from simple commuters.
- Four-stroke reinvention: the Asian 125 and 155 cc engines use Blue Core design and variable valve actuation.
- Many market names: the same scooter is sold as the NVX, Mio Aerox and Aerosports X depending on the country.
Yamaha Aerox versions
- Aerox 50 (1997–2002): YQ50, liquid-cooled two-stroke, front and rear disc brakes.
- Aerox 100 (1997–2002): YQ100, 101 cc forced-air two-stroke, front disc and rear drum.
- Aerox R (2003–2012): updated 50 cc with new exhaust, tachometer and ignition.
- Aerox Naked and Aerox 4 (2013): revised body and a four-stroke 50 cc option.
- Aerox 155 (2016–): four-valve Blue Core engine with VVA, sold under several names in Asia.
- Aerox Alpha (2024) and Aerox E (2025): electronic CVT and a battery-electric variant.
Other small Yamaha scooters on the site include the BW and the Jog. More Yamaha models are in the Yamaha collection.
Sources
- Yamaha Aerox, English Wikipedia: history, engines, markets, names
