Yamaha launches 2026 Jog iPlus scooter: starting at ¥8,380, gains wider tires and a color instrument but still no ABS

Lead: modest price cut, modest upgrades — but one conspicuous omission

Yamaha this week refreshed its entry-level Jog iPlus scooter line for 2026, with the standard model priced at ¥8,380 (about $1,150) and a new "Limited" edition at ¥8,580 (about $1,180). The move trims ¥200 off the old base price. The upgrades are practical and visible — wider tyres, a color instrument cluster and a USB‑C port — but one safety feature remains absent: anti‑lock braking (ABS).

What’s new on the 2026 Jog iPlus

The 2026 Jog iPlus gets three headline updates. First, Yamaha fitting 100/90‑10 tyres (up from 90/90‑10) increases the contact patch and, it has been reported that, addresses long‑standing owner complaints about slippery factory tyres. Second, the instrument cluster moves from a monochrome LCD to a full‑colour display that adds a clock and clearer readouts. Third, a USB‑C charging port has been added for daily commuting convenience. Powertrain and packaging are unchanged: the 125cc single‑cylinder air‑cooled “Chuanghe” (创核科技) engine produces 6.1 kW (about 8.3 hp) and 9.7 N·m, with a 5.1 L tank and claimed consumption near 2 L/100 km. Dimensions and mass remain compact — 1,805 × 685 × 1,055 mm, 1,275 mm wheelbase, 90 kg curb weight and a 749 mm seat height.

Safety question: why no ABS in 2026?

In an era when dual‑channel ABS and traction control are migrating downward from premium scooters into mass market models in many countries, Yamaha’s choice to keep the Jog iPlus without ABS is notable. It has been reported that the omission makes the iPlus “stand out” — and inevitably raises questions about where buyers in China and export markets will draw the line between cost and safety. Meanwhile, Yamaha’s own 2026 NMAX TECH MAX and 25th‑anniversary NMAX (¥27,800–¥28,000, roughly $3,850–$3,900) ship with full electronic suites including dual‑channel ABS and traction control, underscoring that safety tech is available within Yamaha’s lineup — but reserved for higher price tiers.

Market context: cheap, practical, and competitive

For Western readers unfamiliar with China’s two‑wheeler market: scooters at this price point are mass‑market transport, not lifestyle toys. Buyers prize fuel efficiency, low operating cost and everyday usability. Yamaha’s incremental iPlus update leans into those priorities. But with regulators and competitors increasingly emphasizing active safety systems, Yamaha’s bet that customers will accept a non‑ABS base model will be closely watched. Will wider tyres and a color dash be enough to justify the price cut? Or will safety expectations push ABS down the ladder faster than manufacturers expect?