S College 125 SE (MY2010_SCollege125)

The S College 125 SE is a limited-edition dress-up of the Vespa S 125, and what's underneath is refreshingly simple. You get the proven Leader four-stroke single: air-cooled, 124 cc, 10 hp and 7 lb-ft, with a twist-and-go automatic. It all sits in a steel monocoque body, and that's the part that makes a Vespa a Vespa, because the shell is the frame. The college-themed look sets it apart from the regular S 125, but the brief stays the same. It weighs 243 lb (110 kg) wet and rolls on a 110/70-11 front and a 120/70-10 rear. It's built for one job. The city!

In traffic it's about as easy as powered transport gets. It's light and compact, and it's so approachable that a nervous new rider settles in within a block. Running costs stay low, and the simple air-cooled layout is a solid bet for reliability. Who's it for? The urban rider who wants the Vespa shape and a steel body with a look you won't see on every other scooter on the street. Here's the honest caveat: 10 hp is city power, there's no ABS, and fast multi-lane highways aren't its world. Keep it downtown.