Piaggio Vespa

Introduction

Vespa is Italy’s legendary line of products, manufactured by the conglomerate Piaggio. Piaggio Vespa Notte 125 BS6 is a funky scooter with that familiar retro styling that has been around on the streets for more than five decades. As always, the scooter is significantly on the high-end side and particularly appeals to the affluent market instead of the mass commuters. However, the Notte 125 is marginally affordable but significantly costlier than the rival scooters from other brands. It stays true to its name and appears in a dark edition. It undercuts the Vespa 125 VXL which had been the most affordable of all Vespa models. 

How is the design? 

‘Notte’ means night in Italian and the new Vespa is endowed with an all-black bodywork, which signifies its name. Besides the matte black appearance, it features dark grab rails, wheels and mirrors. It also flaunts the typical rear styling of Vespa and the overall appearance is quite premium, minimal and simple. At the front section, it carries the same round hand lamp along with the customary corner lights. The instrument console facing the rider comprises the standard displays such as the speedometer and odometer with premium switches. The painted storage compartment is easy to operate. Across the storage section, right below the black seat of the scooter, a hook is attached for carrying shopping bags and backpacks. It comes with a rather utilitarian design. The tail-end significantly showcases the standard Vespa design. The storage capacity beneath the seat is moderate but has ample space for fitting a helmet. 

How is the performance?

The Piaggio Vespa Notte 125 has been the most premium scooter of its class in the market. This scooter is propelled by an air-cooled, single-cylinder, 124cc engine that dishes 9.78 bhp of peak power at 7500 rpm and 9.6 Nm of maximum torque at 5500 rpm. The BS6 compliant engine is supported with a fuel injector for making the engine more refined and seamless. The Notte is well-suited for commuting daily and cruising through busy traffic as a result of its comfortable handling and an abundant mileage. The scooter performs the best from to initial pick-up to the mid-range, particularly between 40 kmph and 60 kmph speed range. No vibration can be felt until the scooter picks the high range speeds. Beyond 60 kmph, the scooter struggles for power. The Notte 125 can pick up a maximum speed of 90 kmph.

How does the Piaggio Vespa Notte 125 ride?

As you set off, the Piaggio Vespa Notte 125 offers utmost premium-ness and everything has that high-end feeling starting from the grip of the handlebar to the switches. The revamped engine feels smoother and more refined with good feedback from the throttle. The initial pickup of the scooter reciprocates the similar smoothness. The engine seamlessly runs without hindrance up to 60 kmpl and can be rear easily between 40 kmph and 50 kmph. As mentioned earlier, the engine struggles at the higher speeds, degrading the overall quality of the ride and causing some amount of vibration. It is therefore advisable to ride this scooter between 40 kmph and 50 kmph because you will not get that expected thrill beyond 60 kmph. However, this scooter quickly overtakes traffic with ease and comfort even with low-end acceleration. It can easily filter through busy traffic and the light built makes it easier to squeeze through narrow gaps.  

How comfortable is the Piaggio Vespa Notte 125? 

The Notte 125 has a rather light body weight and even with the smaller wheels this scooter offers comfortable riding experience on rough terrains. But surprisingly, the suspension is the comfort element in the Notte 125. The feedback from the suspension has been excellent and the impact caused by bumps and potholes, that are found in plenty on the rough Indian roads, is reduced to the bare minimum. The seat plays a significant role in contributing to the comfort of the scooter. The seats are wide and plush for offering long-term comfort. There is ample leg space for the rider but the raised area in the centre affects the overall comfort of the scooter.

How's the tech?

The Notte 125 has not undergone any significant shift when it comes to technological specifications. This scooter is propelled by an air-cooled, single-cylinder, 124cc engine that dishes 9.78 bhp of peak power at 7500 rpm and 9.6 Nm of maximum torque at 5500 rpm with fuel injection mechanism. The engine is BS6 compliant. The braking duty is carried by a combined braking system. There is a fuel gauge and indicators for fuel and battery warning. The central instrument console features an analogue odometer and speedometer and other display essentials. There is Bluetooth connectivity for adding to the premium quality of the scooter.

How's the mileage of the Piaggio Vespa Notte 125? 

The BS6 compliant Notte 125 offers an on-road mileage of about 60 kmpl with a fuel capacity of 7.4 litres. The claimed mileage is expected when you are riding on highways but you can very well expect a mileage of about 50 kmpl in city traffic considering the reputed fuel economy of Vespa that it has achieved with the BS6 upgrade. 

Is the Piaggio Vespa Notte 125 good value for money? 

The Piaggio Vespa Notte 125 cannot be judged from the value perspective. This is because Vespa has its own loyal fan base who are not likely to compare the scooters with that of the other brands. The simple yet premium design, the sleek finish of the body sporting the all-black finish appeal to the high-end customers. The braking performance can be improved but otherwise this scooter is unmatched in terms of performance and fuel economy. This scooter is also cheaper than its siblings.

How is the after sales service? 

You must get your Vespa serviced every 90 days. The expected cost of servicing is around 800 and should be done from the authorised service centres of Vespa in India. The maintenance cost of Vespa scooters is average to high depending on how you ride it and keep it.

Which scooters compete in this segment? 

Some of the top-notch competitors of the Vespa Notte 125 are Suzuki Burgman Street, Honda Activa 125, TVS NTorq and Aprilia SR 125.

Verdict (Value for money)

As mentioned earlier, Vespa is all about class and premium-ness and cannot be perceived from a standpoint of value. Vespa is its own competitor. The Notte 125 comes in a stunning look and is marginally cheaper than the other offerings of Vespa. So, owning a Vespa at this price is something the fans love about.