Yes, I am a proud retro scooter nut.

Of course, when it comes to the subject, the conversation will inevitably end with the mention of Vespa. Yet, it takes a certain level of passion and commitment to keep one in the garage.

Anyone who’s had a fling with this capricious Italian thing knows that you have to contend with a problematic head bearing, and the key slot requires a good amount of fondling before you can even hear the fuel pump humming to life. Fuel pump…let’s not even go there.

“Not for everyone” is their brand slogan, after all.

Retro for all

Well, here’s something for everyone, the Yamaha Mio Fino.

All I can say is my 15-year-old Mio Fino is so much more reliable than my 15-month-old Vespa. The Yamaha also costs a fraction of the price, even on the year it was bought. Yamaha Philippines discontinued the model many years back due to the rather lukewarm market reception.

Take my money

Yamaha came back with a vengeance last year with the launch of the Mio Fazzio, and now they are selling like hotcakes.

Under the beautifully sculpted panels is a 125 cc air-cooled Hybrid Blue Core mill 6.2 kW and 9.9 Nm. However, the “hybrid” pertains to the electric motor assist function, which boosts maximum torque to 10.6 Nm in the first 3 seconds of acceleration.

Sadly, Yamaha is still trying to keep up with the demand, so getting a unit will not be easy.

Keeping our fingers crossed

Another Yamaha retro scooter worth looking into is the Grand Filano, which was launched in November 2022 in Thailand and last month in Indonesia. We don’t have it locally yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it comes to Philippine shores soon.

The Yamaha Grand Filano shares the same platform as the Mio Fazzio, even with its hybrid engine and connectivity function.

A true classic

Lastly, the Yamaha Fino 125 is the latest iteration of my beloved Mio Fino, endowed with a bigger 125 cc Blue Core engine.

Instead of 12-inch rubbers on the Grand Filano and Mio Fazzio, the Fino 125 stayed true to its Southeast Asian roots and still sports a pair of 14-inch wheels. It also remained faithful to its old-school character by preceding the hybrid mill and connectivity function.

Some speculate that the Fino 125 might already be coming out of the market. I sincerely hope not.

Are you yet having your “Si Aida o si Lorna o si Fe” (#radiocarbondating) moment? Which of these Yamaha eye candies tickles your fancy?