Scooter Review Piaggio Fly 125 Review What can I say that hasn't been said before? Now with a list price of $2990 whilst stocks last. Save $700
Allen Drysdale You need javascript enabled and the Flash Player 9 to play this video  The perfect budget all-rounder? I'm trying to find a fresh angle on the Fly 125 that hasn't been covered before. I pulled out all my old copies of scooter magazine flicking through a collaboration of reviews with words like practical, stylish, reliable and vespa-ish all being used to describe the budget 125 from Piaggio.
You see, the Fly 125 has been on the market in Australia for a period of time now, and during this period it has consistently performed as one of Piaggio's top sellers.
On a bright sunny day and just perfect for riding a scooter, Craig from My Scooter in Drummoyne (Sydney) rang and asked me to take the Fly 125 for a ride, I just couldn't refuse the offer. I picked up the shiny gloss black Fly and headed straight for the surrounding bay areas, beautiful.
Having only 100km's on the clock I knew the Fly would only get better with time and given the smooth flow of acceleration this motor possessed already it's a testament to the tried and trusted Leader engine that's been used in generations of Piaggio and Vespa scooters. There was plenty of power on tap for the hills that surround Drummoyne and they had little effect on the Fly as it climbed and cruised. Top speed is a comfortable 90 - 95 km/h and at this speed the Fly shows a relaxed attitude, no fuss here just relax. The engine is the stand out strength of this scooter and you have the feeling it will be running longer then you will be.
The seating position is comfortable with an easy reach to the bars. The seat itself allows you to sink into it, meaning you sit in the scooter and not over it giving you a relaxed plush feeling. The dashboard is comprehensive giving you what you need in a clear precise way. You will find a speedo, fuel and warning lights all easy to read and most important is the ability to tell the time from the digital clock.
Storage is ample and it's full face helmet material under the seat and whilst you don't have a rear rack you do have a fair bit of room as it is. Add the flat floor into the equation with bag hook and you will have most situations covered. The rear grab handle by the way is as sturdy as they come and placing the scooter on the centre stand is an easy process.
The brakes are solid with a disc up front and the drum on the rear that will steady the scooter easily. Both brakes provide good feel.
So you can see by covering the basics at this stage no surprises have been encountered. But how does the Fly handle the everyday conditions, the daily bump and grind?
Well I am pleased to tell you that this is what it's made for. An adjustable rear shock can be dialled in to suit your weight and the suspension works in unison with the rest of the scooter, giving you a supple ride in all conditions.The ride quality suits the characteristics of the Fly matching what you're going to be using the scooter for, the daily commute.
So there you have it, robust, reliable, practical and dare I say very Vespa-ish. Hang On ! Wasn't I supposed to bring a new angle to this? Well I cant because the Fly is everything it should be, just a great scooter to do everything on. The ultimate budget all-rounder.
If it's something new then maybe it's how Piaggio recently enhanced the look and appeal of the Fly by adding new vibrant colours, chrome raised pin striping and clear indicator lenses. These changes have really lifted how the Fly presents itself. Typically Euro - Chic you might say.
Hang on, Hang On, there is something new, as while stocks last, the Piaggio Fly 125 has a list price of just $2990 (Save $700), and that in itself is certainly something to talk about. A tried and trusted package, as reliable and practical as they come. There I go again!
RATING /10
Handling: 8
Performance: 9
Quality of Finish: 9
Storage Options: 8
Dash / Gauges: 9
Seating: 9
Maintenance: 9
Function of Parts: 9
Technology , EFI , LC: 7
Value for Money: 10
Total: 87/100
2nd Opinions from the Scootersales.com.au Network
Murray Walters - Scooter Central Brookvale Sydney
When the Fly 125 was about to be released, I was lucky enough to be talking to one of Piaggios senior executives about the reason that Piaggio were releasing the model. I was expecting an answer that included a need to fill out Piaggios range, or maybe to tap into the 125cc market which is huge in Europe. Instead I got one of the most honest answers I have heard from a brand manager.
He said, "The Fly 125 is designed to get entry level riders onto a Piaggio scooter. It is designed so that they will have a wonderful time, and most importantly, it is designed so that they will have no doubt that there next scooter will be from the Piaggio scooter family which includes our iconic brand of Vespa. Therefore we don't sell just one scooter to one customer, we sell several scooters to that customer and also some of their friends that they talk to about their experience. From this, we decided to build a quality, budget priced, contemporary scooter. We built the Fly 125, and we are very happy with the result."
And it seems to have worked out just like he said. The Fly 125 really is an inexpensive scooter with the pedigree that says Piaggio. Features like its engine, which shares much the same design as the Vespa LX125, which makes the Fly such a reliable scooter.
The design of the scooter allows tall riders plenty of cockpit space, and the option of a lowered seat, allows smaller riders 125cc power with 50cc ride height. I really like the 12 inch wheels that make the scooter stable yet nippy through city traffic. Underseat storage handles my open face helmet, and the lockable glovebox and shopping bag hook handle the extras.
The dash is stylish, mirrors are wide set, (and taken from the ET4 Vespa look), and the attention to detail is excellent.
That only leaves the price, and this is where Piaggio have really nailed. Now we have Italian branding at an entry level price. This is a wonderful scoot, and at under 3 grand definitely worth your consideration.
published 22/07/2009 |