Yamaha Fascino Review, Test Ride

Yamaha has introduced a fashionable 110cc scooter that they hope will bring in new customers. Jared, knowing nothing about fashion, takes the Fascino for a ride and returns impressed.

I may know nothing about fashion, but I do have an eye for beautiful things on two wheels – and the new Fascino scooter from Yamaha certainly caught my attention. With a name like ‘Fascino,’ the Japanese manufacturer is trying to lure in a new set of young and urban customers, who are conscious about the way they’re perceived by the world at large. It’s no wonder, then, that the entire marketing campaign for the scooter features gorgeous models standing around it in a glamorous ramp setting.

To be honest, Yamaha has done quite a good job with the Fascino. The scooter does have a unique look, and it certainly stands out as being elegant and stylish. It doesn’t look anything like a Vespa, but it does exude a similar stylish character – and it certainly demands attention! The chrome-plated front grille and rear view mirrors give it a retro look, but the handlebar mounted lamp stands out effortlessly and gives the scooter a contemporary appeal. The body shell has a lot of curves, especially towards the rear where it gets a mix of chrome and glass as added style features. Our Fascino test scooter had a ‘Sassy Cyan’ paint job – that’s really what Yamaha calls it – and it certainly stood out on the road. The Fascino is also available in other colours, with similarly elaborate names, like Rouge Red, Haute White, Cool Cobalt and Tuxedo Black. The Fascino grabs your attention instantly, but does it strut its stuff like a supermodel on the catwalk?

This is the lightest of all the Yamaha scooters, at just 103 kilograms. It uses plastic-resin parts as part of its weight reducing measures, which means that it’s very easy to handle for daily use. I rode it during peak traffic, and found it very easy to manoeuvre my way through the tiniest of spaces. The low weight of the scooter, added with the 113cc Blue Core engine, also allows for a fantastic claimed fuel efficiency of 66km/l – which is one of the best in this segment. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have decent throttle response and great pickup – it does, but it’s certainly not the best! The Fascino does pick up speed quite well, but it’s just a tad underpowered – and you can’t blame my weight either, because I’ve been on many other 110cc scooters with better acceleration. The ride quality, however, is very good and the engine does seem very composed. Even when it reaches its top speed of 85km/h, the engine doesn’t seem to be under any stress and remains very smooth.

The Fascino is also very comfortable to ride, and the seat is really well made. There’s also lots of legroom and the floor-board is nice and wide too. The scooter conceals a 21-litre storage space under the seat, which is enough to accommodate a full-face helmet.

On the whole, the Fascino is a very interesting product. It’s got good looks that will appeal to both men and women, and it is very practical for city use. It might not have the best performance, but it sure is easy and comfortable to ride.