TEST RIDE: Piaggio Typhoon 125

MANILA, Philippines - When I was first given a chance to ride a Piaggio scooter named “Liberty” by way of riding it to Clark, Pampanga, I was ecstatic. After all, it would be my first time to take a scooter on a long ride.

That was a few months ago. More recently, I got another chance of riding a Piaggio—this time by the name of “Typhoon.” The Typhoon 125 comes from the new line of Piaggios from Grandstar Motors Industrial Corp. (GMIC), the country’s general distributor of the iconic Italian Piaggio and Vespa brands.

Like other Piaggio models, the Typhoon has a distinctive bulky yet curvaceous look that makes it sturdier, gives it good balance on the road and bestows it with a comfortable riding position. Unlike its sibling the Liberty 150ie, which had a bigger wheelbase, the Typhoon 125 had bigger 120/70 all-terrain tires front and back. The wheels are supported by hydraulic telescopic forks with straight stanchions on the front suspension and a hydraulic single shock absorber with spring-preload for the rear suspension. This combination enables the rider to negotiate uneven road conditions with ease.

With its redesigned shark-like features that gives it a tougher look, the Typhoon looks more like a semi-big bike than a scooter. The seat has a short sweet spot, as rider and passenger alike will enjoy roomy comfort thanks to the well-padded pillion seat, grab rails and floorboards instead of footpegs.

The downside is it doesn’t have a side stand. Its front panel shows the speedometer in mph and kph and it comes with automatic headlight-on (AHO) technology. Storage area, like in other scoots, is large enough to accommodate a three-quarter helmet.

A 4-stroke single-cylinder, air-cooled 125cc engine powers the Typhoon, which churns out a stump-pulling 6.0 lbs.-ft. of torque and 9.6 hp. It’s mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for true “twist-n-go” usability—an advantage when traveling on a twist-and-curve roads. Braking power comes from a 220mm front single disc dual-piston floating caliper and a rear 140mm single disc brake.

It had adequate power in steep climbs though it does bog slightly leaving a stop. Though still on a carbureted engine, fuel consumption yielded a 25-km/liter average around Metro Manila and nearby Rizal province.

If you’re like me (a two-wheel enthusiast), the Piaggio 125 is a sensible alternative if you need reliable transportation for everyday commutes.