First unveiled for the UK and European market at EICMA 2023, the covers were pulled on this version of the little Yamaha RayZR scooter (it already has a presence in other markets, even as a hybrid version) was undeniably Yamaha’s way of showing that despite the alternative urban mobility options out there, there is still space for a budget-focused internal combustion engine scooter – and it could well be the no-nonsense best of the best.

At the heart of the RayZR is a 125cc BlueCore motor, at a lightweight 99kg wet and returns some incredible economy figures – around 180 mpg quoted by Yamaha, about the same as tested on the day.

Considering the ease of running this scooter, and the unbelievable £2,301 price tag, does the RayZR ultimately swoop in and become the best option for those looking for a cheap runabout with no thrills – alongside the added benefit of Yamaha reliability? And does it ultimately do a better job than the electric alternatives, despite the vast difference in tech offered?

Perhaps the genuine star of the show with the Yamaha RayZR, the price: you can pick one of these up brand-new for £2,301, in either Anodized Red (as ridden) or Midnight black.

This stellar price tag does point the RayZR squarely at the budget options that you may find from China, as well as the second-hand market for those after a bargain – it may not stack up against others with the basic spec, but buying brand-new does come with the 2-year Yamaha factory warranty with unlimited mileage, with maintenance checks recommended every 3000 miles.

For direct rivals, the Suzuki Burgman Street 125EX is a close comparison, though priced at £3,199 as of writing – the Avenis 125 and Address 125 are both £2,999. Honda’s SH Mode 125 is £3,099 (with their other scoots all above this price), and there are realistically too many Chinese 125cc scooters to draw a direct comparison to, though the Lexmoto Diablo 125 is a popular one, priced at £1959.99 currently online, you may find the resale value would dwindle over the years. Check the best 125cc scooters list for more.

Frugally powering the RayZR is the BlueCore 125cc air-cooled motor, with an easygoing 8 bhp at 6500 rpm and 9.7 Nm at 5000 rpm. It’s good for a steady indicated 56 mph (with me onboard at 6’3” and around 15 stone), with flashes of 58 mph when the road was slightly downhill – that’s good enough to ride along in the left lane of a dual carriageway to get you into the city, and even then still returning around 75 mpg from its 5.2-litre tank.

For those wondering about acceleration, the RayZR is equipped with an electrical Power Assist system to provide you with an extra boost from a standstill, something that I absolutely noticed when setting off for the first few times – on comparative 8 bhp scooters, I’ve felt the need to push off with my feet to get off the line nicely. On this, a simple twist and go gets you to 30 mph within about 5 seconds.

Scooting around urban environments on the RayZR is a treat, and the 180 mpg (1.8L/100km) fuel consumption seems fairly accurate when riding at lower speeds – particularly if you utilise the start & stop system for any long waiting periods at traffic lights. A simple twist of the throttle re-engages the motor, and you’re away. Alternatively, you can flick the switch on the right side of the handlebar to disengage the system until you re-activate it – handy if you’re pulling up to a red light that you have a sneaking suspicion will change imminently. I averaged around 99 mpg over the day, with two 15-minute stints on the A47 to level it out.

Interestingly you get an electric starter along with a lesser-spotted kickstarter, and the transmission works on a belt system – when running I barely heard the motor at all as it’s ultra-quiet thanks to the Smart Motor generator (the key technology behind the Power Assist system, says Yamaha).

In any case, this 125cc motor is nothing to write home about, but it’s frugal and does the job with no fuss – which is exactly what you may want: no fuss frugal commuting.

If you want something with the CBT limit of 14.7 bhp, be prepared to pay more, perhaps even the £4,999 of the Segway E300SE which is quite easily the fastest 125cc equivalent scooter I’ve ever ridden. Alternatively, if you’re happy with the basic features and are on a bit of a budget, but want more power, you could consider the Kymco X-Town 125.

Handling time. Considering this RayZR scooter is just 99kg wet with a 95 kg rider, it was a delight to ride with. The weight (or what little of it) is kept low, and the RayZR sails smoothly along busy urban roads – responding predictably and smoothly to your inputs and the road surface. Even on the less-than-smooth Peterborough suburb roads, all handled with ease.

Suspension consists of front telescopic forks with 90mm of travel, and a rear unit swing setup with 80mm of travel. It simply does the job, working with a tubeless pairing of 12-inch front and 10-inch rear wheels. No traction control, no rider modes, no fuss.

Braking power is good enough here with no complaints from me, particularly considering the low overall weight at 99kg. A single front disc with 1-pot calliper working in unison with a rear drum brake (combined braking system). It’s absolutely budget over the potential for a two-disc dual-channel ABS setup, but that would be overkill here and bump the price up needlessly.

Under the 785mm seat you’ll find a 21-litre space, and had no chance of fitting my Large Shark full-face helmet – though is plenty for some of your essential items. The seat itself is pretty comfortable, particularly for a quick commute, and even my long legs had plenty of room. I was happily scooting away all day, even at full tuck on the A47.

Economy is stellar, and despite only having a day of scooting was happily returning an average of around 95 mpg – though remember that I set off directly onto the A47 for 15 minutes at full-twist before running around town, with the 95 mpg gradually going back up and finishing at around 99 mpg. Impressive with me on the saddle.

The LED headlight is paired with a ‘Y-shaped’ LED DRL light, and at the rear is a red LED stop light. A basic and simple LCD instrument panel provides the key info, your speed, revs, fuel level, current time and warning lights all simply visible. No TFT, here, though the spec sheet does say the MyRide smartphone app can be connected. Worth noting there is no cubby hole up front, and whilst that provides more legroom, you can’t tuck anything anyway in arms reach – it’s under the seat or on your person.

If you’re commuting on a budget, the RayZR does the job with aplomb. No fuss, just switch it on and almost silently whizz off on your way. It really just did the job with no complaints, and presents as perhaps the ultimate budget commuter scooter. Possible cons could be the basic nature, but you know what you’re getting into.

Yamaha RayZR: Pros and Cons

Pros

• Extremely economically friendly.
• Easy to Ride.
• Budget!

Cons

• No thrills? Only 8bhp.
• Styling might not be universal.
• Large full-face lid doesn’t fit underneath.

Simply put, the Yamaha RayZR is an elite choice for a commuting scooter for any rider. If you’re not fussed about having all the bells and whistles, rather simply something to get you to your destination, look no further. As a value proposition, it’s incredibly hard to look past this little 125cc scooter.

Comparisons may easily be drawn to the surge in electric alternatives, particularly for urban scooterists – and I explore this in the recent Electric v Petrol Segway E300SE review. Spoiler alert: by my calculations, you’re better off picking up a combustion engine and filling it up with the finest dinosaur juice, and not just the refuelling convenience – considering the purchase price and ongoing cost over a few years, the RayZR still works out cheaper – if price is your only concern.

Summarised in three words? Simple Effortless Scooter! Cheers to Yamaha UK and Potski Media for a chance to scoot around for the day.