Yamaha Fascino 125

Pros: Has a refined and a peppy engine, Handles very well

Cons: Very stiff suspension, Lacks external filler cap and underseat storage light

We have witnessed the arrival of several new products in the 125cc space of the Indian market, and Yamaha Motor India has been among the participants in this segment for quite some time. While the Indian arm of the Japanese two-wheeler maker was already present in the segment, its scooters, the Fascino 125 and the Ray ZR 125 didn’t pack as many features as their rivals.

Now, things have changed and the new Fascino 125 and the Ray ZR 125, along with the Hybrid badge, benefit from newer features. We tested both scooters for a comprehensive road test review, and my colleague, Neil Nair wrote a detailed review about the Ray ZR 125 Hybrid. Here, I tell you everything about the updated Fascino 125 Hybrid.

Japanese products are known for their build quality and the Yamaha Fascino 125 Hybrid is no different. From the paint quality to the installation of panels, everything is picture perfect and we did not face any issues with this retro-style Yamaha scooter. Although the design is similar to the non-hybrid Fascino 125, Yamaha Motor India has added new paint options (nine vs seven) along with more graphics to the Fascino 125 Hybrid, enhancing the visuals even further.

The media unit of the Fascino 125 Hybrid that we tested for this review used the Cool Blue Metallic glossy paint that came with chrome highlights around the headlight, on the apron, and on the side panels. However, select colour options use blacked-out embellishments instead of chrome on the parts mentioned above and they should appeal to young buyers.

The Yamaha Fascino 125 Hybrid is a spacious scooter with ample room on the saddle and the footboard for a comfortable ride. The same, however, cannot be said about the suspension setup on this 125cc scooter. The sporty tuning to the suspension helps the handling department but compromises the comfort levels. The suspension feels too stiff for a scooter in its segment, and you would notice almost every undulation on the surface of the road. The seat padding does provide some solace, but the overall comfort levels aren’t something that typical buyers in this segment would appreciate.

On the upside, the Fascino 125 feels sturdy while going at highway speeds, or when dipped into a corner. The handling feels sharp, which is confidence-inspiring for a spirited ride. The slow-speed manners, too, are commendable and the scooter carries its 99kg weight very well. The turning radius is sufficiently short, and the Fascino 125 Hybrid manages to filter through traffic with very minimal effort.

Luggage solutions include a 21-litre under-seat space and a hook near the footboard. The under-seat storage is sufficiently large to hold a backpack or an open-face helmet. However, the scooter misses an under-seat storage light which makes it difficult to find things in dark parking spots. The internal fuel filler cap does not help the scooter’s case either and you would have to unlock the seat every time you visit a petrol station. Compared to the setup on the new TVS Jupiter 125, the under-seat cap on the Yamaha Fascino 125 Hybrid feels very outdated.

The Hybrid variant of the Fascino 125 makes the same power output as the standard model. The torque figures have improved marginally too, but it isn’t a drastically higher number than the regular version. The 125cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine on the Fascino 125 Hybrid makes 8.04bhp at 6,500rpm and 10.3Nm at 5,000rpm as against 8.04bhp at 6,500rpm and 9.7Nm at 5,000rpm on the standard version of the scooter.

The motor feels peppy, and the Fascino 125 Hybrid accelerates fast from a standstill. The Fascino also feels slightly quicker than the non-hybrid model as the Smart Motor Generator comes to aid its acceleration. The acceleration, too, feels nice and peppy from the start and continues to build momentum at a commendable pace until 85kmph. Post that, the engine starts to run out of steam, and you’d find the speedometer stuck around the 95kmph mark. The vibrations are well managed and apart from a very minor buzz from the footboard at higher speeds, there wasn’t anything that would ruin the ride experience.

The braking setup, which comprised a disc at the front and a drum unit at the back on the test vehicle, felt sufficiently powerful for the job. While the setup lacks the initial bite, the overall feedback was progressive; something that an average buyer in the segment should find adequate.

While the styling remains similar to the non-hybrid Fascino 125, the Hybrid tag brings additional features to the 125cc scooter. The list now includes an LED headlight, a Bluetooth-enabled instrument cluster, automatic start-stop system, side-stand engine cut-off function, and a Smart Motor Generator. The media vehicle did not have the Bluetooth hardware installed and thus we cannot comment on its performance. The connectivity setup, for reference, brings features such as answer-back and locate my vehicle (to locate the vehicle in parking), riding history, parking record (GPS location), and hazard light function. It does, however, miss turn-by-turn navigation and incoming call/message notification functions.

The Smart Motor Generator on the Hybrid version is tasked with two responsibilities. First, the generator delivers a silent start system. Push the starter button, and the engine comes to life with minimal sound. Secondly, the system aims to deliver improved acceleration. The company claims a 30 per cent improvement over the 113cc model, however, the difference isn’t remarkably better than the non-hybrid Fascino 125.

The Fascino 125 Hybrid managed to deliver a fuel economy of 49kmpl in our test run. With its 5.2-litre tank, this scooter should return a range of just above 250km between fuel stops.

Standalone, the Yamaha Fascino 125 Hybrid is a fantastic scooter. It looks stylish, packs a good number of features over the non-hybrid model, and feels fun to ride as long as there’s well-laid tarmac. The Smart Motor Generator gives it an edge, while the Bluetooth connectivity and the LED headlight add to the value-for-money proposition and young buyers would appreciate the updated scooter. However, missing features like an external fuel filler cap, an under-seat storage light, turn-by-turn navigation, and incoming call/message alert notifications cut crucial points from the practical aspect. Moreover, the stiff suspension may affect the decision of an average buyer in the segment against the Fascino 125 Hybrid.

Photography by Kapil Angane