Yamaha Fascino 125: Pros, Cons, Should You Buy One?

All the ups and downs of Yamaha’s first crack at the 125cc scooter segment

Yamaha has finally taken the plunge and entered the 125cc scooter segment with the RayZR 125 and Fascino 125. The latter is the more stylish and popular of the two, and we’ve had a chance to swing a leg over it, so here are the ups and downs of the Fascino 125:

Pros

Frugal Motor

It might be a little low on power and torque compared to its competition, but the upside of that is excellent fuel economy. The Fascino returned a very impressive 65.92kmpl in the city, and even on the highway, it wasn’t too shabby, at 57.30kmpl. This makes it the most fuel-efficient 125cc scooter we’ve ever tested!

Light and Nimble

At just 99kg (kerb), the Fascino is one of the lightest scooters around, and this makes it agile and manoeuverable in tight city spots. But thanks to a long wheelbase, it’s also stable and doesn’t feel nervous. A 12-inch front wheel and soft suspension setup mean that ride quality is quite comfortable too.

Good Brakes

The optional 190mm front disc brake offers great bite and progression, working well at stopping the scooter in both wet and dry conditions. The CBS is also well calibrated and the Maxxis tyres offer decent grip, allowing you to quickly and safely stop in an emergency.

Cons

Basic Instrumentation

The instrument cluster is the rider’s interface with the scooter and in the case of the Fascino, it’s quite unimpressive. All you get is a speedometer and a fuel gauge, and they’re both analogue units, giving the cluster a very dated look overall.

Lack of Features

It’s quite disappointing that a brand new scooter like the Fascino misses out on equipment like LED lighting, an external fuel filler lid, and a boot light even in 2020. Even the USB charger is an optional extra. We wish Yamaha had thrown in some more goodies.

Weak Headlight

We usually prefer well-executed halogen headlights to the LEDs you see on scooters these days, but the Fascino fails to impress even with its halogen unit. There is a distinct lack of brightness and intensity, resulting in very poor illumination of the road ahead.

Verdict

The Fascino does a lot of things quite well and if fuel efficiency is your top priority then this should be the scooter you go for. But with a very similar price tag, the Suzuki Access 125 is quicker and more feature-rich, making it difficult to recommend the Fascino over it.