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Are you tired of filling your car with fuel every
week and emptying your wallet just to drive to work? If your answer is yes,
then you could consider cutting your running costs by riding a fuel-efficient
scooter.
The Australian scooter market is huge, with 18 brands supplying potential
buyers with more than 113 new models, ranging in engine size from 50 to
650cc.
Last year, Yamaha expanded its Australian scooter range by introducing the
NXC125 Cygnus.
For a four-stroke single cylinder 125cc scooter, it accelerates quite quickly
from a standstill and has power left to overtake traffic in 60 and 80 km/h
zones.
This acceleration, coupled with responsive and nimble handling, make it
a great scooter for city riding and urban commuting in speed zones up to
100 km/h.
The 7.1-litre fuel tank is situated under the floor and will take you about
220km without having to refill. A front disc and rear drum brake perform
well if used together for heavy or emergency stopping and the rear brake
alone is more than adequate when riding in stop start traffic.
Dual rear and front shock absorbers coupled with 12-inch wheels with
wide tyres, support the rider and passenger well.
This combination works well to absorb pothole shock, keeping the scooter
on course and gives very few kidney jarring experiences.
Analogue instruments are clear and easy to read. They feature a fuel gauge,
speedometer, odometer and handy oil change indicator.
The only missing item is a clock.
Fit, finish and build quality are quite surprising for a scooter in this
price bracket.
This particular example was built in Spain, with panels fitting together
well and features impressive metallic paint.
Large under-seat storage will fit most full-face helmets with room to
spare, enabling the stowage of a rolled-up raincoat and hat.
One clever feature of the scooter’s design is the location of the
fuel filler hole behind a door, just in front of the rider’s left
knee. This makes for easy mess-free filling of the tank. In a large number
of scooters on the market, the location of the fuel tank nozzle is under
the seat.
This can often be frustrating for riders trying to avoid fuel spillage
in the under seat luggage compartment and can result in a lingering fuel
smell and damage.
The seat is well padded, comfortable and steps up toward the rear giving
the pillion passenger an elevated view.
Riders over 179 cm in height might find the seating position a little
cramped, but it is easy to adjust your riding style to be comfortable.
The only extras you could wish for is a digital clock and the purchase
of a top box to allow for storage of that second helmet or back pack.
The Cygnus 125 is a very easy to live with scooter, with plenty of power
to zip around town or to commute between suburbs in varying speed zones
– providing the rider nimble manoeuvrability and running costs that
put the expense of the car you drive to work to shame.
TYRE KICKING
Yamaha NXC125 - CYGNUS 125
Price: $3990 plus on road costs
Dry Weight: 114kg
Power: 8kW from 124CC, air cooled, 4-stroke, single cylinder engine.
Starting System: Electric and kick
Handling: Nimble and predictable
Who it would suit: City and intercity commuters wanting cheap transport
My rating: 4/5 stars
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