Vijay Krishnan June 30, 2019
Two Stroke Tuesdays takes a breather and tries to understand why a Motorcycle that has long been out of production and deemed obsolete for every day use by the Government is having a cult status among the Indian Motorcycling Community. We take a pause and explain to you why this series of Motorcycles long lives in the hearts of many a fan of two stroke motorcycles.
Episode 12 goes down South to Kerala where the Yamaha RX Series fever seems to have reached an all-time fever pitch and meet a man who is known better by his pseudonym, the 'two stroker'. We come to you from the paradise district of Idukki and meet Albin and his beloved Yamaha RX 135 to try and get to trace the roots of this bike’s fanatic fan following.
But first a short history lesson, after the failure of the RD350 in India, the company decided to go all out and go for the jugular. Taking a page out of TVS- Suzuki's book Escorts soon realised that sales success lay in smaller displacement bikes that are more economically priced and cheaper to run. Thus was born the RX 100, which was Escort-Yamaha’s answer to the Ind-Suzuki AX100.
The Yamaha RX 135 followed suit and had came with a bored out 135 cc Stroker and had two gearbox options, a 4 speed and 5 speed. While the 135 never as good as the RX 100 in delivering raw unadulterated Two Stroke pornography, it was the best iteration after the first RX bike. The 5 speed version, although it didn’t quite have the metallic noise served up by the original Yamaha RX 100’s, was properly put together and went like stink.
Coming back to the subject of Kerala, it has seen an explosion of love for old Two Stroke Motorcycles over the past few years. We talk to Albin and get to know the extent of this craze and how it is like to ride around in Kerala’s motorcycle country.
Tell us about who you are
My name is Albin and I am from Idukki district in Kerala. I am the proud owner of a Yamaha RX 135 Motorcycle and a member of the TMRC club, which is our local all-two stroke Motorcycle club. I currently work with Tata Motors and have a weakness for Yamaha RX Motorcycles. You can say that there are very few things I care for much in my life - my family, my friends, my crew and of course, my Motorcycle.
Tell us about your motorcycle
It is a 1999 Yamaha RX 135 in Peacock Blue. It is the Motorcycle on which I learnt to ride and one that I had longed to own from since I was a teenager. I bought the bike about 3 years ago after years of obsessing over it and god knows how many sleepless nights contemplating over it.
What is the story behind this obsession for the RX?
I think my love for Yamaha RX’s started with my Uncle’s RX 100. It is the bike on which I took many rides as a kid and the one which I used to sneak away and ride when I was in school. It is on that RX that I learnt to ride a Motorcycle on and I think ever since then, I was possessed by that RX bug.
So when I was of the age to own a Motorcycle, my father advised me against taking an RX like I wanted to and told me to take a brand new motorcycle instead. So I ended up buying a Hero Honda Hunk. This was the time one of my friends who was into RX’s bought one for himself. I remember taking his bike for a joyride days after he bought it. He still reminds me of how I swiped his bike away even before he properly rode it himself. This kind of kept that flame burning in me to own an RX.
I sold the Hunk and got and FZ which I sold after a year of using. I guess I just wasn’t happy with any other Motorcycle. Meanwhile, my friend kept pushing me to get an RX for myself. I finally decided to go for it and my family agreed this time seeing how desperate how I was to own one. I immediately put up the FZ for sale and went looking for an RX. I eventually find one in good nick and bought it immediately after seeing it. It has been my pride and joy ever since.
What is the kind of work you have done on the bike so far?
The main thing I looked out for while searching for the bike was that the panels of the bike to be in good nick. After I bought it, I kept the bike as is apart from painting what was originally a Black coloured bike to a Blue one. Also, when I bought the bike, it was not in the best condition to start with. I had to change the clutch and swap out the gearbox for the one from the Yamaha RX 100. Then I did a semi port on the engine and added an expansion chamber to make it run faster. I did away with the expansion chamber now as it was something that made the cops very interested in my Motorcycle. I felt that it was the best option seeing I use my Motorcycle on a daily basis.
What is your take on the reason why these bikes are blowing up in the Motorcycling scene back in Kerala?
I think it is mainly because this Motorcycle was a big part of the pop culture of the times. Also, so many great Movies had the RX featured in them, usually as the hero's Motorcycle of choice. Every person born around the time these bikes were sold and other who owned it at some point have so much regard for these bikes due to the reputation they had when they were sold. They were simple accessible fun for the masses and was made with good old bulletproof Japanese reliability. They were very distinct at the time from the Enfields, Jawas, and the older Rajdoots and made one hell of a noise when they ran.
The note of the Yamaha RX is something so distinct and attention grabbing that it has somehow managed to stay relevant till now. These bikes had enough about them to make sure they still have a firm grip on your average Two Stroke enthusiast. Their reputation seems to be going up by the day.
Now, people like me who dreamed about them are old enough and capable of affording them, which I think is one of the biggest reasons they are making such a strong comeback. Added to that, the countless memories that people share with these bikes and these factors have contributed to them gaining a cult following here.
Besides, they are wonderful machines to operate. The RX is such a mean machine and still manages to give you tingles when you ride them. They are immense fun to ride and a solid throwback to the good old days. Added to that they are very reliable and would run forever if you keep them in good nick.
How is it like to own the RX?
It feels like a dream. Every day, I pinch myself knowing I own one and I enjoy each km I cover on the Motorcycle. It is something that makes me look forward to waking up each morning and is something that brings me immense joy and happiness in life. I make sure to wash and clean the bike once every two days and make it a point to keep it in tip-top condition. I just can't bear to see it gather dirt and look shabby. This bike has brought me immense recognition with it blowing up on social media and getting circulated in various Instagram pages. Most people won't know my name but would recognise the Motorcycle from somewhere. People seem to adore the Motorcycle as I get so much queries on it. People ask me all kinds of questions ranging from whether I wanted to sell the bike to whether it was still available to purchase brand new. The bike gets so much love and adoration wherever I go and it is something that makes me feel like I own something special.
How is the Motorcycling scene in Kerala around these bikes?
I feel the love and demand for these bikes are bigger than ever here and has caused their prices to soar. Added to that, there have been numerous clubs popping up all over the map, which has further increased their appeal. This has led to so many individuals picking one up and joining these groups to share their passion and enjoy these bikes. I also find that most people who pick one up tend to restore them to mint condition rather than modifying them, which says a lot about the appeal of these bikes. People like to keep them like they remember from back in the days and that is what makes them so appealing to anyone looking to buy into classic Motorcycles.
There are numerous owners groups and fans groups that have helped to create a strong and connected fan base. Also, the camaraderie that you get in these groups are just amazing. Everyone is as passionate, if not more about these bikes as you and everyone is just happy to help out with any problems. This kind of a network of Yamaha RX owners has made sure that availability of spare parts has become less sparse and keeping these bikes running has become less of a pain. It is like a forum where you can get any question regarding these bikes answered. It is wonderful!
What is it like being a part of a Yamaha RX owners group?
As I told you, being a part of such groups makes it so much easier to own and keep these bikes running. Also, the sheer number of people you meet because of the love that you share for these bikes are incredible. There is so much mutual respect and wonderful camaraderie in these groups that you can't help but feel like you are all part of one big happy 2T obsessed family. Also, contrary to popular beliefs, these groups are run in a very mature fashion in that most of the people in charge are experienced and mature riders. Added to that, these groups encourage enjoying the bike rather than being a hooligan on them.
I have gone for a few rides around Kerala and have had a wonderful time with the guys. We ride at a moderate pace and stress on fully enjoying the bikes and surroundings. Also, in the group I am part of, speeding and being too throttle happy is discouraged and is frowned upon. Being in such groups just gives me so much confidence knowing there are people to help out in case of any emergency. Also, the fact that we ride with experienced riders that are old and mature gives me further comfort and joy.
Apart from the RX, what are the Motorcycles that you currently own?
None. The RX is my one and only love at this point of time.
What is that dream Motorcycle that you would want to own?
If money was not an object, it would certainly be the Yamaha RD 350. I still remember the first time I rode one. I convinced the mechanic who worked on it to give me a go on it. He was a good friend and agreed to give it to me on the condition that I post no pictures or videos of the bike. I still remember the feeling I had going at a 100 in 3rd gear. It was such a rush and I still remember the looks on peoples faces when they saw me ride it. Most were puzzled on \a bike that looks like the RX but was larger and had Twin Exhaust pipes. It is a no brainer for me.
A more realistic option would be a CKD Yamaha RX100. I have heard stories of how smooth these Japanese made engines are and would like to have that in my garage.
If you could describe your Motorcycle in a few words, what would it be?
My pride and joy. It is the Motorcycle of my dreams and one that I have so much memories on. This Motorcycle has given me so much reward in life and has contributed so much to my life's purpose. It is a machine that brings me untold joy and satisfaction. I would never sell it and plan to cherish it till the day I die.
Follow Albin on instagram @albi_2_stroker