2011–2017 · Scooter · Buyer's Guide
Old Soul, Manual Gearbox
The PX 125 is the Vespa most people picture when they hear the name: a pressed-steel monocoque body, an air-cooled single and gears you change with a twist of the left grip. This Euro3 generation keeps that formula alive under modern emissions rules. It doesn't pretend to be anything else. It has 123 cc, 6 hp, 7 lb-ft and four speeds. On paper that's modest, but in the city it's enough, because the whole package is compact, weighs 243 lb (110 kg) wet and slips through gaps a bigger scooter won't try. Real substance behind the style!
You ride this scooter. You don't just sit on it. Clutch, twist-grip shifting and a kickstart keep you involved in every stop-and-go block, and that's exactly the appeal. It ages like a simple machine. The carburetor wants cleaning now and then, and clutch plates and kickstart teeth wear. All of it is mechanical, fixable and backed by a strong aftermarket. The honest caveat: a 56 mph (90 km/h) top speed keeps you off the freeway, and there's no ABS. It's a city machine. Full stop.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 6 hp (4.8 kW) @ 6,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 7 lb-ft (10 Nm) |
| Displacement | 123 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 4-speed |
| Final drive | Direct drive |
| Front brake | 200 mm |
| Front tire | 3.50-10 |
| Rear tire | 3.50-10 |
| Wheelbase | 49.6 in (1260 mm) |
| Seat height | 31.9 in (810 mm) |
| Wet weight | 243 lb (110 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 2.1 gal (8 L) |
| Top speed | 56 mph (90 km/h) |
Equipment check
Comfort
Over the years I've heard a lot about the PX 125. It comes up in the paddock, over coffee with owners, at club nights and in the messages riders send me. The picture barely changes: people love its character and simplicity, and they're just as open about the upkeep that comes with it.
Riders consistently call the air-cooled two-stroke a dependable workhorse, simple enough that many owners handle the maintenance themselves. The hand-shifted four-speed and nimble chassis come up again and again as the reason they ride it at all. Owners say it keeps them engaged in a way modern automatics don't. The classic silhouette still draws people who buy with their eyes first. Style is part of the deal.
The complaint you hear most is a PX that won't fire up easily and won't hold a steady tickover. Most owners end up chasing it in the carburetor. Some riders say the cable-operated drums need frequent adjustment and feel short on bite next to discs. Others mention a worn clutch slipping under load, or a kickstart that starts grinding with age. Familiar chores, all of them.
Weak drum brake performance
Drum brakes require constant adjustment to maintain effectiveness; worn shoes and contaminated surfaces can significantly reduce stopping power.
Carburettor idle and starting difficulties
Erratic idle, stalling, and hard starting are often caused by carburettor blockages, incorrect jetting, or air leaks around the inlet manifold. Cleaning, re-jetting, and checking gaskets usually resolve the issue.
Clutch slipping
The clutch plates may wear, causing the engine to rev without transferring power. Replacing plates and adjusting cable tension addresses the problem.
Kickstart mechanism wear
The kickstart gear can slip or grind due to wear on the teeth or the engagement mechanism. Repair typically requires replacement of the worn components.
Where this Vespa PX 125 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the PX 125 is actually built for.
If your commute is short, dense and full of tight parking, this fits. It's light, compact and easy to park. Just accept the manual shifting, the carb upkeep and a 56 mph ceiling that rules out freeways.
Made for New York City · Austin · Los Angeles
It's the most photogenic thing at the meetup, and it's great in town. With 6 hp and a 56 mph top speed, though, it's for the ride to the café, not for keeping pace on the ridge roads.
Made for San Francisco Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard · Big Sur Coast Highway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2008
The Last Manual Vespa
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
