Finally, after many months of asking and begging our very generous dealers for demo bikes to test, I am starting to get a following, a recognition of my abilities, both with word and deeds. Such was the case when I was invited to go along to Inskip Motorcycles at Toronto, to sample the latest offering from Yamaha. The new machine’s paintwork was inspired by Max Biaggi’s 500cc G.P. bike, being red with white trim and complete with a number 4 on the front. I’m not sure if that’s a particularly brilliant move, seeing as ‘Mad’ Max spent much of his time trying to keep the front wheel from sliding off the track. I guess also his popularity could be viewed as a love or hate thing. Still, there’s no denying the new 2 wheeler has a very attractive colour scheme and the ‘carbon fibre’ extra’s add a nice racy touch to it.

Unfortunately there are no brochures available, so I can’t tell you what the power output of this 100cc 2 stroke scooter is. However, there is enough ‘grunt’ to push the little beastie to a top speed of about the 95kph mark (along the flat). The tacho is considerably bigger than the speedo, so much so that at first I thought "I’m only doing 50kph, so how come no one’s overtaking me?" In actual fact I was doing 5,000rpm and closer to 85kph.

The front disk, rear drum brake combination worked extremely well and also seemed a lot more controlled than some of the scooters I’d ridden previously. The seat was very plush and comfortable with the usual copious storage underneath. The engine sounded a little less like a brush cutter and more akin to the A100’s I used to hoon around on in my younger days. Handling is very good and a lot of fun, with just enough ‘drag’ in the steering to take away the very ‘quick’ feel I've noticed in other scoots. It’s an important thing because you don’t feel that you’re going to fall over if you go around corners to tight. The mirrors are clear at all speeds and have a beefy look to them courtesy of some very clever rubber tubing.

I gave the little Yammy a good and varied workout, with a run out to Wakefield as well as some quick circuits of the hilly Toronto streets and a spin through the Coles underground parking station plus through the traffic topside for good measure. Nothing seemed too difficult for the small rice burner, and you can bet it’ll run on the smell of an oily rag.

With scooters becoming more popular and ‘fashionable’, the Yamaha is very good value at $4900 on the road and is a tad less bland than some of the other competitors that cost more.

The only real worry I had as I was buzzing around the carpark on it, was how I personally looked while riding about on it, I mean I’m a big bloke, so, when I got back to Inskips I had to ask "Does my butt look big on this?"

Scooter supplied by Inskip Motorcycles at Toronto 49592937.

May your lid never skid. www.users.hunterlink.net.au/~mbbidp.