YAMAHA VITY 125 (2008 - on) Review

At a glance

Owners' reliability rating:	4.6 out of 5 (4.6/5)
Annual servicing cost:	£100
Power:	8 bhp
Seat height:	Low (28.7 in / 730 mm)
Weight:	Low (243 lbs / 110 kg)

Prices

New £2,099

Used £1,700

View bikes for sale

Overall rating

Next up: Ride & brakes

3 out of 5 (3/5)

The Vity 125 is not a cutting edge scooter. It’s not fast. It doesn’t look good unless you’ve got a thing for the 80s. But it does the job and has one big saving grace – a £1,799 price tag when it was new which, for a trustworthy 125cc Yamaha, is very cheap.

Even when the price inevitable crept up you could still buy one for a little over £2000. These days, a used example in good nick will cost you about what it did when it was launched but that's got more to do with soaring used bike prices generally than the scooter itself.

Ride quality & brakes

Next up: Engine

2 out of 5 (2/5)

The Vity only weighs 110kg wet. That and a very low 730mm seat make it very easy to drag around in parking bays and a doddle to u-turn. But on the move it feels unresponsive and a touch wobbly. As a way to get to work cheaply it will do the job, but it probably won’t raise a smile.

Engine

Next up: Reliability

3 out of 5 (3/5)

There’s no nice way to say it – the Vity is slow. Top speed is around 60mph and it takes its time getting there, but that’s perfect adequate for the Vity’s intended use as a cheap town commuter. It lacks the zip of other 125 scooters such as Yamaha’s own (pricier) BW’s 125.

Reliability & build quality

Next up: Value

4 out of 5 (4/5)

The Vity 125 is about as basic as you can get, so on the plus side there’s very little to go wrong. Plus if anything ever should, you’ve got the benefit of big-brand dealer and parts back-up to rely on. The leather-effect seat cover looks a bit naff and it’s a bit dated, but it doesn’t look badly made.

Value vs rivals

Next up: Equipment

4 out of 5 (4/5)

The scooter market has been flooded with low-cost Chinese models in recent years, but a used Vity 125 still represents excellent value. If you're considering a new, cheap-to-buy and run 125 scooter or electric equivalent then the best-selling Honda PCX 125, is a great place to start.

Yamaha's cheapest offering is now the NMax 125, which is just a couple of hundred quid more than the PCX. Slightly more again than both the Yamaha and the Honda is the Silence S01 electric.

Equipment

3 out of 5 (3/5)

For the bargain price tag you get a pretty practical package – underseat storage big enough for a full-face helmet, luggage rack, fuel gauge and a decent-sized non-lockable glove box deep enough to take a drinks bottle. For 2010 you also get some race-inspired speed-block style graphics.

Specs
Engine size	125cc
Engine type	4-stroke 2v air-cooled 125cc single
Frame type	tubular steel
Fuel capacity	5.5 litres
Seat height	730mm
Bike weight	110kg
Front suspension	none
Rear suspension	none
Front brake	153mm disc
Rear brake	100/90-10
Front tyre size	100/90-10
Rear tyre size	100/90-10

Mpg, costs & insurance
Average fuel consumption	77 mpg
Annual road tax	£25
Annual service cost	£100
New price	£2,099
Used price	£1,700
Insurance group	4 of 17 How much to insure?
Warranty term	Two year unlimited mileage

Top speed & performance
Max power	8 bhp
Max torque	6.7 ft-lb
Top speed	60 mph
1/4 mile acceleration	-
Tank range	94 miles

Model history & versions

Model history

2008: Yamaha Vity 125 introduced

Other versions

None

Owners' reviews for the YAMAHA VITY 125 (2008 - on)

5 owners have reviewed their YAMAHA VITY 125 (2008 - on) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.

Review your YAMAHA VITY 125 (2008 - on)

Summary of owners' reviews
Overall rating:	4.4 out of 5 (4.4/5)
Ride quality & brakes:	3.8 out of 5 (3.8/5)
Engine:	3.8 out of 5 (3.8/5)
Reliability & build quality:	4.6 out of 5 (4.6/5)
Value vs rivals:	4.6 out of 5 (4.6/5)
Equipment:	3.8 out of 5 (3.8/5)
Annual servicing cost:	£100

5 out of 5 Exceptional value 125cc scooter

26 October 2021 by Steve

Version: Xc125

Year: 2011

Annual servicing cost: £100

Value for money is it's strongest feature, let's face it, it's cheaper to run than catching a bus every day. It's extremely comfortableand light. I completed an 8 day charity ride covering 2200 miles while riding the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. The scooter was fully loaded with camping gear and still averaged 80 mpg riding a combination of motorways, A roads and back roads. It did everything I asked of it and more.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

Comfortable, and quiet, I rode 300 miles in a day with no problems. The seat is large enough to move around on. The mirrors show what's behind you rather than your elbows. The handling is very good, it's no R1, but it always felt 'sure footed' inspiring confidence. You get a main stand as well as a side stand.

Engine 5 out of 5

It's fairly quick off the mark, top speed on the speedo 'on the flat' was 65 mph, GPS true figure was 60 mph. The national speed limit is 70 mph...... how fast do you need to go in everyday life? How fast do you want to go on 10" wheels?

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

I regularly clean and dowse the scooter in GT85 which helps to keep corrosion at bay. A big plus is the large rear mudguard that stops road dirt from getting everywhere and of course it's fitted with front fork gaiters as standard, not many more expensive scooters can claim that. The only casualty during ownership was a warped front disc, which considering the weight I was carrying and the roads I was riding, I think is acceptable, it was cheap and easy to replace. It even has fuel injected for that price.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Cheap as chips to run. Service items are cheap and even tyre prices are reasonable. Mine was fitted with a genuine yamaha screen and top box, making it even more usable. I got 4500 miles out of a rear tyre and 7000 miles out of a front.

Equipment 5 out of 5

Basic, but what else do you really need? If your out with your mates posing down the chippy, compared with other scooters, it probably wouldn't cut it. But that's missing the point........its a budget scooter that is far better than it should be at that price. They're an absolute bargain as a second hand scooter.

Buying experience: I've owned 2 Vitys. Vity 1 was brand new £1750.00, second Vity second hand £900.00. Both from Yamaha dealers a few years apart.

5 out of 5

19 October 2020 by Alac

Year: 2011

Just splendid basic bike.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

Engine 4 out of 5

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Equipment 4 out of 5

4 out of 5 Great value and cheap to run

15 June 2020 by Busyer

Year: 2012

Annual servicing cost: £100

Great value scooter

Ride quality & brakes 3 out of 5

Low ground clearance is the only issue I can fault bike on

Engine 3 out of 5

It is a bit slow and was expecting more mpg but still very good

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

Value vs rivals 4 out of 5

Parts very cheap and bike easy to work on , so ideal even for a novice

Equipment 4 out of 5

It has a fuel gauge bonus to some bikes I’ve owned , but dials are clear and easy to see

Buying experience: Bought private and good value commuter

4 out of 5 Brilliant commuter bike with cool 80s styling

08 March 2018 by Cameron

Year: 2010

An amazing bike in my opinion, with just enough speed to get you about without being killed. Not sure if this is factory but when I came off I noticed it had a built in kill switch.

Ride quality & brakes 3 out of 5

Engine 3 out of 5

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Equipment 3 out of 5

4 out of 5 vitys

14 September 2010 by topcat2002

i have 10 of these scooters to deliver pizzas they are absolutely amazing just oil brake pads tyres, one bike has been dropped 7 times just scratched panels, superb.

Ride quality & brakes 3 out of 5

Engine 4 out of 5

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Value vs rivals 4 out of 5

Equipment 3 out of 5