Yamaha 135 LC Super Sport - Is it a good buy for early riders?

The Yamaha 135 LC was launched in 2006 and had a meteoric rise in popularity. Even today it enjoys great sales, especially among the youth. Thanks to its most recent update in 2016 and a host of new colors in 2017, the bike is as fresh as ever. With a price tag of RM 7068, it is also extremely affordable by the young crowd just stepping out into the world. But is it really the best choice for young people? There are a few distinct features that make a very strong case for it.

Affordable Performance:

The Yamaha 135 LC Super Sport comes fitted with an engine that places it right in the middle of the cheap as chips but weak 100 cc commuters and the more serious and expensive 150 cc sports underbones. This unique positioning is not shared by any other bike currently in the market. It gives riders a chance to ride a sporty bike without breaking the bank. Much like the Yamaha R6 that it shares the super sports moniker with.

Manageable power:

That high performing 135 cc 4 valved and carbureted unit is a cracker of an engine producing 11.97 hp at 8,500 rpm and 11.79 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm. This much power is a lot without being impractical or unusable. Youngsters especially love the LC 135 for its engine and the enthusiastic way that it is delivered. Yes, many youngsters do use it to do dangerous antics on the nation’s roads. But you cannot blame the tool for how it gets used. Yamaha has provided the bike with a 4 speed transmission and a linked type shift pedal for quick gear changes. The bike earlier used to come with a manual clutch but now comes with an automatic clutch instead. Yet it continues to be just as sporty as before.

Efficient engine:

The engine is not just powerful but also very efficient – in more ways than one. First of all, it comes liquid cooled that keeps it from getting overheated. It also uses a DiASiL cylinder for better cooling and by extension better fuel efficiency. The engine is kept lightweight by the use of forged pistons. The reduction in vibrations comes as an added bonus. Then the BS carburetor uses a throttle position sensor to give the smoothest power delivery. Being a small underbone, the LC 135 also returns a pretty decent fuel economy of 45 km/L and with its 4 L fuel tank lasts for up to 200 km.

Stylish design:

The bike was launched in 2006 but thanks to its many updates, it is very much in the same league as any modern underbone. The sporty fairing wraps around the diamond frame like a sports bike. The body work is garnished with aggressive gills and vents. The wheels are slim 5 spoke 17” cast alloys with wide 70/90 front and 80/90 rear tires. The front end gets LED pilot lights, angular indicators and a chin spoiler. The taillight has been redone with a high mounted secondary brake light that goes flush with the new grab rail. Then there are the different color schemes like Blue, Red, Black and Silver that take its sporty style to a new level. The Silver paint scheme even comes with attention grabbing yellow rims. All these little touches make this bike look just as aggressive as it performance actually is.

Handling prowess:

To begin with the bike weighs just 105 kg with all that power. Then Yamaha has given the bike some very competent springy bits in the form of monocross suspension in the rear and a conventional telescopic setup in the front. The bike delivers a confidence boosting handling ability on all kinds of roads and is a joy to ride fast. It easily keeps up with the energy of its young riders.

Safety assured:

All that performance needs some good stopping power to keep its riders from getting into too much trouble. The LC 135 puts brakes on high priority. The front gets a large 267 mm diameter disc brake with a single piston setup. The rear gets only a drum brake that still delivers very good stopping power.

With all these features, the LC 135 Super Sports is indeed a very good underbone for beginners. It may not have the best reputation but that just speaks highly of its ability to be a fun bike with great performance. Today’s youth want a bike that can keep up with their energy, be stylish and also not financially bankrupt them. The Yamaha LC 135 Super Sports stands good on all these counts. Parents however, should also invest in a good quality full face helmet when they go to pay for their child’s bike.