Benelli is known and has been specializing in manufacturing naked street and racing adventure bikes. Now, Benelli has entered into the scooter sector of the two-wheeler market. Benelli Panarea 125 is the company’s first ever scooter to debut in the Nepali market. This classic looking scooter is a box of retro looks, functionality, and surprising features.
BODY OVERVIEW:
The overall body of the scooter and its elements are a perfect combination of pure italian, classic-retro and modern design. Even though it is highly similar to a Vespa, Panarea is different in many ways. Due to its plastic body, it weighs just 104kgs, which makes it super light and easy to ride. First thing to catch one’s eyes in the scooters front section is the mildly square shaped, neo-retro looking high brightness LED headlamps. This shows how retro looks and modern features are equipped into one mold. Even the LED Indicator lights are positioned in a very unique manner.
Moving further, the side mirrors are super crisp, clear and perfectly shaped. The handle bars are placed at a lower level to support easy handling. Instrument console is also a perfect combination of both digital and analog layouts. The speedometer is analog, whereas the odometer and indicators are digital. We can find an ignition key switch. To keep the scooter safe this port is installed with an ignition key switch, seat lock and key slot security door. There is ample leg room along with the ultra-ergonomic compartment with a USB charging port in its pocket.
There is a lot we can talk about the rear section of the scooter. The seats are perfectly placed for reach. Rider seat is made to fit all heights, thus made a bit narrow, and the pillion seats are soft and comfortable. Underseat storage can be opened by pressing the button that is placed near the keyhole. The 12 liter storage itself is just enough to adjust a half helmet and some nick nacks. The footpegs on this scooter come out with a push and a second click would place it back to its original place. The tail and indicator lights are LED as well with a retro structure.
SPECIFICATION AND PERFORMANCE:
It is a 124cc, Single-cylinder, 2-valve, 4-stroke, forced air cooled EFI engine with a EURO4 emission standard. Its starting system supports both electric and kick start. It generates a power of 6.3 kW @7500rpm and a torque of 9.2Nm @ 6000rpm. With a CVT automatic Gear Shift Type, the scooter is smooth and flexible in any city ride. Even though it is a plastic body scooter, during acce;eration and throttle the scooter does not generate noticeable vibration and sound. Also the engine kill switch is really helpful during a traffic jam.
Like any normal city scooter its top speed is at 90kmph. It has a fuel tank capacity of 4.6 liter. Despite a small fuel tank, it is surprisingly able to give a mileage of almost 50kmpl which is actually pretty impressive. But normally with traffic in a crowded city, the scooter is able to give a mileage of 40 to 45 kmpl. It is actually a compact and light weight scooter thus making it accessible to small crannies and alleys of the valley.
DIMENSIONS:
Panarea has a larger set of 12 inch tubeless wheels, which makes it easier for the rider to glide on the black topped roads and handle the scooter better. Its wheelbase is 1270mm and ground clearance is 135 mm. These dimensions are actually enough for a double load ride on smooth roads, but the rider should be careful on rough roads to prevent any damage to the scooter. Its suspension system is a telescopic front fork and rear telescopic coil spring oil damped, making the scooter strong enough for city drives. This scooter has 190mm front disc brakes and 130mm rear drum brakes. Breaks are steady enough for riding within the city and major emphasis on short travels.
CONCLUSION:
Benelli scooters have existed in other countries for many years. Panarea being the first model to enter Nepal, can be trusted for being a tried and tested model. This is a perfect fusion of traditional and contemporary pieces. This is a very simplified scooter with known technology and features, making it no direct competition to all the tech savvy scooters that are covering the roads of Nepal. The Vespa sxl can be considered as a competition to Panarea 125, as they both cater to the premium segment at a similar price range and also wants to make it an exclusive model and product. It is priced at Rs. 3,34,900 and is available in the color variants blue, yellow, black and red. The Benelli panarea is simply made for short rides and city roads. This would fit the best for buyers who want a premium, fun looking, elegant scooter, with a utilitarian purpose and is simple to operate