First ride: Lexmoto Verona 125

[NOTE: MODEL NOW DISCONTINUED]

New ‘old school’ cruiser scooter

Remember the Lexmoto Valencia cruiser scooter with acres of chrome and metallic pink paintwork? It’s a style that people clearly like, as Lexmoto have sold 500 of them, and now they’re offering a slightly toned-down version – the Verona.

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION

The Verona comes with the low-tech air-cooled two-valve four-stroke engine you’d expect of a budget-priced Chinese 125. Transmission is the usual twist ‘n go. And isn’t it great that scooter manufacturers all over the world name their transmissions after your favourite magazine?

STYLING

We christened the Valencia ‘King of Camp,’ and although the Verona is less flamboyant, it’s from the same cruiser school originally inspired by the Honda Joker. So you still get retro-ish styling, high rise bars and chrome all over. Colour options are more muted though – there’s no metallic pink.

EQUIPMENT

Not a lot; the underseat space would probably take an open face helmet, but wouldn’t swallow my Shoei. There’s a small front glovebox (with visible daylight when opened!) and a neat rear rack, though this doesn’t include a passenger backrest. Instrumentation is limited to a speedo and fuel gauge – no clock (useful for commuting) or tripmeter.

ON THE ROAD

Cruiser scooters have a nicely relaxed riding position, and the Verona is no exception. It’s fine for commuting, but I suspect it would be less than comfy on long trips, as all your weight is on your bum. Most scooters and bikes give your legs and arms more to do, spreading the weight more evenly.

With its’ low-tech motor, the Verona is surprisingly punchy, with decent acceleration up to 40mph-or-so, gradually winding-up to an indicated 60mph cruise, which it could hold on the motorway. The speedo even crept up to 68mph with a tailwind – pretty good for a budget 125. The test bike had 500 miles on the clock, which probably helped. Apart from some transmission vibration, it was very smooth and controllable at low speed.

One downside of the Verona is that it’s got titchy 10-inch wheels, which fewer and fewer scooters use now. Combined with soft suspension, these make it a tad floaty and vague at speed. It’s not unstable and the Cheng Shin tyres hold onto the tarmac well, but it doesn’t feel as positive as a scoot with 12-inch wheels and stiffer suspension.

No complaints about the brakes, the front disc and rear drum doing the business without any dramatics, though hard stops can have you sliding forward on the seat – brace those arms! The mirrors are excellent, but the speedo suffers from the common problem of big km/h but tiny mph figures and the switchgear feels a little crude. There’s no screen as standard, but weather protection from the big apron is pretty good.

WE SAY

An old school cruiser scooter, quite outdated in same ways – compared to Lexmoto’s Vienna or Dart, the handling and switchgear are from a different era; but if the style appeals, go for it!

STAR RATING

6 out of 10

LICENCE

REQUIREMENTS

A1

SPEC:

ENGINE

Air-cooled single, 124cc

POWER

8.2bhp

BRAKES

Front: disc

Rear: drum

TYRES

Front: 3.50-10

Rear: 3.50-10

SUSPENSION

Front: telescopic forks

Rear: single shock

WEIGHT

102kg

TANK CAPACITY

5 litres

COLOURS

Navy blue, champagne silver

CONTACT

www.lexmoto.co.uk