Launched in Malaysia in September the previous year, the Yamaha NVX 155 scooter, priced at RM11,998, is facing some stiff competition in the local market, notably from the China brands. Scooters are becoming ever more popular with many looking at two-wheel transport to get past the traffic jams.
Scooters are a no-brainer choice for the daily commute and the Malaysian scooter market is booming, helped by those wanting to cope with the rising cost of living and to save time commuting. The Yamaha NVX, known as the Aerox in some ASEAN markets, has been a popular choice for nearly two decades, since its introduction in 1997.
The formula for the NVX 155 is simple. Take Yamaha’s Bluecore VVA engine, also used in the Yamaha NMax, and slip it into sporty bodywork. Throw in features found on the larger motorcycles and scooters in Yamaha’s lineup, and you get the NVX 155 SP.
To be fair, the NVX 155 SP is something of an acquired taste, standing as it does between the traditional step-through scooter and the typical underbone motorcycle. Styling is o the sporty side of things, with a truncated rear end and a somewhat wide front cowl.
Thing is, the 2017 NVX 155 was a scooter we found fetching enough to make our Top Five Bike list of the year. But, how does the latest iteration of Yamaha’s super scooter measure up?
That the NVX has received some serious upgrades and updates is obvious, motorcycle technology having marched on in the intervening nine years. First, and most obvious is the instrument panel, now an LCD unit with graphics mimicking the Yamaha R1.
Strangely enough, there is a lap timer, something I guess will add to the “race bike” style much beloved of the younger riders. Another area of improvement is in the braking and handling departments.
The version of the VX provided to paultan.org by Hong Leong Yamaha Motor (HLYM) is the ‘SP”, which comes with twin shock absorbers with remote reservoirs and adjustable for spring preload. Damping rate for the front forks has also been revised, with the front much firmer now while the yo-yo motion from the rear during hard cornering is gone, or at the extreme, very much minimised.
What this gives the NVX is a nimble, quick steering feel, making it very suitable for quick work through city traffic. This is helped by the short wheelbase, allowing for rapid changes of direction.
The drawback, of course, is highway stability is somewhat lacking, this being the trade-off. It may or may not be possible to install a steering damper, but that will be left to the aftermarket. Ridden at “normal” speeds, the NVX is perfectly fine, and taking corners at highway speeds is not an issue, showing stability in fast sweepers if the body weight is placed correctly.
Weighing in at 130 kg, the NVX 155 SP is about middling as far as scooters go in terms of weight, and at highway speeds, is reasonably stable in a straight line. Twisting the throttle open a little more though, shows a slight tendency to weave and some vagueness in the steering which requires a deft touch on the bars to keep things on the straight and narrow.
In terms of styling, the NVX has always followed the “sporty” school of styling. The truncated rear end makes the VX look shortened, almost like a “chibi” character. The front cowl is broad, and does provide some wind protection for the lower body while those wanting to hide from the wind will need to look for a taller windshield.
Seating is redesigned, with a produced “hump” between rider and pillion. Seat comfort was acceptable for a scooter, with the cut of the rider seat allowing shorter riders to get feet on the ground a little more comfortably.
Reach to the handlebars was close, close enough to make this rider feel cramped. Trying to gain a little distance to the bars by sitting a little further back was defeated by the seat hump, making finding a “just right” position a little difficult.
If you’re close to the six-foot (1.86 metres) mark in height, be aware of this. Finding a comfortable position for your feet may also be an issue on the floorboards if you’re a giraffe.
The NVX being a step-over design rather than a step-through – the 5.5-litre fuel tank is located in the “hump” – there really is not a lot of place to put the rider’s feet. Thus, though of you with size 12 shoes should look at possibly the X-Max or T-Max is you really want a Yamaha scooter.
Braking has also seen an improvement over the previous generation, with the front brake nnow slowing the NVX to a confident stop with firm pressure on the lever, and a rear disc brake is standard equipment, replacing the previous mechanical drum brake model we first rode in 2017. As per the previous generation NVX we rode, this scooter is very sensitive to tyre pressure.
We needed to raise and lower the tyre pressures a little until we found the sweet spot for our riding style. In any case, a recommendation we would make would be to swap the OEM tyres out for something more upmarket with better performance, as we found the stock rubber a little sketchy in the wet.
Coming to the LCD display, Bluetooth connectivity is available using the Yamaha Y-Connect app is provided, giving the rider with a rage of functions including service intervals and bike locater, while the display itself has three options, including a “Race” display with lap timer.
The key selling point of the 2026 NVX 155 SP is, of course, the Y-ECVT gearbox. Called “Turbo” in other markets, the Y-ECVT functions as an electronic step down for the gearbox, called Y-Shift along with two ride modes – Town ad Sport.
A push of the button on the left handlebar pod activates a solenoid that brings the shift drum down to a lower ratio, allowing the rider to gain acceleration going uphill or experience engine braking while downhill. The mode is held while the throttle is constant, and twisting the throttle returns the Y-ECVT to normal operation.
There are three modes to the Y-Shift, Low, Medium and High, giving corresponding changes in gearbox performance. We found the Y-ECVT most useful going uphill, allowing the VX to “hold” a gear and maintain speed, especially when the scooter is loaded with a passenger.
So, who needs a NVX 155 ABS? This scooter will appeal most to the younger rider, with its compact dimensions and nimble handling.
