Scooter News Benelli Velvet 125 Benelli enter the 125 segment with a feature rich offering. Say "HI" to the Velvet 125.
Allen Drysdale 
Overview
The scooter market has evolved progressively over the past few years and its changing all the time. Once the scooter market was heavily reliant on 50 cc machines meaning that most sales originated out of those states where you could ride a 50 cc scooter on a car licence. Now times have changed and so too has the mix of scooters sold. Enter the budget 125 cc market. Priced anywhere around the $3000 mark buying a scooter in this segment is often good buying and offers significant value for money.
Euro branded budget scooters are making a massive contribution to the Australian Scooter scene with brands like Piaggio, Aprilia and Derbi all having models that contribute to this segment. And now so does Benelli.
Benelli has a rich history across Europe with its roots well and truly cemented in Grand Prix folklore. Ask any distinguished Italian gentlemen if he knows Benelli and some if not all will have some connection with the brand from the past. (got a spare couple of hours!). Benelli is a name steeped in history.
But that is the past and recently Benelli like most major Italian brands has turned its attention towards China to keep the costs down. QJ is the Chinese partner of Benelli and manufactures the entire range of Benelli scooters. So finally its now time to introduce the Benelli Velvet 125.
Features
The Benelli Velvet 125 is not a new shape and those that know the Velvet of the past will immediately relate to the Velvet of today. Larger then most the Velvet is a full size scooter. Maybe too large for some as with the seat height at 818 mm, it wont suit all. Need a bit more room to stretch ones legs then the Benelli's your man.
The Velvet 125 has a comprehensive list of standard features, it really is what you see is what you get.
Firstly we have a disc brake on the front working in unison with a disc on the rear, both being 220 mm in size. Dual adjustable shocks on the rear help with any pillion work that may be encountered or you can tailor them to suit your individual weight. Centre and side stands are standard.
Up front the dash is basic yet comprehensive enough to live with on a day to day basis. Consisting of a large speedo splitting both fuel and battery gauges. A digital clock sits below and finishes the visual package neatly.
Accessing the storage is via the ignition lock and under the seat you will find a significant amount of room, thanks largely to the tall seat height and 12 inch rear wheel. A top box is standard and operates off a separate key. And whilst on the subject of standard equipment, the Velvet also throws in a front screen.
The Velvet runs a common GY6 engine that should stand the test of time. Power from the unit is pretty standard affair, not ground breaking but on par with expectations, 8 KW @ 7750 rpm is the official figure. A 9.5 litre fuel tank is better then most in this category and again another benefit of having size on its side. Something you don't see allot of anymore is the addition of a kick starter just in-case the battery has an off day.
On the road
The Velvet 125 benefits from a design that's tried and trusted. Its one that worked in the past so why shouldn't it work now?. The wheel combination of 13 inch on the front and 12 inch on the rear works well. And if you were asked to pick a stand-out feature on the Velvet, its that it handles. The dual rear shocks helps put all this together, so put a big tick down to the wheel, chassis and suspension combination.
You sit on top of the Velvet 125 and not in it. I doubt this makes sense but in doing so the Velvet 125 feels nimble and you also get the added bonus of clearly being able to see what's coming up in front of you. The screen isn't there just for show either and it works well in keeping you the rider from being the breeze stopper. Looking down over the dash its easy to see all the vital info, speed and fuel are just a glance away.
The Velvet 125 will accelerate at a fair rate when the throttle is given a handful and you should see a shade under 100 km/h easily. You will hear yourself doing it though as the Velvet loves to let out a growl when you ask it to work hard.
The front and rear disc brakes work well and its a nice touch whenever a scooter in this segment has both front and rear discs. The topbox acts as a backrest for the pillion and some nice solid pillion grab handles are built into the moulded top box rack.
Conclusion
The Velvet takes its place in the 125 cc category feature rich, on paper it looks like a package that screams value. On the road it all comes together and combines to work well. The Benelli Velvet 125 will easily answer the call of the short daily commute.
What the Benelli Velvet 125 brings to the table is a stack of features for a minimal outlay. Performance is sufficient for around town, the chassis is nimble and storage is plentiful, the Velvet is an all round budget breaker. At the time of writing the importer was also offering up to $400 cash back.
If 2010 meant cracking down and saving a few bucks then a scooter like the Benelli Velvet might just have you filling the piggy bank quicker then you think.
published 19/01/2010 |