The Yamaha Fascino started its life as a 113cc scooter, and over the years, it went through a series of upgrades, eventually forming into what is now a 125cc scooter with a neo-retro design. The Fascino is also regarded as India's first micro-hybrid scooter, and we shall get into more details, but first, make sure to join the 91wheels WhatsApp Community for all the latest automotive updates!
Yamaha Fascino 125 Fi Hybrid Pros
Design
The first pro of the Yamaha Fascino 125 Fi Hybrid has to be the way it looks. With its neo-retro styling, curved flowing panels and some very cool paint options, the Fascino turns a few heads even today. In fact, when I saw it for the first time, I fully expected it to produce the melody of a two-stroke motor with white smoke billowing out of its stubby tail-pipe, instead of the four-stroke drone we are so used to hearing today.
Competitor Check: The Access 125, Jupiter 125, and the Activa 125 play it rather safe with their conservative styling.
Also read: Suzuki Access 125 Pros And Cons: Does It Still Have An Edge?
Ergonomics
This was especially noticeable when I rode the Fascino a few months ago. With a seat height of 780mm, it was pretty easy to flat-foot the Fascino. You sit a touch lower than you would on the Access 125 and the RayZR 125, and the handlebar is well within reach.
The overall posture is still conventionally upright, but just a bit more comfortable. The floorboard may appear small in pictures, but there is always enough legroom unless you are on the taller side.
Competition Check: Most scooters in this segment have their ergonomics sorted for most riders.
Ride and Handling
The Fascino's suspension is surprisingly stiffer when compared to its rivals, and you can feel what's underneath while riding over bad roads and speedbreakers. However, on the highway, it does feel rather planted when doing faster speeds. With a remarkably low kerb weight of 99kg, the Fascino is also rather fun to ride, even if that is not quite its intended purpose.
Competitor Check: The Access 125 and the Jupiter 125 offer a great ride quality as well, but it's the TVS that is the most comfortable, while the Access gives you a nearly-balanced experience.
Also read: Yamaha R15 V4 Detailed Variant Explanation All You Need To Know
Engine
The Fascino 125 Fi Hybrid's engine benefits from Yamaha's micro-hybrid tech, which includes a starter-motor generator. This helps in adding a small boost from launch, until the engine reaches a certain rpm level, and it also enables function such as silent start, and the start-and-stop function.
However, while we are yet to verify claims of the extra boost, what we can tell you now is that the engine, while less responsive than something like an Access, feels refined and stress-free, even when you're riding at speeds between 80-90kmph.
Competitor Check: The Access, and the Activa 125 offer similar levels of refinement, while the Jupiter 125 has vibrations creeping in around the 4100rpm-mark. However, the Access and the Jupiter offer great acceleration too.
Cons
Lack Of Navigation
While the Fascino does receive a fully-digital instrument cluster, the unit itself is rather bland, and it might remind you of older Nokia 1100 phones. You can connect your smartphone via bluetooth from the Y-Connect App, and the cluster shows calls, SMS, and email alerts. It even gets an answer-back system that allows you to locate your scooter via blinking lights. However, the lack of navigation is a huge miss in this segment.
Competitor Check: The Jupiter 125 SmartXonnect is the most feature-loaded of the lot, while the Access 125 comes in second, with at least a decent set of features available in the mid-spec variant.
Also read: Honda Unicorn Pros And Cons Explained: Deserves A Better Spot?
No External Fuel-Filling
The Fascino 125 also requires you to dismount to access the fuel-filler cap that's under the seat. An external fuel-filler would make things just that much more convenient in what is supposed to be a comfortable, practical scooter.
Competitor Check: The Jupiter 125 gets a front fuel-filler cap, thanks to its fuel tank located under the floorboard. Meanwhile, the Access and the Activa 125 get a rear external fuel filler.
Verdict
With prices ranging between Rs 79,150 to Rs 94,830 (ex-showroom), the range-topping variants of the Yamaha Fascino 125 Fi Hybrid are pricier than those of the Access, Jupiter 125, and the Activa 125, espeically considering a lesser responsive engine and lack of a few features. However, the Fascino's design, with Yamaha's reliability might just lure in a few buyers.
