Yamaha NMAX 125 (SEC7) 2015–2020: Specs & Facts

The Machine's Character

The NMAX 125 is Yamaha's sporty take on the small city scooter, and this generation gets the basics right. The liquid-cooled 125 cc single is a Blue Core engine with Variable Valve Actuation, making 12 hp and 9 lb-ft. The engine is tuned to stay smooth across the rev range, and it's frugal. Power goes back through a clean belt final drive. The steel tube frame and 13-inch wheels keep the whole package at 280 lb (127 kg) wet, and ABS is standard. For a 125 that's a good kit list. It feels like a Yamaha: practical first, with enough edge to stay fun.

Where it really earns its money is in traffic. Handling is as light as anything I know, it slips through gaps easily and you can park it almost anywhere, and running costs stay very low. Reliability is strong too. Look after the battery, because a weak one is the usual reason it won't start, and rinse it off if you ride through wet winters, since some bodywork can get surface rust. The honest caveat is reach. With 12 hp and a 1.7 gal (6.6 L) tank, it's built for the city and the suburbs. It isn't an interstate scooter.

Hard Numbers

Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.

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Key specifications
Power	12 hp (9 kW) @ 7,500 rpm
Torque	9 lb-ft (12 Nm) @ 7,250 rpm
Displacement	125 cc
Engine	Single-cylinder
Cooling	Liquid-cooled
Final drive	Belt
Fork	Telescopic
Front brake	230 mm
Front tire	110/70-13
Rear tire	130/70-13
Seat height	30.1 in (765 mm)
Wet weight	280 lb (127 kg)
Fuel capacity	1.7 gal (6.6 L)

Equipment check

Safety

ABS Standard

The Truth on the Street

Over the years I've listened to a lot of owners talk about this scooter: in paddock conversations, over coffee with commuters, at club nights, and in the emails and messages riders send me directly. On the 2015–2020 NMAX 125, the picture is consistent. Owners are happy with how it pulls and what it costs to run, and their complaints are few and specific.

Punch, frugality and a helmet-sized trunk

The engine gets the most praise. Owners describe real pull off the line and a smooth surge that keeps it punchy in traffic, then relaxed once it's up to speed. Commuters regularly report 100 to 120 mpg in daily use. Riders say it stays stable through suburban corners, and several value the ABS when the road is wet or a stop turns urgent. Many talk about years of trouble-free ownership. Some point out that the under-seat space takes a full-face helmet, with two front pockets for small items.

Where broken pavement bites back

The complaint that comes up again and again is the ride on bad roads. Sharp bumps come through harshly, and owners call it jarring on poor surfaces. A smaller point, raised less often, is the stock mirrors. They give a limited view behind, and taller riders notice it most.

Known issues

Rear reflector may not meet ADR luminosity requirements (Australia)

bodywork occasional Recall

Yamaha Australia recalled 2015-2020 NMAX 125 and NMAX 155 scooters due to the rear reflector possibly not meeting ADR standards for reflection luminosity, potentially reducing visibility. Fix: free reflector replacement.
Premature rust on bodywork

bodywork rare

A few owners have reported surface rust appearing on chassis components or body panels, particularly when used in wet climates without adequate protection.

The Expert Benchmark

Where this Yamaha NMAX 125 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.

What kind of bike this is — character vs. the class

Urban Utility Score

Weatherproof Commute Comfort

Storage Without Thinking

Twist-and-Go Simplicity

Low-Cost Daily Mobility

Night-and-Rain Confidence

This bike Class average

Head-to-head: Yamaha NMAX 125 vs. its rivals

Power

12 hp This bike 12 hp Honda PCX125 15 hp Aprilia Sportcity Street 125 11 hp Kymco Superdink 125i 9 hp Suzuki Address 110

Torque

9 lb-ft This bike 9 lb-ft Honda PCX125 7 lb-ft Aprilia Sportcity Street 125 8 lb-ft Kymco Superdink 125i 6 lb-ft Suzuki Address 110

Displacement

125 cc This bike 125 cc Honda PCX125 125 cc Aprilia Sportcity Street 125 125 cc Kymco Superdink 125i 113 cc Suzuki Address 110

Wet weight

280 lb This bike 278 lb Honda PCX125 298 lb Aprilia Sportcity Street 125 366 lb Kymco Superdink 125i 220 lb Suzuki Address 110

Seat height

30.1 in This bike 29.9 in Honda PCX125 32.1 in Aprilia Sportcity Street 125 31.1 in Kymco Superdink 125i 29.7 in Suzuki Address 110

The 'Should I Buy It?' Score

Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the NMAX 125 is actually built for.

Aerial photograph of downtown Austin, Texas, showing modern high-rise buildings against a clear blue sky. Urban infrastructure, highways, and parking structures visible in the foreground. — Thomas Balabaud / Pexels

Best scooter for NYC?

This is your scooter. It's light and narrow, so it parks anywhere and is cheap to run. It's reliable too, which matters when you ride every day in dense city traffic. Keep the battery healthy and it won't let you down.

Made for Austin · Los Angeles · Miami Beach / Miami

Best motorcycle for Bay Area?

It's a great tool for getting around San Francisco on weekdays, and it looks sharp too. For weekend ridge roads, though, 12 hp is a commuter's output. Take something bigger for the weekends and keep this one for town.

Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant