Yamaha Mio i 125 buyer guide - Spec, price, and more

An automatic scooter in the Philippines makes a lot of sense. These convenient and affordable rides are dime a dozen on the streets of Manila for good reason. They let you beat the traffic as well as rising fuel costs. And when it comes to automatic scooters, Yamaha Mio i 125 is second only to its smaller brothers, the Yamaha Mio and Mio Sporty itself.

The Mio i 125 was launched in late 2015 with the intention of cornering the market and Yamaha has succeeded on that front immensely. With this scooter, one gets the ease of the automatic scooter at an affordable price, that comes with a bit more power and striking looks than its smaller counterparts.

The Yamaha Mio lineup has been in the market for over a decade now. Its extensive array of cheap, fuel efficient, and easy to ride scooters has allowed it to capture a wide market. There is something for everyone. The Mio i 125 has been aimed at the youth. This means that it gets slightly more aggressive styling. Approach the bike from the front and you cannot miss the big M surrounding the headlight. Approach it from the back and you are faced with another M shape created by the grab rails. Take a view from the side; you will immediately tell the difference between this and its smaller brothers. Its lines are sharper and more aggressive. The graphics look like tribal tattoos. There are slashes and vents. Even the meter panel looks contemporary and the exhaust adds muscle.

Six different color options mean there is something for everyone. It is not difficult to see why this scooter appeals to the youth so much.
Practicality is also given a high priority. Its dimensions will fit riders of every shape and size with comfort. Handlebar position with respect to the seat, keeping the ride comfortable. It comes with 10 litres under seat storage which is long and deep. While it may be difficult to keep a full face helmet in, it is still pretty huge. The slim dimensions and sub 100 kg weight make the scooter easy to manoeuvre in town. The ground clearance is enough to go over potholes without worry.

It also comes with an integrated keyhole shutter and answer back system to locate the scooter in crowded car parks. These features make this scooter a very good commuter.

But a good commuter above all needs to score high on fuel economy. The engine in the Mio125 is a fuel injected 125 cc, SOHC, single cylinder with 2 valves per cylinder. While there is no liquid cooling, it uses forced air to keep itself cool. Peak power of 7.0 kw comes at 8,000 rpm and peak torque of 9.6 Nm is delivered at 5,500 rpm. There is enough torque to accelerate the bike at traffic stop launches and to overtake in city traffic. The fuel economy however is much more promising. Yamaha has used their acclaimed Blue Core technology to laud their scooter with a lot of engine tech in order to keep its mileage high. So, while the scooter can easily reach 90 kmph, it still manages 45 kmpl on fuel average. The bike also comes with a fuel saving stop start system that shuts down the engine after it spend some time idling. The engine shutting smart stand is also standard.

While a new one with the Stop Start system can be bought for Php 74,900 or Php 70,900 for the one without it. Also, the used market is a good option. The scooter has not spent a long time in the market so finding good examples should not be difficult. However, this bike is normally owned by youngsters and therefore does see rough use.

Safe to say, look for rattles and ill-fitting body panels along with uneven paint finish for replaced body parts. Ask for the service records and verify the mileage claimed by the seller. Needless to say, take the scooter for a test ride. Look for things like engine noise, vibrations, noises from the brakes, and the braking distance itself. Take a mechanic or at least another Mio owner with you to give the bike a once over. Finally ensure that the owner provides you with all the relevant documents including registration, insurance and owner’s proof. Safe to say you cannot go wrong with this scooter, whether it is old or new.