The Yamaha Gladiator, also known as the YBR 125, is a 125 cc motorcycle developed by India Yamaha Motor. Production began in 2006 and the bike was aimed at economical everyday transport.
Yamaha Gladiator at a glance
| Maker | India Yamaha Motor |
|---|---|
| Also called | YBR 125 |
| Class | Commuter motorcycle |
| Engine | 125 cc |
| Production began | 2006 |
| Starting | possible in any gear |
| Claimed economy | 67 km/L in city conditions |
| Launch plan | 400,000 bikes, later 600,000 |
| New plant | planned between 2008 and 2010 |
Based on one source (English Wikipedia); the source is short, so this page is shorter than usual.
History of the Yamaha Gladiator
Yamaha launched the Gladiator in India in 2006 as a 125 cc commuter. The company presented it as an easy machine to live with: it could be started in any gear and Yamaha claimed good cornering behaviour for the class.
Fuel economy was a central part of the pitch. Yamaha claimed the Gladiator could return 67 km/L in actual city conditions, a figure aimed squarely at buyers who used a motorcycle for daily transport.
At the launch Yamaha said it planned to sell 400,000 bikes in India and 600,000 later, and that it would build a new two-wheeler plant in the country between 2008 and 2010. The Gladiator was also known as the YBR 125, linking it to Yamaha’s wider small-capacity range.
Design and features
- Easy starting: the engine could be started in any gear.
- Economy focus: a claimed 67 km/L in city conditions.
- Indian production: developed and built by India Yamaha Motor from 2006.
- YBR link: also sold under the YBR 125 name.
Yamaha Gladiator versions
- Yamaha Gladiator: the Indian-market 125 cc commuter.
- YBR 125: the alternative name used for the same model.
Other small Yamaha road bikes include the YBR125. More models are in the Yamaha collection.
Sources
- Yamaha Gladiator, English Wikipedia: production start, starting system, claimed economy, launch plans
