Bengaluru: A lot of people don’t understand the Vespa. They think it’s too cutesy. A little feminine, maybe. But I’d like to direct their attention to Ferraris and Alfa Romeos from the ’60s. They designed in the same school of thought — to please the eye rather than assault it. To be honest, most things Italian stem from the same design ideology.
Take the Fiats in India for example. The Punto is one long sweeping curve and the Linea is made up of a few. The idea is to make them pleasing to the eye, not striking.
To me, the Vespa is a two-wheeled Fiat 500. And if you look at the picture of the car, you’ll see what I mean. It’s the only scooter sold in India that has any real style. It beckons you to put your Moccasins on, roll up your khaki trousers and go woo the girl/boy you fancy.
But hang on a minute. It still is a bike. So let’s get on with the review. First things first — it’s tiny. It feels about the same size as the old TVS Scooty. For those obsessed with sheer quantity, please resume your assault on that burger and buy a lorry.
But for the others, who prefer quality, let me tell you what this little number has to offer. It is, and I’m not making this up, the easiest bike to ride. And there’s good reason. The dimensions, coupled with a short wheelbase and make it really nimble in the city.
But there’s more. While the power and torque figures (10bhp & 10 Nm) may seem fairly miniscule, the engine feels like a beating heart. And it’s more than adequate for scooting around the city.
Also, the detailing is just brilliant. Everything, from the headlamps, switchgear, instruments, the brown leather and the generous but tasteful use of chrome a truly classless fell. Again, think Mini Cooper or Fiat 500.
While the scooter market is chock-full of machines that are built to a price and offer nothing more than pure utility, with false pretentions at being sporty, the Vespa VX125 is as refreshing as a morning espresso and at 72,000 ex-showroom, it must seem expensive as compared to all the other scooters on the market. But it’s a Vespa. And for those in the know, it’s a bargain.
