Category: Motorcycling

Short version: No power. Disappointed.
Long version:

This past Saturday, I packed the family in the van and drove to Orlando to look at a 2007 Yamaha Vino 125 scooter with 1800 miles on it. I was excited. I’ve been interested in scooters since I was young and rode one for about twenty seconds down an alley.

I occasionally check Craigslist for scooters but hadn’t picked a model to focus on until recently, when I discovered the gorgeous Honda Metropolitan (49cc). I wanted a gray one. Bad. But I realized its top speed of about 35mph was going to annoy me. Honda’s next step up in cc’s doesn’t have that classic Euro-styling so I wasn’t interested. The next best thing in a larger size is the Yamaha Vino 125.

Back to my test ride.

I took this thing out on the suburban roads in the seller’s nice neighborhood. Good roads for this; curvy, some topography and few cars. I got it up to about 35 — it tops out around 55 — and opened up the throttle. And — nothing. The little thing continued on its original acceleration curve and I noticed nothing different. I was going to have to get it out on some straightaways to get it up to 55mph. And I didn’t have a helmet nor eye protection. But it was just disappointing. If I as going 35 and needed to get out of someone’s way, it was going to be by steering, not by any jolt of power.

Disappointed, I returned it to its owner and got back in the family van. No Vinos for me. I’m still interested in small, two-wheeled transportation but a scooter such as this isn’t going to replace my Honda F4i for now as a fun commuter ride.