Test Ride: Cygnus Gryphus, with its Fun Acceleration, is the Fastest Flat floor 125!

The Cygnus X, equipped with an air-cooled 4-stroke 125cc engine, was launched in 2003.
The successor to the Cygnus X, the CYGNUS GRYPHUS, was launched in Japan at the end of 2021. It is the first Cygnus series model to be equipped with a liquid-cooled engine and a newly designed frame, making it a fully redesigned model.
It was followed by a color change in May 2023.

Text: Hiroyasu Ogawa　
Photo: Yuko Koizumi

Water-cooled for regulatory compliance. Weight increase is also complemented by BLUE CORE

To comply with emission regulations, the Cygnus Gryphus became the first model in the Cygnus series to be equipped with a water-cooled engine. Due to the addition of auxiliary equipment, the vehicle weight increased by 6 kg to 125 kg. Still, the liquid-cooled BLUE CORE engine, which delivers both environmental performance and driving pleasure, delivers a maximum output of 12 PS.
However, the liquid-cooled BLUE CORE engine, which combines environmental performance with fun-to-drive performance, delivers a maximum output of 12 PS, up from the Cygnus X's maximum output of 9.8 PS.
Fuel economy has been greatly improved from 37.5 km/L to 44.5 km/L. Although the fuel tank capacity has been reduced from 6.5 liters to 6.1 liters, the cruising range has conversely been increased.

Although the vehicle is larger, it is also well equipped as a commuter with a flat floor for easy entry and exit, SMG (Smart Motor Generator) for quiet engine starting, front pockets, USB socket, convenience store hooks, and 28-liter under-seat storage. The brakes are disc brakes front and rear, but ABS is not equipped, and the front brakes are linked to the rear brakes by the Unified Brake System (UBS).

Gryphus means condor, and the styling is inspired by the expression of a predator as it captures its prey.
In addition to the blue shown in the image, it is available in orange, white, and black.

Headlamps and position lamps are LED. The low beam is on the right side only, and the high beam lights both sides at the same time.

Tail lamps and stop lamps are LED. The surface-emitting tail lamps evoke the image of a predator's eye.

Pocket with 1.5 kg load capacity, USB socket, keyhole with shutter, hook with 1.0 kg load capacity, and fueling port for 6.1 L tank.

Seat with high-density cushion. Hold and comfort are improved.

With a load capacity of 5 kg and a capacity of approximately 28 L, it can hold one full-face helmet, rainwear, and small items.

Speed, clock, fuel gauge in the shape of a C, and odo and trip are switchable.
LCD meter with bar type display of engine speed and "VVA" above 6000 rpm.
It was difficult to see in the sunlight.

Check the footing of CYGNUS GRYPHUS

The rider is 172 cm tall. Seat height is 785mm and worn to the soles of his feet. There is freedom on the floor and the position is not cramped.

I felt the size of the vehicle, but I also felt secure, wearing both soles of my feet on my feet.

The rider is 156 cm tall. He said that although his kakato floated, he did not feel insecure because it was easy to land on his feet.

When he tried to put both feet down, he felt that the seat was high and the body of the car was wide.

Lightness and stability coexist, and a sporty riding experience can be enjoyed!

Cygnus Gryphus is easy to tilt the vehicle down and stable when banked. It is fun to steer.

To comply with regulations, the engine was water-cooled, and a radiator and catalytic converter were installed, which increased the weight by 6 kg from the Cygnus X. The frame was newly designed to optimize the engine and parts installation and center of gravity. The frame was also newly designed to optimize the weight increase, engine and parts mounting, and center of gravity position, but the engine itself was larger and the chassis was also larger. However, although the seat height was increased by 10 mm, the riding position was almost the same as on the Cygnus X. When straddling the Cygnus X, one did not feel the size of the vehicle body.

The engine is more powerful to compensate for the increased weight, and the front and rear tires are 10 mm wider to accommodate this power. The wheelbase has been extended by 35 mm to 1340 mm, while the caster angle has been changed from 27°00′ to 26°30′. When the driver opens the throttle slightly from idle and starts to drive forward, the vehicle is stable, but there is no dullness in cornering or steering at intersections, and the driver can feel both straight-line stability and agile maneuverability.

In addition, the wide tires and newly designed frame convey a sense of ground contact with the tires when the vehicle is tipped over, making it easier to control the vehicle's posture and providing stability when cornering. The front and rear 12-inch tires inherited from the Cygnus X also contribute to the lightness of handling, and the liquid-cooled BLUE CORE engine makes the ride even more nimble.

The liquid-cooled BLUE CORE engine of the Cygnus Gryphus is based on the NMAX125, but the gear ratios are generally set to lower speeds to emphasize acceleration.
The engine responds well to throttle operation, with torque rising from around 3000 rpm, and torque is strong at 4000 rpm, with acceleration power delivered without unpleasant vibrations. Further opening the throttle, the engine smoothly rises to 6000 rpm, where the VVA (variable valve actuation) switches from a low-speed to a mid- to high-speed camshaft, further extending acceleration and allowing the car to lead the flow of traffic with ease.

The front and rear disc brakes have a good touch and sufficient stopping power, and since the front-rear distribution of the UBS is comfortable, it does not brake with a clack, making it easy to control the machine.

Cygnus Gryphus' unique gear ratio provides a good response throughout the entire range from low to high rpm.

The front disc diameter is 245 mm dia. Sensors and rings are present, but ABS is not installed. The tires are 12-inch DURO tires from Taiwan.

The rear disc diameter is increased from φ200 mm to φ230 mm to improve braking power. This corresponds to an increase in weight.

Priority is given to sporty riding

The 12-inch tires on the front and rear were chosen for their light handling and under-seat storage capacity, and the 10mm wider 12-inch tires offered a good balance of stability and nimble maneuverability. However, on a road surface where the pavement was rough and continuous, a knacky impact was felt in both hands, as if the front wheels were moving up and down in small increments. On paved roads in good condition or at higher speeds, such impacts were not felt as much but were felt more often in the leisurely flow of city streets. However, the handlebars did not swing, and I felt more of the advantages of the small tires, such as the ability to maneuver easily.

The Cygnus Gryphus does not have ABS, traction control, idling stop, smartphone integration, or a smart key. However, it has a flat floor for easy entry and exit, a flexible riding position, straight line stability, and light handling, and the BLUE CORE engine that accelerates smoothly to high rpm with good torque throughout the range, all of which make sport riding enjoyable to the fullest. It is not only an easy-to-ride 125cc commuter, but also one that will deeply appeal to those who want to enjoy sporty riding.

The Cygnus 180 was Yamaha's first 4-stroke scooter in 1982; it was reintroduced as the Cygnus 125 in 1984 and has undergone a series of model changes since then, making the Cygnus series a 40-year-long seller. Although we did not expect the Cygnus 180 to have such longevity when it was first introduced, the sporty ride of the Cygnus Grifas was very typical of Yamaha.

The inner tube of the upright fork is φ33.0 mm, and the damping characteristics are set for Cygnus Gryphus.

Equipped with two rear suspensions with four-stage initial adjustment. This provides a comfortable ride for tandem and luggage loading.

Specifications Major specifications of the 2023 YAMAHA CYGNUS GRYPHUS

Overall Length x Overall Width x Overall Height: 1935 x 690 x 1160mm
Wheelbase: 1340mm
Vehicle weight: 125 kg
Engine: Liquid-cooled 4-stroke SOHC 4-valve single cylinder 124cc
Maximum output: 12 PS at 8000 rpm
Maximum torque: 1.1kgf-m/6000rpm
Fuel tank: 6.1L
Transmission: V-belt, stepless/automatic
Brakes: F=disc, R=disc
Tires: F=120/70-12, R=130/70-12
Price: 374,000 yen