I purchased my 2006 Yamaha Vino 125 about six weeks ago. Since then I have put close to 1,000 miles on the odometer. The bike is a lot of fun to ride and excellent for commuting and urban riding. On the other hand, the bike is probably on the small side for someone who is looking to take trips of a decent distance. Let me explain.
Engine Performance
The Vino 125 has a 124cc four-stroke engine. I find the engine to be quite peppy off the line and I have no problems getting up to 35-40mph in just a few seconds. The top speed maxes out somewhere around 55mph or a little higher. Personally, I would not try and push the bike beyond 55mph. I find that things get a bit shaky after 50mph, probably due to the light weight of the bike and the small tires.
The engine runs very quietly compared to your typical motorcycle. When I am out with friends on louder bikes I often can not even hear if my bike is running. The Vino is carburated but has an automatic choke.
Gas Mileage and Range
Over the course of my first 1,000 miles I have averaged around 90mpg. Interestingly, I vary greatly from tank to tank. I have had some tanks where I only get 80 mpg, and other tanks where I get a bit over 100mpg. I have never dipped below 80mpg. I find the variation comes with my riding style. When I am just using my bike for commuting I get much lower mileage, as I am in traffic. On a few road trips where I’m consistently traveling 45mph+ I’ve gotten over 100mpg. Other people have reported their mileage changing after their 600 mile tune-up, but I did not see this in my bike.
The tank on the Vino 125 is just a little over a gallon, so the range on a tank of gas is not that great. Fortunately this bike has a gas gauge, unlike many motorcycles, so you don’t need to guess when it is time to fill up.
Handling and Braking
I think the Vino 125 handles as well as could be expected for such a small bike. The tires are only 10 inches tall and fairly narrow. At higher speeds I find the bike to be a little shaky. It can also be a problem if you live in an area with lots of potholes and uneven pavement. Often times when I ride around the city I feel like I am on an amusement park ride because I am getting bounced out of my seat so much. Good thing I don’t get motion sickness!
Turning and cornering is not much of a problem on the Vino 125. The bike is so light it requires very little movement to take corners. I find just slightly moving my hips one way or the other is enough to take turns in the road.
I think the brakes on the Vino 125 are so-so. Unlike some of the 50cc bikes the Vino 125 does have independent front and rear brakes, attached to the right and left handle bars respectively. I find the rear brake to be very squishy and not all that helpful. The front brake has most of the power. I find coming to a stop from 40-50mph to be a bit on the frightening side because I do not feel like I can stop quick at these speeds. I can only come to a stop and swerve out of the way if there is an emergency. Interestingly, others who have come from the smaller bikes rave about the Vino’s braking capabilities. I can’t imagine what the brakes are like on those other bikes!
Reliability
I only have 1,000 miles on the bike so I can not speak too extensively on the reliability. I have ridden the bike in both hot (90+ degrees with 100% humidity) and cool (45 degree) weather. I have not had a problem with the bike running in either temperature. I do sometimes find the bike a bit reluctant to start on the warmer days, but with a little bit of gas it has always started up after a second try. I understand this is fairly normal among motorcycles and scooters.
I also like that the Vino can be kick started in the event that the battery dies. I have not been able to successfully use the kick starter myself, but I feel this may be user error as I’ve never kick started anything before.
Yamaha offers a 1 year warrantee on the bike and I am comfortable purchasing a bike from them as they have a good reputation in the market.
Comfort
I find the Vino 125 to be fairly comfortable. The longest trip I have taken was 100 miles. I had no problems with the seat and was not sore at all. I think it has a fair amount of padding. Often times I bounce out of my seat when going over potholes, and I always have a soft landing.
The seating position on a scooter is a bit awkward compared to a motorcycle. You are forced to sit upright like you are sitting at the kitchen table. There is nothing to lean back against or to rest on in front of you. On longer trips I find my back gets a little sore because I slouch.
Appearance and Storage
The scooter has a more classic look than some of the larger scooters on the market. The Vino 125 has a similar style to a Vespa and may be mistaken for one to someone who is not in the know. Unlike a Vespa; however, all of the body work on the Vino is plastic.
One great advantage to owning a scooter is that almost all of them come with a built-in storage area under the seat. The Vino 125 is no exception. Yamaha touts the storage space as being large enough to fit a full face helmet, but what they don’t say is that very few helmets actually fit. The storage space is great to toss a change of clothes or one bag of groceries, but it is not as large as many of the competitors. The bike also comes with a very small cargo rack on the back of the scooter. You could bungee a small crate to this rack, but you can not affix anything permanently here because it will block the gas tank opening.
There is also a luggage hook beneath the seat where you can supposedly hook a bag. I have not tried to hang anything from the hook but it seems like a very dangerous idea as it would get in the way of your feet and it would not be very secure.
Cost Analysis
Riding a scooter will save you a ton of money on gasoline and may make you feel like you’re doing your part to help the environment. However, if you’re looking to have a scooter in addition to your car the gas savings really may not be a great argument. In addition to the price of the scooter, you need to remember that you have to insure it and perform maintenance on it. The maintenance for the Vino 125 happens at the first 600 miles and then every 2000 miles. The service is also quite a bit more expensive than a car.
Conclusion
The Yamaha Vino 125 is a great scooter and excels in urban environments. It does have a small engine, which tops out at 55mph and struggles on moderate hills. Ultimately, before buying any model of scooter you need to decide what you’re looking to get out of a bike. If you’re traveling on short trips and on local roads you will love this bike. If you are looking for something you can take on road trips, take on fast moving roads, or travel long distances you will want to look for something larger.
