From Vespa to Kymco. Are they worlds apart?

Ever since I started riding, Vespa has always been my go-to brand for scooters. I have lived and breathed the brand for years and to me, nothing beats the classic look of the iconic Italian brand and the performance has always been adequate that I have never felt the need for more in a scooter. Every time we try to stick to a “one bike” rule, we tend to go back and buy another Vespa because it's so easy to use and convenient that we actually miss riding one around town. Then why switch? Well, the answer is pretty simple, I’m part Taiwanese so it makes sense to get a Taiwanese scooter.

Ha! Just messing with you guys. Kidding aside, we didn’t want to limit our experience to one brand so we decided to try out a more practical one. As usual, we checked different scooters from different Japanese brands but none of which really looked classic so we ended up getting ourselves a Kymco Like instead. 

Trivia: 

“Kymco hired an Italian designer Massimo Zaniboni who took inspiration from the classic Italian scooters of the ’50s and ’60s. Contrary to popular belief, the Like isn't really a knockoff version of the Vespa but is instead the brand's approach to a retro-classic scooter.”

The Kymco Like 125 currently rivals the Vespa S125 in today's market with the Italian Wasp outshining the outdated Taiwanese scooter in almost every way possible. Build quality is better on the Vespa as the fit and finish of the wasp gives you a premium feel, ride comfort is also better for both the rider and the pillion as it offers more legroom and a better riding position, power delivery is superior thanks to its i-Get engine which makes the Vespa more powerful, more efficient, more refined and a lot smoother than the Kymco.

On the other hand, the Like 125 is a LOT cheaper than the S125, and it's a LOT cheaper to maintain and live with as well. To give you an idea, a basic change oil for the Vespa S125 will set you back around PHP 2,500.00 while the Kymco Like 125 will only cost you around PHP 300.00 give or take. Of course, this will be different if you do maintenance on your own but chances are, you don't. The Like 125 still has an air-cooled carbureted engine. It may lack performance but the outdated engine still has its perks as it's easier to tinker with should you need to, plus it has a kick start for emergencies. We find that the Like is more stable when cruising at around 70-80kph on bumpy roads all thanks to its bigger wheels and its dual suspension set up at the rear. The fit and finish of the Kymco isn’t as good as the Vespa but with its price, is acceptable and if need be, buying a better part to make the scooter feel more premium will still be affordable. Just look at it as a vintage bike you can customize to make it better.  

Vespa has larger aftermarket support but parts are usually expensive and shop installation fees are outrageous. The Kymco doesn't have much but you get to retrofit parts from other brands to fit your scooter and will again, still be way cheaper even when changing major components of the engine and suspension.

The Vespa truly outperforms the Kymco but not by a lot because, at the end of the day, both will just be scooters and will offer a similar riding experience. It's not like big displacement bikes where you really get to feel the difference in terms of power and handling.

Keep in mind tho, the Like 125 is an old scooter that went against the Vespa LX125 and the LX150 of yesteryears and for some reason, the Like is still available brand new up until now. To be honest, the previous Vespa LX series will be a better comparison to the Like. A true Vespisti may frown upon this but I have to say that the Like 125 reminds me of our old LX150 and riding it feels very similar to the LX.

if you're not brand conscious and just want a classic-looking scooter to ride around town for a few years then the Kymco is for you. The only major downside it really has is that it's not a Vespa and that anything not Japanese or European is still frowned upon by others. If you want the cream of the crop and a scooter that you can keep for generations without losing its wow factor then go for the Vespa. After all, a Vespa will always be a Vespa and as they say, “it's not just a brand but a lifestyle.” With everything said, Will we recommend the Kymco Like 125? Definitely! Will we get another Vespa? For sure! Probably another PX or the newer LX if Vespa Philippines decides to bring it in. Until then, we’ll be enjoying the Kymco Like 125 as our daily scoot for now.

Stay classy and avoid riding trashy. Ciao!