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History of Yamaha RX-Z 135

RX-Z 100S

RX-Z started its production in 1980’s. At that time there are two version of RX-Z, namely RX-Z 100 and RX-Z 135. RX-Z 100 was specifically designed to fit the market in Mexico only, therefore we didn’t have it here in Malaysia. RX-S 100 and RX-S 115 was the common bike that we see before the introduction of the legendary RX-Z 135.

RX-Z 135 was introduced at that time with 5-speed transmission, box speedometer and straight exhaust pipe without the resonance chamber. Even though the design is created almost 27 years back, but it still relevant in today’s motorcycle environment. The design is still fresh and amazing. Given the power of 135 cc with 2-stroke class engine makes it a very intimidating bike. In year 1985, people who buys the RX-Z 135 is said to have a fun lifestyles, macho and having daring personality. RX-Z 135 design also is very futuristic compared to the bike such as Honda Raider, Suzuki Katana, X7 and Kawasaki GTO. RX-Z 135 is known for their awesome power can be harnessed easily just by a little modification. The most popular and cheapest modification with great performance boost is done by changing the exhaust pipe to a racing exhaust pipe. A good racing pipe can add up to 3 ps. This can be achieved if the exhaust pipe have a good resonance chamber that can works likes a mini turbo without the turbine. But, even in standard condition, the bike can go up to 150 km/h and that is higher than the highway speed limit here in Malaysia (110 km/h). Most of the RX-Z 135 owner here have modified their bike to go up to 200++ km/h and they used it for daily commute and mind you, it is not for racing. Speed is one of the reason why RX-Z 135 is very popular because we need it to overtake big lorries and heavy trucks during the commute using highway or specifically in PLUS highway here in Malaysia.

In 1990, Yamaha makes a little upgrade to the bike by adding one more gear to the transmission that makes the bike 6-speeder. The design of the exhaust pipe has been updated by equipping it with a new design that have resonance chamber and muffler. This design have increased the power of the bike to 21 ps. Still at this period of time, there are no bike manufactured by other company that beat RX-Z. In fact, there IS no bike by other manufacturer that has been build to be in the same category as RX-Z 135. Most manufacturer like to focus their bike to 150 cc segment. This is true when we look at Suzuki Gamma 150 cc, Honda NSR 150RR and Kawasaki KIPS 150, but here Yamaha also its own weapon that is TZM 150.

2000 has been the year RX-Z get a new cloth. RX-Z has been refreshed with new head and tail design. The new head gets a new smaller headlight. The turn signal has been integrated to the cowling, thus making the bike looks cleaner and more meaner. Tail light has been borrowed from 125Z, but it is okay since the tail light is also nice and clean. But. I prefer for Yamaha to make an original tail light design specifically for RX-Z 135. Clutch has also been upgraded by Yamaha making it is easier to switch gears and better handling for low speed travelling.

Even with lots of reason to be popular, RX-Z is not a bike without flaw. The greatest flaw that I can think of is, the position of the carburetor and the way it is assembled. Since the carburetor is only hold up by 2 connecting rubber, it is very easy to take the carburetor off. And this give way to thief to take it easily. Even if the thief won’t take the carburetor off, they can still steal the petrol from the RX-Z tank since the fuel line is exposed at the left side of the carburetor. I have heard a lot of complain about this from my friends and also from other RX-Z owners.

2008 is a year we all wait for Yamaha to unveil new RX-Z 135 design or at least stripe change.

Here’s the year and code name model change that RX-Z 135 have gone through:

1st model:
1985/87 – 2UX

2nd model:
1989 – 3UK1

3rd model:
1993 – 3UK3

4th model:
1995 – 3RSA

5th model:
1996/97 – 3RSB

6th model:
2000 – 3XL3

7th model:
2002 – 5PV1

8th model:
2005 – 5PV2

9th model:
2008- ??? (not yet introduced)
What is expected in 2008/09 RX-Z model:
Rear mono-shock suspension
Rear disc brake
Inverted front telescopic fork
Double piston front brake caliper
New stripe and design
New & original sports rim equipped

but, you should know that Malaysia already have stopped the introduction of new 2-stroke bike starting the year 2006. So, there are no more new RX-Z model. We will only stick to 5PV2 for the rest of the time.

Long Live RX-Z!

CDI + Circuit Breaker / Rev-limiter / Cut-off Switch

CDI is known to give spark to the running engine, whether it is 2-stroke or 4-stroke. Inside a standard CDI circuit, there is a circuit breaker or rev-limiter or cut-off switch which limit the revolution of the engine. How does it work? Read on the article taken from Wikipedia. This article is about electrical circuit breaker but it can be used to relate to rev-limiter or cut-off switch in engines. In fact, we can’t get away from electrical system when we are discussing about engines.

A device to open or close an electric power circuit either during normal power system operation or during abnormal conditions. A circuit breaker serves in the course of normal system operation to energize or deenergize loads. During abnormal conditions, when excessive current develops, a circuit breaker opens to protect equipment and surroundings from possible damage due to excess current. These abnormal currents are usually the result of short circuits created by lightning, accidents, deterioration of equipment, or sustained overloads.

Formerly, all circuit breakers were electromechanical devices. In these breakers a mechanism operates one or more pairs of contacts to make or break the circuit. The mechanism is powered either electromagnetically, pneumatically, or hydraulically. The contacts are located in a part termed the interrupter. When the contacts are parted, opening the metallic conductive circuit, an electric arc is created between the contacts. This arc is a high-temperature ionized gas with an electrical conductivity comparable to graphite. Thus the current continues to flow through the arc. The function of the interrupter is to extinguish the arc, completing circuit-breaking action.

In oil circuit breakers, the arc is drawn in oil. The intense heat of the arc decomposes the oil, generating high pressure that produces a fluid flow through the arc to carry energy away. At transmission voltages below 345 kV, oil breakers used to be popular. They are increasingly losing ground to gas-blast circuit breakers such as air-blast breakers and SF₆ circuit breakers.

In air-blast circuit breakers, air is compressed to high pressures. When the contacts part, a blast valve is opened to discharge the high-pressure air to ambient, thus creating a very-high-velocity flow near the arc to dissipate the energy. In SF₆ circuit breakers, the same principle is employed, with SF₆ as the medium instead of air. In the “puffer” SF₆ breaker, the motion of the contacts compresses the gas and forces it to flow through an orifice into the neighborhood of the arc. Both types of SF₆ breakers have been developed for ehv (extra high voltage) transmission systems.

Two other types of circuit breakers have been developed. The vacuum breaker, another electromechanical device, uses the rapid dielectric recovery and high dielectric strength of vacuum. A pair of contacts is hermetically sealed in a vacuum envelope. Actuating motion is transmitted through bellows to the movable contact. When the contacts are parted, an arc is produced and supported by metallic vapor boiled from the electrodes. Vapor particles expand into the vacuum and condense on solid surfaces. At a natural current zero the vapor particles disappear, and the arc is extinguished. Vacuum breakers of up to 242 kV have been built.

The other type of breaker uses a thyristor, a semiconductor device which in the off state prevents current from flowing but which can be turned on with a small electric current through a third electrode, the gate. At the natural current zero, conduction ceases, as it does in arc interrupters. This type of breaker does not require a mechanism. Semiconductor breakers have been built to carry continuous currents up to 10,000 A.

Bermuda’s Yamaha Sniper (LC135) Close Up

The sport rim here is branded Daiichi Alloy made from Thailand. It is very nice and eye-catching.

The exhaust pipe here is TENCUT Racing Pipe made from Philippine. For me, I prefer the exhaust from YY Pang and AHM since it is already tested and used in Malaysian Cub Prix Championship. But I don’t know if the TENCUT pipe is used in racing in Philippine.

Yamaha Sniper (LC135) from Bermuda

Yamaha LC135 or Sniper in Bermuda

Yamaha LC135 is also known as Sniper in certain country such as Bermuda. The bike is not much different with what we have here in Malaysia. The rear brake is drum. The front brake is still one piston caliper even though the bike is equipped with manual clutch [in Malaysia the front brake is two-piston caliper for manual clutch version]. One thing that amazes me is the rims. I wonder what brand and model of rim it is. The exhaust has been already modified to a new one.

Different sticker design for Yamaha LC135

The other differences that we can spot is the design of the sticker, where it is written Sniper on the side fender. This bike belongs to Stephen in Bermuda.

Thanks Stephen for the picture!

Yamaha LC135 Modification with X1R Coverset

LC135 is known as X1R in Thailand. The differences can be spotted from the missing of front head lamp replaced by a bigger lamp on the fairing. (more…)