@Madhav:Could you please upload it by recording using your mobile phone video camera which has both video plus audio..

Can you elaborate the exact issue.. Will try to inquire my SVC guy here.. Are you using iridium plug.. Night could you have just have a look into to find out if iridium could cause this..

Cant pin point the issue until I hear the sound being produced. Is it a clanking,knocking sound? Or the engine sounds rough?
The problem with the NGK Iridium is that the spark produced is so high that it leaks through the spark plug cable. Touch the spark plug cover while revving the engine and you will get mild shocks. That jerking problem Madhav's Gladiator has is due to that. To rectify this, either buy a NGK Splitfire Cable (or any good 'power cable') or as as cheaper solution use a insulating tape and cover the spark plug cover with it generously.

Am using the normal stock spark plug right now. I throwed that spark plug at that shop keeper after it wasnt working properly. The salesman started to take out faults in my bike & was not ready to accept that his spark plug was a defective one.
Heres the video of it. (sorry for the quality)
YouTube - bike problem

While the rpm comes down a kind of sound can be heard. Due to this the engine has become harsh while riding.

@Night & sriram:- Thanks for your concern & replies.

Unable to listen to it as i am at work..

in the sidelines, just wondering if the motul 5W50 in your casing, is it by any chance causing a trouble on the motor.. Maybe the full synth formulation is well suited only for higher rpm motors and may thus feel sluggish for an engine of our size and configuration.

I am using a Fazer/R15 based semi synth oil and not facing any issues till now, though it is not factory recommended..

With this above pl let me know your views on this.. Thanks.. will post feedback after listening to sound and confirm if i had encountered a similar one..

Sorry cant seem to pinpoint the issue. It sure isnt caused by wrong grade oil. The engine's firing seems to be incorrect while the rpm drops. Is the spark plug tightened correctly?
My Gladiator seems to have hit a rough patch lately. The RR unit conked off again! So the battery isnt being charged. Dont know how a brand new unit can conk off so quickly. The engine oil leaking issue continues. Have put lots of M-SEAL to hold it in place. No sign of spares.
Parked it outside my college during my College festival. Came back later to find out that some drunken idiot had hit it side on. The bike fell over a brick and the fuel tank had a 4 inch dent on it. Got it buffed out for 700Rs.
Imagine my surprise when at 11PM in the night, the clutch cable snapped while I was coming home one day. Rode it all the way home cursing and changing gears while matching revs.
Have put the servicing on hold because of this damn leaking issue. Tried to contact Yamaha Head Office but all in vain. They arent responding.
She is like falling apart ever since I started thinking of getting a new bike.

Hello Guys....

am planning to buy SS125.
Background is:
a. I am a gentle rider, not much interested in high speed, zip-zap riding
b. My riding includes commuting of 30-40 KMs per day (to & fro) - 5-7 km of bumpy & dusty road, 20-25 km of highway and rest is city riding
c. 30% time riding alongwith pillion (wife/mom saree wearing)
d. occassional long ride (150-200 kms a day once in 2 months)
e. my requirements: comfort for rider and pillion, 50-55+ fuel efficiency, long term use (say 7-10 years), suitable for my height-weight (5'9'' ; 90 kg)

However am little confused over following points, if anybody can help me out on these.. it would be gr8...

1. Open Chain: is it too difficult to maintain?
2. Gear shifter: only toe.. will it be as easy as toe-heal shifter?
3. How is it compared with SZR in terms of cofort of rider & pillion, fuel efficiency and my riding conditions mentioned above?

Regards,
Sudeep

Hi Madhav, have you found a solution for the problem, you were reporting, i was unable to make out/ pin point much from the sound in the video, but when heard several times, felt that while rpm drops there is a small variation, should it be because of lean mixture setting (Night pl confirm)...

I have some queries:;;;

1.gear shifting pattern;

is it a good practice to shift the gears all the way from 5th to neutral while in stationary. i rode once in a open road and after a mile nearly, reached the U turn where i was supposed to turn, had to slow down (regular practice) and shift to 2 or 1 but i absent mindedly left it at 5th and came to a stop.

Having realised, i immediately started shifting from 5th to 4,3,2 netural. The pattern in which i shifted was helding clutch fully downshifting from 5th to 4th, released the clutch lever intermittently halfway for the cogs to adjust, again closed clutch fully, brought down from 4th to 3rd, (Followed the same procedure as follwed for 5th to 4th) then down to second and then neutral.

By this way will there be a sign of any fracture to the gear cogs, when i was down shifting i did not hear any surprising or unexpected or harsh sounds,,, It was the only time i had ever done this since the last 10 months of this bike's usage..

2. Has anyone of you done this way... does gladiator over heat when ridden roughly with pillion rider..once i did so for 10 kilometers and felt the engine to be little sluggish?

3. has anyone chnaged your stock tyre/tubes with mrf tubeless ones.. is it at all possible in the first case.. what about michelin??

4. What is the recommeded oil for peak performence for gladiator apart from the mineral oil used in SVC.

can anybody help me pls?

Though i haven't ridden any Gladiator yet, but i have ridden SZ once, and imo, go for SZR, as it's 150 cc, you will never feel underpowered + decent mileage (around 50) + bike is too comfortable and light weight too, No problem in long term usage as it is Yamaha

Regarding open chain, to it is not, You will get used to it

Regarding toe shifter, same as above, you will get used to it too !

Last but not the least, as per your requirement, sz suit's you, but, go for disc brake variant as Drum brake variant lacks stopping power !

am planning to buy SS125. - (A) Good choice but the company stopped it and is selling in the name of YBR-125
Background is:
a. I am a gentle rider, not much interested in high speed, zip-zap riding. (A) - Yeah Gladiator is also meant for sane riding. i am using since one year,
b. My riding includes commuting of 30-40 KMs per day (to & fro) - 5-7 km of bumpy & dusty road, 20-25 km of highway and rest is city riding. (A) - SS125 is the ideal choice for your above requirement.

c. 30% time riding alongwith pillion (wife/mom saree wearing) - (A) No problem, i do lot of pillion riding and bike feels ok.

d. occassional long ride (150-200 kms a day once in 2 months), (A) - Many reviewers, experts say SS125 is suitable for long rides due to its ride posture and refined engine..

e. my requirements: comfort for rider and pillion, 50-55+ fuel efficiency, long term use (say 7-10 years), suitable for my height-weight (5'9'' ; 90 kg) (A) Gladiator passes your test in this area...but not sure on mileage part..

However am little confused over following points, if anybody can help me out on these.. it would be gr8...

1. Open Chain: is it too difficult to maintain? - (A) Not at all, Get it cleaned and lubed from your service center once in a month in normal time or once in 15 days in monsoon time.. ppl say it's more fool proof than traditional chain..

2. Gear shifter: only toe.. will it be as easy as toe-heal shifter? (A) - As per international biking standards, the one down four,five,six up has been call for the day as far as gear shifting is concerned, so need to live with it.. Even pulsar models have changed their gear pattern tht way..

3. How is it compared with SZR in terms of cofort of rider & pillion, fuel efficiency and my riding conditions mentioned above? (A) SZR is a new model with the FZ engine and different gear box.. of course it will be powerful than gladiator/SS125. Its up to you to decide.. Both are good choices....I am using my gladiator since one year and have not run into any major issues.. and am satisfied with its performance...

Hello Sriram,

Thanks a lot for your to-the-point reply. It boosts my confidence in SS125!

However, I am confused over one statement.
...but the company stopped it and is selling in the name of YBR-125
I used to think that YBR 125 is different model altogether and SS125 is still in production... (referring comment no 36 on Yamaha Gladiator SS125 Review, Price, Mileage )

can anybody through some light on this matter, please?

Sudeep

Brother, Last month i had to been to my Yam dealer for a personal work (reg. Insurance renewal), that time i was going to the models that were displayed and had a brief chat with one of the executives, who told me, that, the model for 2011, Yamaha planned to slowly phase out SS125 and bring in the YBR 125 with the same engine but with a different short ratio four speed gear box. I saw the model, it was less sporty and more of commuter style. The seating was comfortable and the handle bar was of optimum height,

The instrument console was changed with the RPM meter missing. The models also come without disc break. The gear shift pattern will be, all Up like hero honda splendor, the first time ever Yamaha did this change i suppose.. The chain is traditional with cover and not O-Ring chain...

YBR 125 is no less to gladiator/SS125 in terms of spec. But if you want goodies like disc, rpm, open chain and sporty look better look if you have stock of SS125 in your area's dealer & better book it as it has better features than the YBR though engine is the same

Oh! thtz a (bad) news to me!
Itz beyond comprehension, why d hell Yamaha should phase out SS125... it would have been ok if they wanted to add an improved version into their stable.. but replacing SS125 with YBR 125 (with no diskbreak, no rechometer, and such typical looks... ) yuck!...

will have to chk with nearest dealer!!

From the dealers point of view, it seems the number of units being sold (SS 125) is not up to their expectation and calculations...

So they have restructured this motorcycle to target Honda shine and Hero honda splendor motor cycles...

Also i was told there is a marginal increase in the mileage.... Looks like they have worked a lot on the gear box this time as all the previous models since last 4-5 years had been with the same gear box.. Also the same Yamaha YBR125 can be found in UK market with a different styling replete with Fuel injection, RPM console, Better styling, Disk brakes etc...

But the indian version of the YBR is redesigned without all that to cut cost for the cost conscious indian market

Dont worry. They are releasing a new premium 125 cc bike which is famously called R125. The cost may be around 90,000. Looks like R-15 with delta box frame.. liquid cooled engine.. etc..