Yamaha Motor Design Spotlights – 2011 Y125 Moegi

The Y125 Moegi was unveiled to the world at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. Emphasizing the simple beauty in the structure of a motorcycle, the Moegi had an appearance that conveyed the unique sense and style of Yamaha Design, no matter what angle it was viewed from. Its resemblance to the YA-1 and SR400—two models that always bear mentioning in Yamaha's history—are where this design DNA was most apparent.

It used the functioning parts of a motorcycle like the cylinder block, swingarm, and fuel tank as fully-fledged design elements to create a flowing silhouette that complemented the rider as well as the surroundings.

"We wanted Yamaha's traits as a company to be the appeal and to offer something new for the 125cc class, which was already on the rise in terms of unit sales worldwide and seeing steady growth in demand in Japan," explained product planner Ryuta Okouchi. "During the project, we kept performance and the essential beauty and functional elements of motorcycles in mind. We aimed to have it embody timeless values, even if they weren't flashy, and expected some people would find the result new, while others would feel nostalgia from it."

The Moegi's slim, lightweight chassis expressed the idea of “small but powerful,” and created the familiar look and feel of a bicycle, hinting at its envisioned use of urban commuting and quick trips around the neighborhood. Paired with a new 125cc engine, low-rolling resistance tires, a belt drive, and more, the machine weighed only 80 kg and boasted a fuel economy of 80 km/L, making the Moegi elegant as well as efficient.

It was a beautiful motorcycle with a refinement, grace, and aesthetic that could only be produced by Japan.