125cc Scooter Recommendations Needed

[darrenkarp]

Hi all,

I'm currently riding a Piaggio Zip 50 which once I've replaced the exhaust, I'll be selling. I'm looking to upgrade to a 125cc but don't want anything like a boy racer or something too large. Can anyone recommend something. I quite like the look of the Yamaha Cygnus X.
TIA
Darren

[palmer]

aprilia sr

never heard a bad thing said anout them.

[st3v3]

i agree with palmer.

although the honda NSR or aprillia RS or also popular.
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Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[jaguar65uk]

If the Cygnus x uses the same motor as my Teos which I would guess it does as all Yamaha 125s (Majesty, Teos, Maxster) except the Xmax 125 use that motor (125cc, 2 valve, 4 stroke, LC), I would recommend against it.
I went from a 50cc Aprilia Sr Ditech (2 stroke, fuel injected, 50cc) to my Teos and it was a bit of a downgrade to be honest. The suspension my bike is crap, making corners a lot more scarey than they need to be, and giving you a sore back (I'm 19, sore backs tend not to be an issue at my age). That said, I believe mine is the only Yamaha with a single shock at the rear, so having two might improve matters, but the weight distribution (as with most scoots) is heavily to the rear and the front (mine could well need a rebuild to be fair) is really hard (not what I want on a scoot).

For me, the worst thing is that the underseat storage space would fit a full face helmet, but due to the positioning of the carb, there is a large protrusion into the space, that reduces carrying capacity and means you have to carry your lid with you. Having removed the bucket, its pretty frustrating to see so much empty space where they could have positioned it in order to maximise on space.

I use my scoot in Sheffield where there are plenty of hills, and by myself, with no luggage, the bike will do an indicated 32mph (I weigh 98kg) uphill. With a pillion of any size that drops to about 25mph, and with a friend of mine on the back (he's a good bit heavier than me) the speed drops to about 20mph. Those speeds aren't too bad consider our combined weight I guess.

Takeoffs are not quick, unless you are pointing downhill, but the bike is great for filtering, and the engine is near silent unless you rev the bollocks off it which suits a scooter of this type. Top speed (don't know how the aerodynamics would differ) I get an indicated 65mph which is ok for short A roads and maybe a junction or two on a motorway if you were brave.

Brakes aren't very powerful, but are powerful enough for this application. Fuel economy is pretty good, I get upwards of 90mpg. Insurance isn't too bad - (£235 TPO, £328 TPF&T, 19yo Male, risk area E, 2 years NCB with Carole Nash)

I'm planning on upgrading to a bike now having only owned the Teos for 4 months, but I'd recommend you consider these:

4strokes
-Honda Dylan (maybe a bit bland for your tastes)
-Gilera Runner VX125
-Vespa GT125

The Dylan will be expensive, but seem to hold their value well, there are loads of runners around so you can get one more cheaply (particularly as there's a new shape for 2006), the GT uses the same engine as the runner and will hold its value very well. However, it uses a steel body (rather than plastic) which is a bitch to repair (to quote what bike magazine) "when, not if" it gets dinged.
There is quite a selection of bigger scoots (Piaggio X8, X9, Honda Pantheon, Yamaha Xmax) using the Honda and Piaggio 125 engines that those 3 four strokes use. Its a 4 valve motor which (correct me if I'm wrong anyone) suffers at lower revs but returns better fuel economy for the developed power at higher revs. What this translates to (as the scoot will sit at its peak RPM unless you are idling) is (so say the gurus of twistngo forum) about an extra 10mph on top of the yamaha motor.One more thing the runner and the dylan have plenty of underseat storage, the GT doesn't.

2strokes
-Aprilia SR125
-Gilera Runner SP125
These will be quicker to accelerate, a bit more powerful (at the expense of fuel economy), smokier and noisier,
Aprilia SR is a good scoot as aforementioned but has sporty styling and might not appeal. The SP runner is discontinued, but styling is identical to that of the old shape VX125 runner. The SR uses an air cooled engine with a drum brake at the rear while the SP is liquid cooled and has a disc at the rear, but that said, the SP styling is a bit more subtle than the SR in my opinion.


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Past: Aprilia SR 50, Aprilia RS 125
Current: Aprilia RS 125, Yamaha Teos 125

[palmer]

We had a Honda Dylan for a little while. and for what it was it was a fun bike.

would lean as far as you dared, and accelerated to 50/60 quite quickly, topped out about 75.

laods of luggage space, waaay too comfy seat. wind protection was pretty good considereing there is a 2 inch 'lip' on the front panel


if you dont mind looking like an old woman, dylans are damn good machines

[jaguar65uk]

Aha, you didn't disclose whether you were looking for a bike or a scoot, I deduced from your post you were most probs after a scoot, but broadening your search to include 125 bikes as well gives a lot more choice.
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Past: Aprilia SR 50, Aprilia RS 125
Current: Aprilia RS 125, Yamaha Teos 125

[palmer]

ive taken a liking to these lately.

https://www.marocain.biz/_ima/annonces/photo217350.jpg

more ptractical than a 125 race-rep, and more fun (looks better too) than a scoot.

[G]

[jaguar65uk]

Quite expensive though, all Hondas I've looked at seem to retain their value well
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Past: Aprilia SR 50, Aprilia RS 125
Current: Aprilia RS 125, Yamaha Teos 125

[jaguar65uk]

Another thing, no 4 stroke 125 will be more powerful than 14bhp AFAIK
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Past: Aprilia SR 50, Aprilia RS 125
Current: Aprilia RS 125, Yamaha Teos 125

[palmer]

theres a few that go to about 18 i think.

doesnt the cb125 have more than 14?

[jaguar65uk]

CBR125 is 13bhp, I think the Varadero is 14.

As these bikes are learner leagal, and can't be derestricted like 2 strokes, you're stuck with 14bhp max.
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Past: Aprilia SR 50, Aprilia RS 125
Current: Aprilia RS 125, Yamaha Teos 125

[Finglonga]

[Biker101]

i've been riding my varadero for exactly 2 weeks now, it is really comfy and is pretty quick to accelerate, tops out at about 80 (so i'm told).

It leans well too and is practical but still looks good. Today on my way home from school someone in the lower years who had just gone 16 who i know but am not friends with was on his de restricted scoot, he came right up to the back of me, about to overtake and i just took off, great when you can do that.

Huge bike for its capacity though so you gotta be prepared to wait to go from about 65 to 80, plus gears must be used to the max to gain any sort of acceleration, after about 3 days of riding i was used to when i needed to change.

They can be found pretty cheap, i got my 01 plate for £1000 which aint bad. Still more than posibly any other 125 that age.

EDIT: it has 15bhp and is much more fun than a scooter, i used to be really bored when i was on my scooter because there was no skill involved.

EDIT 2: it is worth learning to ride a bike, i have started car lessons this week and i already know that i want to stay with bikes, i need to pass my car still for jobs in the future but i am definitly taking my bike test in the summer and upgrading.
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Past: 06 Runner SP50 >>> 01 Varadero XL125 >>> 08 Kwak ER-6f >>> 05 CBR600rr
Present: 99 FZS600 Fazer