Scooter Review

Vespa S 125 Review

With a little help from our friends we take a detailed look at the Vespa S 125

Scootersales.com.au

Scootersales.com.au says

The Vespa S 125 evokes the passion of yesteryear whilst adding a modern 70's sporty flavour. They say you get what you pay for and in the case of the Vespa S 125 this is true. The quality is immediately apparent whilst the on road behaviour is in a word "solid".  The most telling factor for me was the rest of the riders in the Scootersales clan that became immediately emotionally attached to the Italian. But hey that's Vespa for you!

www.vespa.com.au


RATING /10

• Handling: 9
• Performance: 9
• Quality of Finish: 10
• Storage Options: 9
• Dash / Gauges: 8
• Seating: 9
• Maintenance: 9
• Function of Parts: 9
• Technology , EFI , LC: 8
• Value for Money: 8

 
Total:  88/100

For far too long Vespa have tended to have a single model available at any given time, with most variation based largely on the size of the engine.  The recent arrival of the GTV 250 as an alternative look to the ever popular GTS 250 showed that its not only possible for the scooter buying market to have multiple versions of essentially the same vehicle, customers appreciate the choice!  And that's exactly the theme that Vespa have extended with the S 125.  

In contrast to the curved roundness of the LX, the S is all all about angles.  Not surprising really, as its very much a 1970s sort of look with a sporty edginess.  Under the hood, its an identical beast to the LX 125, based around the well established air-cooled Leader engine, surrounded by the steel monocoque chassis which gives Vespa scooters their distinctive build and structural rigidity which totally surpasses any other scooter on the market. 

So whilst the engine is not particularly thrilling in a class which now boasts an increasing number of fuel injected and even liquid cooled scooters, the handling remains an absolute delight, and remains the key feature that kicks the wannabees firmly into touch.  Whilst they try to look like a Vespa, they sure don't ride like one.  And that's what makes Vespa's just so special.  

Like all the others in the Vespa range, and in a tradition going back over 40 years, the scooter itself provides the canvas on which to stamp your own identity.  Particularly with the S, where Vespa have created a range of decals to personalise your ride, along with the racks, screens and other chrome work which always make Vespa's stand out from the rest. What's more, in its latest colour, Taormina (named after a town in Sicily on the slopes of Mount Etna), a wonderful tangerine which may not be to everyone's taste, but is the ultimate look-at-me colour.  

Detractors call them expensive, but you do get what you pay for, and the quality of the craftsmanship and components is such that these are built to last.  No other scooter brand on the market commands such a high second hand return, so cost of ownership is actually a lot less than some of the cheaper copies which quickly drop in value.  Remember, you're not just buying a scooter, you are buying a Vespa with ALL the kudos and style-vouchers that you receive totally free of charge.

In summary, if you are going to buy a Vespa S 125, then it won't be for its performance, and it won't be for its price tag.  With the range of carrying options including front as well as back racks, you might buy it for its utilitarianism, though somehow I doubt it.  You'll love its nippy handling, the surety of its suspension, and the sturdiness of its build.  But most of all you'll buy it because it looks so damned good, and because its a style icon.  And you just can't measure that on a scale of 1 to 10, you just know it. But since Allen (thanks Steve!) asked me to give it numbers, I suppose that I better.

RATING /10

• Handling: 9 - steel chassis and leading arm suspension make this a treat to ride
• Performance: 6 - could be better, but handles those 80-90kmh roads with ease
• Quality of Finish: 10 - a couple of areas that the perfectionist might grumble about, but otherwise pretty damned perfect
• Storage Options: 7 - no glove box, and no back rack, but not too bad underseat and plenty options available 
• Dash / Gauges: 7 or 10 depending on your taste!  But for me, its 7.
• Seating: 9 - well made, comfortable, and with the white piping, very distinctive and classy . And check the orange stitching on the Taormina model.  Attention to detail people, attention to detail!
• Maintenance: 9 - robust powerplant, easy to access through removal of seat bucket.  Designed to be easy to work on because not many panels are removable.  
• Function of Parts: 8 - does what it says on the tin.  Rare to have warranty issues.
• Technology , EFI , LC: 5 - engine technology is a little basic now, given the brand status and the superlative quality of its bigger brothers engines
• Value for Money: 8 - expensive to buy, but hold their value, so cost of ownership remarkably good.

But if the S 125 makes your skin tingle, then you won't really care what the score is.  And you know what?  Why should you.  Because you'll absolutely love it!

With the history and evocative styling that the vespa brand has given to the world,its refreshing and exciting to see a new offering on the streets in the shape of the vespa s 125.

S is for sports and they certainly have captured the racing vespa look from the heady seventies. It's quintessentially a Vespa, which is important, the true DNA is there which can be seen from a thousand paces, it oozes European/continental style, a little piece of sunshine on the road.

As is the norm with the vespa scooter, chrome adorns the vehicle, rectangular mirrors, headlamp surround, dash housing and badges stating Vespa ,all adds to the nostalgic flavour. With a vespa when you see chrome trimmings its the real deal too,not too much plastic here folks. Essentially running the same mechanical blueprint as the LX 125, the S series 125 states retro but in a more dramatic way.

At the front the rectangular headlight is a bold move, steering away from the cute vespa circular light with which the vespa is synonymous. There is a chrome fin on the front guard, cutting through the air, the rectangular mirrors are a treat, offering minimal vibration and of course style aplenty. The cockpit is also a blast from the past, analogue instruments surrounded in chrome almost look jukebox inspired, with a flurry of warning lights underneath the speedo to tell you when too top up oil petrol, and full beam, its colourful stuff. A great addition to this dash cluster is a digital clock,commuting bliss! Its not all looks however, the road and city road in particular is really the home for this Italian charmer.

Its light and agile, and moves quietly about its business, it feels very solid too. I noticed that I didn’t have to think too much about this scoot when riding , it inspires confidence, you don’t tend to think about the mechanics when riding this vespa.Its very smooth. On the other hand it attracts admiring attention, be prepared for some nostalgic vespa conversations with strangers if you buy one.

I love the quality of parts,from the engine casing right through to the shopping hook,its function and design,easily put together,evidence of decades of production and passion.The paint finish is second too none , the steel monocoque body offering a shiny lustre not found on other scooters.The S 125 has a roomy seat , very capable for pillion runs and is again styled beautifully with white piping around the edges. The ride position is healthy, upright and alert with great leg room, this is mainly because the running boards for your feet encroach upwards, allowing you to stretch and flex your legs on the fly.

Storage under the seat is very usable, most half and full face helmets would fit in here, its removable too so you can wash out any petrol overspills.The S does lack a lockable glove box, but has an open cavity on the leg shield so at least small items like sunglasses or loose change can be to hand. Just be careful what you might leave in there though as the rain will get into it.(If the glovebox is a must get an LX125! AD)

Red,black and white are the colour options for this model, a palette also available for the flagship GTS Super 300 Vespa.This model is a favourite of mine so it has been on my radar, its basically a fun, sporty slice of retro cool, and by that I am thinking Starsky and Hutch and Shaft, rather than flared jeans and Woodstock! If you are looking for a fuel efficient, solidly built slice of Italian design look no further, remember the re-sale value is excellent if you have to part ways, but along the way you will have a blast, see you on the road!

RATING /10  

• Handling: 9
• Performance: 8
• quality of finish:10  
• Storage options:8 
• Dash and gauges 9 
• Seating:10
• Maintenance: 9 
• Function of parts: 9 
• Technology: 9 
• Value: 8

Total: 89/100

published 16/04/2009