Yamaha Mio Soul i 125 - Reasons to buy

Yamaha’s Mio lineup of scooters is doing wonders for the company. Between the Mio Sporty and the Aerox, there is something for everyone. Between these two, however, is probably the most striking of all, Mio Soul i 125. The Soul i 125 is bolder in design than the almost feminine Mio Sporty, while still being a whole lot cheaper than the all-out Yamaha Aerox 155. Even its engine displacement falls right in the middle. But the appeal of the Soul i 125 goes beyond this middle road approach. Here are the top three reasons to buy the Mio Soul i 125.

Bold Design

First impressions of the Soul i 125 communicate a brawny and aggressive look. The scooter looks big. The front end can be summarized in one word – intimidating. The front fascia with its narrow three pointed LED headlight, accentuated by widely placed apron mounted indicators, and its 685 mm width seem even bigger. There are sculpted body panels that make it edgy and aggressive. This especially comes out with two-tone color schemes and bold graphics. Then comes the wide 100/70 tyres on the 14-inch wheels. Once you have taken in the split rear grab rail and the beefy exhaust, the place of the Soul i 125 in Mio’s lineup will start to make sense. Even the instrument display looks like a piece of futuristic artwork. It not only stands out among its own brothers but also among all the scooters on sale in the country today.

Advanced Engine

Yamaha knows a thing or two about making engines. All Mios are equipped with purpose-built engines and the Soul i 125 is no exception. It is powered by a 125 cc, forced air cooled, fuel injected SOHC, 2-valve engine. It is capable of producing 9.4 PS of max power at 8000 rpm and 9.6 Nm of peak torque at 5500 rpm. Power is available at the twist of the throttle – like an automatic. The instant power delivery is what draws any commuter towards a scooter and the Mio Soul i 125 delivers that performance in spades. The second factor that draws them towards these bikes is the fuel economy.

Thankfully the Yamaha scores good marks here as well. It is equipped with a DiASil Cylinder that uses aluminium for lighter weight and improved heat dissipation. Then there are the host of improvements under the Blue Core brand that this engine is blessed with. These improvements focus on allowing optimum fuel combustion, increasing cooling efficiency and reducing power loss. It means that this scooter will give fuel economy figures in the range of 45-50 kmpl while also being able to get up to speeds of 100 kmph. Not just that, the Mio Soul is also provided with an engine stop-start system, which shuts down the engine after 5 seconds of idling. Even the instrumentation comes with an eco-indicator, that shows the rider when the optimum combination of fuel economy and power has been reached.

Practical features

The Mio Soul i 125 is an urban commuter and comes with the kind of amenities that all urban riders expect. Under the plush and comfortable seat is a practically shaped under seat storage compartment. At 14-litres of storage space, it is able to store a helmet and then some. Then there is the side stand switch, that shuts off the engine when the side stand is engaged. Thankfully like the engine stop-start system, this switch is not always on and can be shut down. Also, there is the magnetic keyhole shutter that keeps the keyhole tamper-proof. Unlike other similar systems, this shutter is not opened from the other end of the key but from a button provided on the key fob itself. Combined with the LED headlight, comprehensive instrumentation and the front disc brakes makes for a very good package well-suited to today’s urban commuter needs.

In all, for little less than Php 80,000, this is one of the best scooter available in the country. It comes with a capable, yet fuel-efficient engine, dashing looks and some very practical features. It may not be the best but for the price, it comes very close. If you are in the market for a commuter, then do give the Yamaha Mio Soul i 125 more than a cursory glance.