We’ve seen a lot of new motorcycles launched in the past couple of months, while many of them may be new to the market, some of their “new” features still feel a couple of years old already. That’s not the case with Yamaha’s Mio Gravis, one of the most recently launched motorcycles that has done its homework and offers features we really need.
The Gravis is a mid-level AT scooter and is the newest member of Yamaha’s growing Mio family. Except the Aerox, all the other Mios just seem like the same bike in different bodywork. To stand out, the Gravis, thankfully, offers some features all the other Mios don’t.
Mature styling
As you may have noticed, there’s some family resemblance with the front façade looking a bit like the Mio Soul i. Unlike the Soul, it has a curvier body instead of the Soul’s angular styling. It also features more mature styling, with fewer and simpler decals, 3D badges, and a matte look for all the color choices.
You’ll notice, its broad headlamp has integrated position / park lamps that are still the bulb-type, but LED headlights for both dim and bright modes. The turn signals are lower on the body. Behind is a one-piece combination tail lamp.
Convenience features
Now the Gravis may be late to the scooter party, but it’s done a good job of playing catchup. This is because there are a lot of features fitted as standard that you would have had to install yourself on previous Mios.
One of these is the new hazard lamp switch. It’s now installed as standard. Another is the power socket for charging phones and other digital devices. In the past, owners that want more utility with their bike would have had to have this installed and possibly void the warranty. Now, it’s a standard feature.
Another new feature is the fuel tank now located on the front shield. The fuel nozzle is also there, making it easier to gas up without having to open the seat. Just move the key to the open position and press the button to open it.
Accessing cargo is also easier with a separate button release for the seat. This opens up the utility box that boasts of a 25-liter capacity. Yamaha says it is capable of storing a full-face helmet. It depends on the size though. Smaller helmets will fit easily but we tried it ourselves with an XL size helmet. The best way to store it is upside down, so it’s a little unusual but it still fits.
Engine
Powering this bike is a 125cc four-stroke, air-cooled, single-cylinder Blue Core engine. It has both electric and manual start functions. It produces 9.5 PS at 8,000 rpm and 9.5 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm.
It’s got a new Smart Motor Generator that lets it start quietly. In fact, it’s so smooth and quiet that we had to double check if it was already running. There was practically no sound or vibration when it starts up. We had to twist the throttle just to be sure.
The power delivery is perfect for the city. It accelerates quickly up to 70-80 km/h. Acceleration starts to slow down after that. Nevertheless, the Gravis was designed to be a city bike so it’s the lower speeds where you really need that power. In that regard, it delivers quite well.
You’ll see how fast you’re going on the full digital meter panel. All the trip information is on a cramped little square, so at first, it’s a bit confusing. Nonetheless, you quickly get used to it. In default mode, it will show the digital speed, odometer, fuel level, and real time fuel economy but in bars. A function button below it shows trip info and battery voltage.
Handling
The Gravis has a telescopic fork in front and a single sided shock and swing arm at the back. It rolls on 12-inch wheels with wide tubeless tires.
Some riders may be complaining about its small wheels, but they also allow for a thicker tire. This tire is taller and wider than the other Mios, allowing it to absorb bumps and potholes much more easily and giving it a wider contact patch on the road.
Though the tires are definitely for the street, we think Yamaha chose a taller and wider tire setup to allow the Gravis to handle a little bit of light off-road, particularly in more rural areas.
That wider contact patch makes it more agile and even easier to lean around corners. It changes direction fairly easily and is still stable when hitting a bump or two while leaning.
The ride in the rear is very comfortable but the front suspension feels a bit stiff.
As for the brakes, they’re very easy to modulate. There’s good feedback and they bite well and early. The disc in front and drum in the rear is more than enough for daily riding needs, and we didn’t feel the need for a disc in the back.
Curiously, the Gravis’ front disc has some components needed for ABS. So it’s a shame it doesn’t come with it. Then again, it could be something Yamaha offers in the future, or something you can easily upgrade and activate for an extra cost.
We weren’t able to get an accurate fuel consumption reading as the fuel economy indicator is only composed of bars without a real readout. Still, we estimate the Gravis can easily attain 40-50 km/L even in heavy traffic. We’ve had it a whole week and the fuel gauge didn’t even go down a bar.
The Gravis is very accessible for a wide variety of riders. It’s got a very low seat height of 780 mm. It tips the scales at just 100kg. Even if you’re a tall or wide rider, the broad and flat footwell will easily accommodate your feet.
Conclusion
The Gravis may be a bit late to the market, but it’s certainly worth looking at, especially for those looking for a practical daily bike. It has many features built-in already so you can just hop on and do what you need to do. Best of all, there is so much room for customization be it with wraps, wheels, exhaust pipes or accessories.
