Yamaha D’elight 125 Scooter | Staff Bikes, Final Test

Many of you would have read I had a stack in March 2022, where I did damage to my hands when a jump landing went wrong. From December to just recently I was limited to scooters, so Yamaha came to the rescue with a new D’elight, here’s a quick review.

I picked the Yamaha D’elight 125 up in December and have done about 500 happy kays on it so far, very cheaply too!

The features that make the D’elight appealing to me include the storage under the seat, which is big for a 125. It fits a full face and loads of stuff. I use a half face Shoei J.O and that fits, plus my RJAYS jacket, DriRider gloves, and there is still room for more stuff, including my Kovix alarmed lock.

Check out the previous update on Jeff’s D’elight 125 here… and tech details and video of the Yamaha D’elight 125 here…

I also like the fact that the fuel filler is easy access at the front of the scooter. This means there is no glovebox, but that trade off is fine by me. I would like a USB charge point, this is a must these days.
It is also light, at just 99kg, perfect for zipping around and easy to park, commute on and manouver.

Key start, no annoying fob. Security anti-tamper cover and steering lock.

Stylish lighting, not LED though.

Linked brakes, no ABS, which would be nice.

Lots of under seat storage, fits a full face lid and jacket and gloves.

I’ve been using the D’elight for running around to the local post office, getting a few groceries and supplies, often from the local drive through. The 50km loop I do some mornings is purely for enjoyment. It takes me out along the coast then back through Erina, West Gosford, up Kariong Hill (no problems sitting on 80km/h all the way up), then back down Woy Woy Rd to home.

I rode the D’elight 125 on a 200km round trip from the Central Coast to Marrickville and back, via the Old Road, with no issues.  This is a convenience store in Newtown that I used to park at and call on of a morning on my Yaaha Zuma 50cc when I was a courier well over 20-years ago. I went past and just had to stop for a Boss coffee, double espresso!

There are many 70 and 80km/h zones and they are no issue for the Euro-5 engine, which I’ve topped out at 90km/h. I rode the D’elight 125 on a 200km round trip from the Central Coast to Marrickville and back, via the Old Road, with no issues. It was fun, actually! And only used 4L of fuel all up.

The little four-stroke is a bland engine that just gets the job done fuss free, but the gearing is great and even with the little 10in rear wheel the engine is not revving hard at 80km/h…

The little four-stroke Blue Core engine is a bland engine that just gets the job done fuss free, but the gearing is great and even with the little 10in rear wheel the engine is not revving hard at 80km/h. The sweet spot is 50km/h to 80km/h, it goes really well! It is super quiet and even with the auto stop/start deactivated (drives me crazy to be honest), sometimes I can hardly tell it is running…

After the Kariong test, I knew I could ride all the way to Sydney from the Central Coast. Took two hours to do the 100km via the Old Road.

It’s important to really keep an eye ahead for potholes, particularly now after the storms and floods recently, as hitting a big pothole would be a disaster on a scooter. Suspension is of course basic, the forks are proper ones but bottom out hard and the shock is on the limit with my fat ass on board (100kg), but that is to be expected and it handles everything OK considering…

Air-cooled, four-stroke, SOHC, two-valve, 125cc, 52.4 x 57.9mm engine with CVT final drive and 12in rear wheel.

The brakes are linked, which is fantastic for braking with one finger on each hand. The D’elight stops well, and the brakes have been getting better as they bed in more. There is no ABS, which worries me a bit with the cheaper tyres fitted, so I would like to see ABS on it in the future. Speaking of tyres, they are not too bad, even in the rain, but I would upgrade to a better brand eventually.

D’elight 125.

D’elight 125.

Fuel consumption is sensational. I got 238km from the first tank, which took 4.8L and that converts to around 49.5km/L. Comfort is fine for a small scooter, I am 187cm tall and am not cramped on it, my knees don’t hit the bodywork and there is enough room for my size 11 shoes, no dramas. The seat, though, is on the firmer side but still good for two hours at a time, which is rare to do on a scooter.

In terms of pillion riding, well, my pillion and a million and I just don’t fit on the D’elight! We would have when we first met 25-years ago! I can take my teenagers on the back, no issue, but two grown adults won’t fit on the little 125. There is a rack and top box option, I would be going for that if I owned it.

All up the Yamaha D’elight has been exceptionally good at what it does and I am sad to see it go, although I am swapping it for a YDX-Moro 07. It’s not usual top spec Yamaha Japan quality, it has cheaper feeling switches, grips and finish (and tyres), but that is why it is just so cheap. I mean, under four grand ride away… It is definitely worth considering for the commuter, learner, returning rider or anyone after a cheap, economical, quiet, comfy and convenient runaround…