Fast and nimble
While storage is sub-par, handling is nothing short of positive. The riding position is excellent, feeling almost intuitive. The adjustable mirrors could be a little larger (or set farther ahead of the rider), but they effectively cancel blind spots. As mentioned earlier, though, the tall seat height will force many riders to stand on their toes at idle.

On the road, your feet are either flat or slightly raised against the front frame. Again, weight distribution is nearly perfect. The BWs 125 excels in corners, showing great poise throughout. Weight transfers induce no negative reactions.

The BWs 125 excels in corners, showing great poise throughout.

The clutch system allows unhesitant takeoffs. The single-cylinder mill effectively picks up speed and effortlessly cruises at 90-95 km/h, even in minor inclines or when facing the wind. The BWs has absolutely no problems on service lanes with a speed limit of 70 km/h, making it a great scooter for metropolitan areas. In descents, I reached 110 km/h. Boosting my confidence was the fact that I never slowed the traffic down, be it in Montreal's Louis-Hippolyte-LaFontaine Tunnel or Metropolitan Boulevard (Highway 40).

You want more numbers? Here: I sprinted from 0 to 60 km/h in 7.2 seconds (0-80 in 14 seconds). More impressive was the braking performance, which is strong and linear. This Yamaha took 11.9 meters to stop from 60 to 0 km/h (20 meters from 80-0).

The lack of windscreen gives the impression of riding a motorcycle. At over 80 km/h, you start to feel wind pressure on your chest, which puts additional stress on the arms. Fortunately, I quickly got used to it.

City warrior
If it were not for the ridiculous storage capacity, I think the 2009 Yamaha BWs 125 would be considered as the ultimate urban scooter. Power, agility and large wheels make it ideal for cities like ours, not to mention its overall balance and comfort.


Performance and handling
Comfort
Braking
Styling
Passenger room

Storage
Seat height
No windscreen (for high-speed riding)



None


Photo Credit : Philippe Champoux