Comments on: Review: 2018 Yamaha Tricity 155 ABS

By: Jeff Ware

Jeff Ware — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 04:49:01 +0000

In reply to Edward Meili. Hi Edward - I love to hear these stories! I had a De'Light for most of last year and did some long rides, it was fine! I really like the TriCity and I reckon the fuel economy is hard to beat, plus the big bike feel and the unique experience. Sounds like you certainly ran it in well. What an awesome start to the ownership. How is the bike going now? Jeff Ware

By: Edward Meili

Edward Meili — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 04:52:00 +0000

I live in Auckland and bought a 2023 Yamaha Tricity with 125km’s on it in Christchurch. I flew to Christchurch and rode it the nearly 1,200 km’s back. I am in my 60’s and have owner over 50 motorcycles in my lifetime from super bikes to dirt bikes to scooters. A big influencer for purchase was the $110 per year registration for the Tricity, but after riding it 1,200km’s I have MUCH more good to say about it. A skilled rider can corner faster and safer in the rain, and it holds the road like a mid-sized motorcycle rather than a scooter. Heavy, yes, but perfectly balanced. I cruised at an average of 102kph during the trip and fuel economy was only 30km per liter due to wide open riding. Very quiet and torquey motor is only doing around 4,000rpm, so not like it is spitting its guts out to do 100kph. I saw an indicated 119kph on a downhill and I could not make it go 120kph, so perhaps there is a governor after a certain rpm? Absolutely brilliant machine and a work of art if you view it from an engineer’s perspective. Thank you Yamaha!

By: Dhiraj

Dhiraj — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 12:48:02 +0000

I am looking to buy yamaha tricity for uber eats delivery. This means i will be driving all day around the city. I am new in driving. Will you recommend yamaha tricity for delivery purpose

By: Jeff Ware

Jeff Ware — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 23:33:04 +0000

In reply to phil.

Hi Phil,
Always awesome to hear from an owner. We only get to test for a week or two and aside from our full long term bikes, it is hard to find out the real experiences of living with a bike or scooter. I reckon the TriCity is a ripper and yep an XMAX300 version would be a great scoot.
Good tip on the screen. Top stuff going touring! Sounds like a blast. Jeff.

By: phil

phil — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 05:29:51 +0000

I own a 155 Tricity for 6 months and have put nearly 8,000 km on it. As a commuter its a great wee machine.

My commute involves 5km of motorway which is never a problem for it. While it will do 120km/hr on the speedo (about 115 GPS), the reality is that it is a 155cc machine and its happiest at any speed up to 90 km/hr for extended running. Real world fuel economy is about 2.3 litres per 100 km urban, 2.5 litres per 100 km open road at 80ish and 4 litres per 100 km if you open the throttle to the stop and leave it there.

I toured with mine around the East Cape of the North Island from Wellington (about 2,000 km in three days) and it was just fine as I purposely avoided motorways and tried to ride the B roads where I could.

the only (recommended mod) is get a proper screen for it – the one that comes with it is useless.

I’m not sure what Mathia’s is on about. The theoretical braking distance of any bikes is as much about the rider as it is about the brakes. I can say that the brakes on the Tricity are very good for its purpose. It out brakes anything else that I’ve ridden.

I’m crossing my fingers that they make a 300cc. A little more power and longer legs on the open road would be great.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 11:10:19 +0000

… correction: that should have read at 765 down from 180 (for revised seat height) – Mark

By: Mark Sydenham

Mark Sydenham — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 10:54:14 +0000

Hi Petros.
I have owned my Tricity 155 for 15 months. This scooter started to ‘soften’ and feel liberated from about 2600 ks. Since the first release of the 155 in Sept. 16 (Europe) the only very recent change is a redesigned and lower seat platform at 165 from 180. This speaks well of the scooter. I am a perennial purveyor of most two wheel machinery, but any anticipated change of this machine will be a move across to a newly released white (in Aus.)155, which was always my first choice. This will happen before any need for tire change or first valve clearance check at 12,000 ks. The Tricity 155 ticks a lot of boxes for me. Mark — happiness is: Tricity 155 — Honda Monkey 125

By: Bike Review

Bike Review — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 10:18:18 +0000

In reply to Petros.

Hey Petros,
Glad to be of help! One-up I didn’t have any problems even on steep inclines or sporty riding, although you do use a bit more throttle than a motorcycle to get the desired results, and the additional weight over the NMax 155 is noticeable in that comparison. You do change your riding habits without the ability to manually control your gears, but generally speaking that means a little more braking into corners and managing your speed – but then unless you’re trying to ride a scooter like a sportsbike that’s not an issue. I’m a little heavier and taller than you, and didn’t really notice the weight of the scooter itself except when I was really demanding maximum performance and it’s a bit slower off the mark – again in comparison to the NMax, but the engine picks up speed and revs easily.

As long as you’re not expecting to cruise at 100 or 110km/h for long distance is should be well suited to your needs, and low speed tours should be easy and comfortable.

By: Petros

Petros — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 09:55:44 +0000

Firstly, let me complement you Kris on a very informative, competent review and response to reader’s comment. I, like Mark who commented in July 2019, am a seasoned motorcyclist of some 46 yrs, having owned Ducatis, Guzzis, BMW’s, Triumphs, Buells and Harleys amongst the 19 I have owned. I have never been attracted by scooters, much preferring the looks and dynamics of a motorcycle. However, I am now serious considering a Tricity to enable me to cope with the challenging road surfaces here in urban and rural Greece. Away from motorways, asphalt here is highly polished with unpredictable cambers, sometimes covered in gravel especially on tight corners. Despite experimenting with different tyres (I found Metzeler the best), cornering with confidence is well-nigh impossible on such roads and although rewarding to reach a destination unscathed its become unenjoyable on a larger type machine. I am impressed by the Tricity as it would appear to be a solution to my issue with grip here and in a way am rather attracted to it by its quirky looks and imaginative technology. Combined with a lowish CofG it could prove easier for me to handle these days despite not having a locking mechanism on the steering like an MP3. Can I please ask, how does the 155 cope with short, steep uphill gradients and tight bends especially as it’s an automatic? It sounds quite manoeuvrable and easy to handle but as it’s some 165kg wet is this going to be a drawback for 1.64m 65kg rider like myself who doesn’t live in an unban or city environment? Uses are 15km commutes to work locations, 35km trips into the large, busy main town in this region, and occasional ride-outs with friends on low speed tours of the area of about 150-
300km. Your input would be appreciated as no test rides available here… thanks…

By: Mathias

Mathias — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 00:17:51 +0000

Braking distance with factory settings:

Superbikes:

2011 BMW S1000RR: 129 ft
2011 Ducati 1198: 141 ft
2011 Honda CBR1000RR: 134 ft
2011 Suzuki GSXR-1000: 140 ft
2011 KTM RC8R: 135 ft
2011 Kawasaki ZX10R: 129 ft
2011 Yamaha R1: 137 ft

Supersports:

2011 Yamaha R6: 124 ft
2011 Honda CBR600RR: 126 ft
2011 Ducati 848 EVO: 127 ft
2011 Triumph 675R: 126 ft
2011 Suzuki GSXR-600: 122 ft

Other bikes:

2015 Harley Street 750: 152 ft
2011 Harley StreetGlide: 129 ft
2011 Star Stratoliner: 142 ft
2011 Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero: 144 ft
2013 BMW R1200-RTP: 144 ft
2013 Harley Electra Glide: 144 ft
2010 Star Raider S: 124 ft
2010 Harley Softail Rocker C: 125 ft
2010 Victory Vegas Jackpot: 129 ft
2006 Piaggo MP3 98.5 ft

Please note that superbikes and supersports have:
– steel braided brake lines
– metallic brake pads
– monoblock calipers (pressure won’t expand caliper as much as with regular calipers)
– large brake rotors
– good brake pumps
– expensive (sticky) tires

… while scooters and choppers have:
– rubber brake lines
– resin brake pads
– casual brake pumps
– casual tires
– etc..

When You understand physics behind braking You will note that arrangement of wheels works in advance for 3-wheel (2 wheels front) motorcycles and more inclined head angle means means less tendention of motorcycle to get rear wheel into the air (ABS has got less work, You don’t loose traction as with steep head angle – try to make stoppie on Harley and on superbike). When I buy (2-wheel) scooters I always replace brake lines into steel braided ones, I change brakepads to metallic ones and braking performance is much better. But I still know that adding extra wheel in front does miracles, there is nothing that brakes in motorcycle world as efficient as Piaggo MP3 (I don’t own MP3 – it’s too heavy in my opinion, Piaggio resisted to make light 3-wheeler for long time so I ommit Piaggo).

Technical siednote: there is risk that tilting mechanism will faster develop play (worn bushings, worn bearings) under heavy braking and manufacturer might chose smaller rotors, not so efficient calipers, no steel braided hoses, etc to keep longevity of the complicated front 2-wheel tilting mechanism. This has to be taken into consideration if one replaces elements by himself (brake pump, brakepads, steel braided lines). I asked for braking distance of Niken and one guy said that on dry asphalt Niken brakes within 40 meters (131 ft). There is great use of extra wheels in the corners (more stability) but braking distance isn’t brilliant to put it politely.

In my opinion You should insist that motorcycle manufacturer arranges brake-testing equipment during the day. Try to make initiative move. I see no reason to buy 3-wheel scooter/ motorcycle if braking performance is unknown.