f you’re in the market for a nippy, light and affordably priced 125 scooter, here’s a solid option for you… Andy Bell tells us what we need to know.
The stuff that matters…
Power: 11bhp/8.2kW @ 8,500 rpm
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Weight 126kg (dry)
Price: £2,854.00
Contact: www.kymco.co.uk
What is it?
If you are looking for a budget 125cc scooter for commuting through urban areas but do not want to sacrifice on styling or practicality, then this model from Taiwanese manufacturer Kymco could potentially tick all those boxes. Designed with luxury and comfort in mind, the Skytown 125 is one of three models in Kymco’s 125cc range. Priced at £2,854 this one falls in between their X-Town (£3,799) and Agility City+ (£2,559).
Talking the torque…
Kymco’s Skytown is powered by a new 125cc single-cylinder engine which complies with Euro 5+ emissions standards, delivering 8.2 kW of power (11.2 hp) at 8,500 rpm. They have a newly designed camshaft which is said to ensure optimal performance whilst also taking care of fuel efficiency.
Up front, there is a large windscreen to aid rider comfort by shielding them against the wind, while the design of this feature follows the smooth dynamic lines from the bodywork. The LED headlight is integrated into the front shield and is complimented further by additional LED lighting all round.
The scooter is equipped with telescopic forks at the front and dual shock absorbers at the rear, with disc brakes featuring a CBS (Combined Braking System) that links the front and rear brakes.
Onboard, riders will find a digital LCD instrument panel, a USB and USB-C charging port. Further adding to the practical appeal there are three storage compartments, including a spacious under-seat storage area which does look to be one of the largest within its class.
Cracking on…
It is impossible not to notice just how light this scooter is when you first take it off the stand and when moving it around, either while pushing it or under its own power. The little weight that it does have is set so low that manoeuvring the scooter comes with an increased level of confidence. Pushing the scooter backwards out of a parking spot while seated is effortless and when wanting to use the centre stand, minimal input is required with just the lightest of effort needed.
When firing up the single cylinder 125cc motor I wasn’t too surprised how quiet this engine was on tick over and at low revs. One thing I did like here was that the sound and volume level did increase enough with the engine speed so that it was reassuringly noticeable on the move without being anywhere near offensive to others.
I am always keen to find out how the brakes feel early on when testing new machinery and to be honest, first impression of the stopping force from the right lever didn’t leave me with anything positive to say. However, remembering that many twist and go scooters tend to have a combined braking system, this had me reaching for the left lever when pulling up to a stop at the next give way. Oh, how I was I nearly too quick to write this off as a scooter with bad brakes. I soon found that when just needing to shed a little speed for a corner the right lever was ok but when needing to slow with more urgency, then pulling both levers together was more than adequate to stop this lightweight scooter almost on the proverbial sixpence.
I really didn’t want to like the Skytown but after pushing the limits of the brakes with ever increasing gusto I also realised just how comfortable I was at the same time. The seat was large and well padded with room to move about which also tapered down at the edges to easily allow the possibility to get both feet flat on the ground when stationary. There was plenty of room to place my boots on the move with the foot board also offering a relaxed feet forward position.
The shape of the windscreen does look in keeping with the rest of the design of the bodywork and did a good job of deflecting the bulk of the wind without blasting it over the top and into your face like some other scooters I have tried within this category recently.
After talking about the Skytown’s confidence inspiring qualities, I also should mention the power delivery. While this isn’t a 200bhp superbike, the pickup on acceleration was fairly rapid for the 11.2bhp it produces (maybe the .2 makes the difference). Within the urban areas of the test ride, I always felt I could join traffic from junctions without feeling like I was going to be in the way of other road users and riding at the national speed limit is achievable, where again, some other 125cc scooters struggle.
The suspension also felt to be performing better than my preconceived expectations. Known bumpy sections of the roads I was using for my test ride were delt with smoothly whilst I sat in my relative comfort. The only times that they did feel to show signs of protest was when I was trying to keep speed up through the quicker bends and asking a little more from them.
The LCD display was by no means fancy, but it was large and displayed everything clearly. In a trade off, the storage was exceptional. Under the seat you can easily store a full-face helmet along with other items at the same time, with the sturdy top box offering a similar amount of carrying capacity.
As well as having a stylish body design, the Skytown comes in some modern colours including “Flat Black”, “Golden Brown” (which I would say is more like Silver) or the one I had for the day, “Petroleum Blue”
Worth a punt?…
After riding the Skytown and making my notes on my experience, it was clear that I had been so wrong to assume that a budget 125cc scooter had little to offer. There are no fancy components to shout about, but what there is works, and works well. While I might feel a bit intimidated to mix with the traffic above 60mph if I was to commute on a dual carriageway, there was enough go in the motor elsewhere. The confidence and comfort while riding combined with the practical nature of this scooter were constantly at the forefront of my mind throughout my time on the Skytown.
