Kawasaki goes urban cool
The A1 licence-friendly J125 from Kawasaki is not just another model to add depth to the bike giant’s line-up; it is a direct challenge for the top spot in the high-end 125cc scooter market. Honda Forza and Yamaha X-MAX better watch out, there’s a new kid in town!
What’s the engine like?
The J125 is a large machine for the 125cc category and I was a bit suspicious of how much power it would have, but hiding under the elegant exterior is a surprisingly lively 125cc liquid-cooled sohc four-valve single-cylinder engine. It delivers a claimed peak power of 10.3kW at 9000rpm and maximum torque of 11.5Nm at 7000rpm. These figures are very close to those of its closest rivals, and in fairness, there’s not much more you can squeeze out of a 125cc engine and still keep it economical and meet the emissions regulations.
What I particularly liked about the J125 is that the power delivery is very smooth even when you open or close the throttle fully, thanks to the instant fuel delivery and the butter-smooth Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). It would appear that the partnership with Taiwanese scooter specialist Kymco in designing the scooter has paid off.
What’s it like to ride?
Right from the start the scooter felt responsive, and because it’s a fully automatic twist and go machine you can just open the throttle and accelerate hard without having to worry about gears.
The dash is easy to read on the go and consists of an analogue speedometer and tachometer dials flanking a multi-function LCD panel. The tachometer gives the scoot more of a motorcycle feel, even if it’s not strictly speaking necessary.
The J125 is a fairly heavy scooter at 182kg, but it feels agile and manageable. Because it accelerates well it was easy to nip in and out of traffic in the city, while out on the open road the J125 still managed to keep up with traffic, achieving a top speed of just below 70mph.
Our test ride covered just over 60 miles and there was never a moment of discomfort all day. There is plenty of room on the scoot for even a larger rider to stretch out. The seat is enormous and perfectly sculpted to offer some support for your lower back.
What about brakes and suspension?
Brake levers are adjustable, which adds a level of comfort, especially on longer journeys. All models sold in the UK have Bosch ABS, which works well. The rear brake is perfect for shaving off a little bit of speed when necessary and the front brake has enough power to bring the scooter to a rapid stop if needed.
Suspension worked well, especially after I added a bit of preload to the twin shock absorbers at the rear (very easy to do by simply twisting the adjusters by hand). This made the machine feel firmer and more stable.
Where can I carry all my stuff?
With a big scooter like this, you want a decent amount of storage – and the J125 offers plenty of space for almost anything you might want to carry on a scooter. There is a large underseat storage compartment, a glove box (with a useful 12v accessory outlet), a cargo hook and a rear carrier. And if that’s not enough, GIVI top cases are available as optional extras.
Should I buy one?
There’s certainly a lot to like about this big 125cc scooter. It offers the comfort of a much bigger machine than most scooters in this class and I can’t fault the looks. There’s enough power to comfortably cruise in the city and even do short distances on the open road.