Yamaha Mio Soul i 125 for sale in the Philippines December 2019

Yamaha is a bestselling scooter brand in the Philippines

Yamaha Motor Company has been manufacturing motorcycles since 1955. The Japanese firm, which has more than 20 subsidiaries around the globe, set up operations in the Philippines in 2007 to cater to the growing requirements for motorbikes from various market segments.

Mirroring the trends in the automotive industry, demand coming from Filipino motorbike owners is shifting from a manual transmission to automatic. Yamaha is at the forefront of satisfying this requirement, having launched the Mio scooter about a decade ago. The company first launched Mio in carburetor-equipped 115-cubic centimeter (cc) options, eventually introducing YM-jet fuel-injected 125-cc engines for reduced fuel consumption. Today, Yamaha dominates the local automatic scooter segment, with its most popular offerings coming from the Mio series. Among the models coming from the Mio lineup is the Mio Soul i 125.

The Mio Soul i 125: A bulky and edgy-looking scooter

The Mio Soul i 125 sports an edgy styling and it is bulkier than its siblings such as the Mio i 125 and the Mio 125 MXi. It has an attention-grabbing front end, thanks to a bright LED headlight, which is equipped with an adjustable brightness setting. Below the headlamp are the turn indicators in the shape of an open triangle. A sharp, angular front fender matches the chosen color scheme.

Above the front-end apron that houses the headlamp are raised handlebars that also hold the raised leaf-shaped side mirrors. Between the handlebars is a futuristic-looking instrument cluster that shows a digital odometer and other driving indicators to assist the driver. It also boasts of an "Eco" drive indicator that lights up whenever the scooter is cruising at the optimum speed required to achieve fuel efficiency. This model has a fuel economy score of about 50-60 kilometers per liter.

The sides of the Mio Soul I 125 are decorated with graphics and a 3D embossed SOUL logo. The rear part, on the other hand, showcases black split grab-rail, upswept tail light, and a black 90 degrees-positioned rear fender.

The Mio Soul i 125 offers a wide seat that provides comfort during long rides. With a seat height of 773 mm, it is well suited for average Filipino riders, men and women alike. It is long enough to accommodate a passenger. Underneath the seat is a compartment that has 14 liters of cargo space, big enough to keep a jet-type helmet or a small bag.

The bike is powered by a 125-cc, force air-cooled, SOHC, two-valve engine that makes use of the Yamaha Blue Core technology in order to produce more power with less fuel consumption. Mated to a V-Belt automatic gearbox, the single-cylinder engine churns out up to 9.4 horsepower at 8,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) and a maximum 7.1 pound-feet of torque. The bike carries a fuel tank with 4.2-liter capacity. The Mio Soul i 125 is offered in electric and kick start ignition system options.

Measuring 1,870mm in length, 685mm in width, and 1,070mm in height, the Mio Soul i 125 is bigger than other offerings from the Mio lineup such as the Mio i 125 and the Mio 125 MXi. However, with a curb weight of only 92 kg, even short riders will find it easy to handle and maneuver.

The Soul i 125 runs 14-inch wheels wrapped in 80/80 MC 43P tire on the front and 100/70 MC SIP setup for the rear. Both tires are tube-type. The wheelbase measures 1,260mm, while the ground clearance is pegged at 135mm. The model uses a suspension system that consists of conventional telescopic forks at the front and unit swing at the rear. With this setup, the Mio is equipped enough to handle uneven pavements.

As for its braking system, the Mio Soul i 125 uses a hydraulic single disc and a mechanical drum brake at the front and at the rear, respectively. The motorbike is armed with a parking brake lock, which comes handy when parking at an incline. As a security measure, this model also has a magnetic keyhole shutter that is controlled by a button.

The latest release of the high-end trim Mio Soul i 125S is equipped with a stop-start system, a fuel-saving measure that automatically turns the engine off after five minutes of inactivity. The driver can bring the engine back to life again by clicking a button. This offering is a double-edged sword, however. While many appreciate the feature's fuel-saving benefits, there are those who find it irritating to keep on switching on the engine especially given the traffic conditions in Metro Manila.

The top-of-the-line model also comes with a smart key button which, when pressed, creates electronic sound lights to aid the rider in finding the bike's location. This can be useful in situations such as if you forgot where you parked the bike or in case of theft.

The standard version of the Mio Soul i 125 comes with Matte Black, Vibrant Orange, and Violet at PHP 79,900. The higher trim Mio Soul i 125S sells for PHP 83,900 and is offered in two new colors: Matte Gray and Matte Green.

Is the Yamaha Soul i 125 what your soul needs?

Pros

• Reasonably priced
• Fuel efficient
• Stylish and edgy

Cons

• Storage compartment could be bigger
• Safety features could be more