The Yamaha Neos is a small city scooter introduced in 1997 and sold in Europe as the twin of the MBK Ovetto. It was offered with 50 and 100 cc two-stroke engines, later gained a four-stroke version, and in 2022 the name returned on an electric scooter.
Yamaha Neos at a glance
| Maker | Yamaha Motor Company |
|---|---|
| Also sold as | MBK Ovetto |
| Internal codes | YN50 and YN100 |
| Introduced | 1997 |
| Launch price | 3,640 DM in Germany, about €1,860 |
| Engines | 49 cc and 101 cc two-stroke, built by Minarelli |
| Second generation | 2008, revised frame and body |
| Four-stroke version | 2009, 49.4 cc liquid-cooled |
| Petrol model withdrawn | 2020, Euro 5 |
| Electric successor | NEO’s, from 2022 |
Based on one source (German Wikipedia); the English Wikipedia article on the Neos name redirects to an unrelated model.
History of the Yamaha Neos
Yamaha positioned the Neos as a conservative city scooter aimed particularly at older customers. Its friendly, slightly nostalgic style with low twin headlights, a flat footboard and a gently stepped seat made it popular from the start, and at 3,640 DM (about €1,860) it was relatively cheap. The scooter was identical to the MBK Ovetto and used the internal codes YN50 and YN100.
The Neos was sold mainly with the 50 cc engine, but a stronger 100 cc version was also available. All engines were built by Minarelli in Italy. The Neos 100 can be told apart by its thicker, slightly longer exhaust and its number-plate light. In 2008 Yamaha presented the second generation with a heavily revised appearance: a modified frame, fold-out passenger footpegs, a changed helmet compartment and a new fully digital instrument cluster. Engine changes were small and mainly aimed at meeting Euro 3.
For the 2009 model year Yamaha added a four-stroke version, sold alongside the two-stroke and almost identical in appearance. Technically it differed in the engine and in an oil-pressure warning light instead of the two-stroke’s oil-level warning, and at €2,250 it cost more than the €1,995 two-stroke. The petrol Neos was withdrawn from the market in 2020 because of the stricter Euro 5 emissions rules, and since 2022 Yamaha has offered an electric scooter in Europe under the NEO’s name. Owners value the Neos for its range — 250 km in the mountains is not unusual — and for its robustness, and a few examples have been raced with the water-cooled engine of the Aerox.
Design and features
- Friendly design: low twin headlights, a flat floor and a stepped seat made the Neos easy to live with.
- Two capacities: the 50 cc model was the main seller, with a 100 cc version for faster roads.
- Minarelli engines: all engines were built in Italy by Yamaha’s Minarelli subsidiary.
- Long range: a large tank and low consumption gave the little scooter touring ability.
Yamaha Neos versions
- Neos 50 (1997–2007): first-generation two-stroke, 49 cc.
- Neos 100: 101 cc two-stroke with a thicker exhaust.
- Neos second generation (2008): revised frame, body and instruments.
- Neos four-stroke (2009): 49.4 cc liquid-cooled engine with fuel injection.
- NEO’s electric (2022–): battery-powered entry-level scooter.
Other Yamaha scooters on the site include the Aerox and the Jog. More models are in the Yamaha collection.
Sources
- Yamaha Neos, German Wikipedia: history, engines, prices, generations, specifications
