S 125 (MY2007_S125)

The S 125 is the Vespa for riders who like their retro straight and uncluttered. Its slim, minimalist bodywork borrows design cues from the 1960s and '70s, and it sits clearly apart from the rounder LX in the same lineup. Under the styling is what defines the brand: a steel monocoque body. Power comes from a 124 cc air-cooled single making 10 hp and 7 lb-ft, sent to the rear wheel by belt. Small wheels keep the whole package compact, with a 110/70-11 tire up front and a 120/70-10 at the rear. Classic form, honest hardware.

On paper, this is a city machine through and through. It weighs 243 lb (110 kg) wet, the seat is 30.9 in (785 mm) high and the wheelbase is 50.4 in (1,280 mm). That's a light, low, compact package built for streets where space is tight. A 2.1 gal (8 L) tank and a factory center stand point the same way: short daily trips, easy parking, no fuss. With 10 hp, though, the limit is clear. The hardware points to town streets and relaxed back roads, not long highway stretches. If you want a steel-bodied Vespa with clean retro lines and can live with that limit, it fits. Simple as that.