By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Scooter
Vespa Sprint 125 i.e. 3V (MY2014_Sprint125) vs LX 125 (MY2006_LX125_Gen1)
Vespa Sprint 125 i.e. 3V vs LX 125: which one to buy for your commute.
You'll catch the Vespa Sprint 125 i.e. 3V's square headlight and chrome from across a city street. The Vespa LX 125's steel shell feels solid in a way plastic-bodied scooters don't. Its light steering snaps it around tight turns.
So which one do you buy?
The Sprint 125 i.e. 3V has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Narrow edge: Sprint 125 i.e. 3V
Through a string of corners, the Sprint 125 i.e. 3V feels a little more eager. That comes from a sportier chassis and more feel through the bars. The gap is small, so ride both.
Daily commuting & city riding
Nose ahead: Sprint 125 i.e. 3V
The Sprint 125 i.e. 3V edges it for the daily grind. It's a small gap, not a reason on its own.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
By a nose: Sprint 125 i.e. 3V
For your first season, the Sprint 125 i.e. 3V makes slightly more sense. Fit and confidence at a standstill still come first.
What makes each one tick
Sprint 125 i.e. 3V
Pep comes early on the Sprint, and its air-cooled single pulls briskly up to around-town speeds. Over a pothole, the suspension takes the hit and the rigid monocoque doesn't wander off its line. There's room up top for long legs, yet the seat still sits low. A full-face helmet fits underneath.
LX 125
The LX doesn't need much of a gap between stalled cars, since its low weight and short turning circle thread it through. The seat sits low. The throttle draws a lively answer from the little single, and it doesn't drink much doing it. The bars swing it past a double-parked cab.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Sprint 125 i.e. 3V makes more peak power: 11 hp (8.1 kW) vs 10 hp (7.4 kW).
- ABS: standard (from 2015) on the Sprint 125 i.e. 3V, not offered on the LX 125.
- Rear Suspension Adjustable: standard on the Sprint 125 i.e. 3V, not offered on the LX 125.
Which one for the way you ride
Nothing splits them on running costs. Ride both back to back and the decision usually makes itself.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Sprint 125 i.e. 3V
What owners say
Trade-offs
- ABS missing on early models
LX 125
What owners say
Strengths
- Agile handling in traffic
What they share
- Displacement
- 124 cc
- Engine
- Single-cylinder
- Cooling
- Air-cooled
- Front brake
- 200 mm
Where the spec sheets split
| Sprint 125 i.e. 3V | LX 125 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.1 in (790 mm) | 30.9 in (785 mm) |
| Sprint 125 i.e. 3V | LX 125 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 11 hp (8.1 kW) | 10 hp (7.4 kW) |
| Torque | 8 lb-ft (10 Nm) | 7 lb-ft (10 Nm) |
| Sprint 125 i.e. 3V | LX 125 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 107 mpg (US) / 2.2 L/100 km | 94 mpg (US) / 2.5 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 2.1 US gal (8 L) | 2.2 US gal (8.3 L) |
| Sprint 125 i.e. 3V | LX 125 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front tire | 110/70-12 | 110/70-11 |
| Rear tire | 120/70-12 | 120/70-10 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Sprint 125 i.e. 3V | LX 125 | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Standard (from 2015) | Not offered |
| Manually Adjustable Rear Suspension | Standard | Not offered |
| Luggage System | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
