The effective C3 suspension uses a 120mm tire at the back rather than the stouter looking 130 from the BWs, and features an obsolete drum/drum brake combination, resulting in stable but ultimately below-par braking. Come on, Yamaha: it’s about time you switch to a front disc brake!

Room and lots of it, but unfortunately not enough for a Full-Face helmet. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Moto123.com)

On the road, the C3 displays great agility and comfort thanks to a pair of oversized tires. Neutral handling and balance allow easy manœuvres through traffic, while the high-mounted mirrors help reduce blind spots. I particularly liked the comfy seat and the ability to slide my butt along the generous surface. If you ask me, a normal-sized passenger (Smaller than our bulky Moto123 editor!) can comfortably sit behind the rider.

Undercutting the BWs by $300, the 2010 Yamaha XF50 C Cubed (or C3 or Cube or whatever you want to call it) really brings an interesting proposition to the table. Granted, not everyone will love the styling, but I can take my significant other for a ride and store our backpacks under the seat.

Score one for the underdog.

Plus
Storage capacity
Space and saddle comfort
Adequate performance

Less
Borderline braking
Looks funny to some