2011 Yamaha Zuma Review

The 2011 Yamaha Zuma is the Japanese manufacturer’s statement-making scooter. Introduced in 1989, the Zuma is a standout scooter that Yamaha has refined over the years into one of the most fuel efficient and fun to drive scooters available. Yamaha’s intense attention to detail and expert engineering combine to create a bike that is so well loved that it is just as fresh and exciting today as it has ever been.

Returning on the 2011 Yamaha Zuma is its trademark rugged-looking exterior; its thick, off-road-style tires; and twin bug-eye headlights. Also returning are the bike’s lollipop rear-view mirrors and comfortable two-passenger seat that measures in at an idyllic seat height of just 30.1 inches (30.7 inches on the 125). The low seat height and the scooter’s agile 6.6-foot turning radius makes the Zuma one of the easiest scooters to control on a variety of driving surfaces.

The 2011 Yamaha Zuma 50 is powered by a single-cylinder, horizontal two-stroke, Minarelli 50cc engine. Since it sports a single-cylinder engine, it does require two-stroke oil, but there is no need to worry about mixing the oil and gasoline as the engine is oil-injected. In comparison, the Zuma 125 features a hearty four-stroke, fuel-injected, SOHC engine that’s more than capable of producing high-performance power, comparable with many of the larger, more expensive scooters on the market. Both bikes offer the smooth-shifting convenience of a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with a low-maintenance belt drive to the rear wheel.

The 2001 Zuma is built upon a step-through frame design for optimum ease of mounting and dismounting, and its beefy telescopic front fork and single rear shock absorb the road’s imperfections with excellent results. The 155mm front hydraulic disc and rear drum offer reliable stopping power, while the wide front apron and floorboards not only enhance rider protection, but they also help to give the scooter a sporty profile that will turn heads.

The 2011 Yamaha Zuma has everything a rider needs to enjoy an affordable and practical around-town transportation solution. It has a lockable storage compartment located under the seat that’s generous enough to be able to comfortably store a second full-face helmet or a gallon of milk and a sack of groceries. The scooter also has a convenient rear luggage rack that's rated for seven pounds. Capable of a top speed of 45 mph (58 mph for the 125), and 123 miles to the gallon (89 mpg for the 125), the Yamaha Zuma delivers exceptional value both on the road and at the pump.