- Well-priced and easy to ride
- Thrifty fuel economy
- Tires are versatile enough for non-paved surfaces
- Styling may not be for everybody
- Engine is too small for interstate speeds
- Lack of a kickstarter can leave you in a lurch if the battery dies-- really, it happened to me!
- All-new 125cc 4-stroke, air-cooled engine with ceramic-composite cylinder plating and electronic fuel injection
- Fully automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT)
- Lockable underseat storage compartment with 5.2 gallon capacity
- Steel tube frame with offroad-style brush deflectors and dual halogen headlights
- Lightweight die cast five-spoke wheels with telescopic front fork, dual rear shocks
- 220mm disc brake up front, drum brake at rear
- Fuel economy: 89 miles per gallon (estimated)
- Seat height: 30.7 inches
- Capacity: two passengers
- Price: $2,999
The Zuma can be parked with either a kickstand or a centerstand, and once aboard you’ll find a cockpit layout that’s fairly basic: everything is where you’d expect it to be on a typical motorcycle, with a small gauge cluster offering analog speed and fuel level readings. This scoot’ fires up with an electric start, and its fuel-injection system makes it ready to get up and go immediately, even when ambient temperatures are cool.
Light revving at idle keeps the bike in neutral, while a full twist of the throttle triggers mild acceleration up to an indicated top speed of about 60 mph (riding solo on level ground.) Right and left hand levers operate the front and rear brakes respectively, requiring reasonable effort for most stops; grabbing them aggressively can produce brake lock-up, something new riders should be aware of. Unlike scooters with more squared-off tire profiles, the Zuma’s rounded rubber makes the bike easy to turn (though it also requires a little bit more attention to maintain a perfectly straight path while cruising.
The Yamaha Zuma 125 boasts a few handy features including a built-in key lock, 5.2 gallons of underseat storage, and a rated fuel economy figure of 89 mpg… but one unfortunate feature I discovered was the lack of a kickstarter. When I accidentally ran down the battery by leaving the key in the ‘On’ position—totally my fault—there was no way to start up the engine. The battery wouldn’t take a charge after repeated attempts, leaving the bike stuck in my garage; not exactly the most upbeat way to end my otherwise enjoyable time with the lil‘ scoot‘.
>>Click here for a 2009 Yamaha Zuma 125 Photo Gallery<<
