Benelli Panarea 125: Cut Of A Different Cloth

Benelli rose to prominence in Nepal thanks to one of the segment's most appealing sounding motorcycles. Through the years they’ve come out with several models in the Nepali market with varying levels of success. Their newest is a scooter, more specifically the Benelli Panarea 125. Retro-styled modern scooters are a popular segment in Nepal, so penetrating the segment for the Panarea 125 is no walk in the park.Does it have what it takes to go against the slew of existing products in the scooter segment? We find out.  DesignThe Panarea 125 is a compact but stylish scooter that carries forward the retro theme that has become synonymous with Italian scooters, notably the Vespas. We’re suckers for snazzy designs and bright colours. So, when the Panarea 125 arrived at our garage, it definitely caught our attention. The bright yellow paint added some colour to our otherwise drab parking lot.Staying true to the retro design you get a squared-off LED headlight that does a good job of illuminating the road ahead of you at night. The indicators are well placed on the front apron of the scooter and call us crazy, but it looks like the Panarea greets you with a smile every time. See if you can spot the smiley too.Fit-finish and overall quality are excellent on the Panarea 125, except for the delicate seating enclosure. The seating enclosure could have been sturdier especially when you have to constantly open it to access the under-seat storage. Also, the gaping panel gaps between the floorboard and the under-seat storage. On the bright side, the under-seat storage is massive and you get enough room to store an open-face helmet.[nd_gallery images="32678,32679,32682,32680,32681"]From the profile, although the floorboard looks narrow, it is quite accommodating even for riders with large feet. The seats are spacious for the rider and pillion. Utility-wise, you get a solitary bag hook, a convenient USB port, and two storage pockets for smaller belonging in the glove box.Like we said earlier, there are plenty of scooters plowing the streets of Kathmandu, and standing out amongst the crowd can be difficult. However, the Panarea 125 manages to grab your attention. It’s difficult to ignore the vibrant scooter when you see it in the streets. The Panarea is available in four colours – blue, white, black, and yellow.And if you are a style-conscious audience, there’s a good chance you’ll get brownie points for your purchase. The Panarea 125 gives us hope that retro-inspired styling might still be an option in a sea of lookalikes.Engine and PerformanceBeneath the classic exterior lies a modern scoot. The Panarea 125 is powered by a 125cc engine. The power delivery might not knock your socks off, but it is ample for urban commuting. In fact, the lively motor, makes riding fun and you haven’t left yearning for power when maneuvering this scooter through traffic. The meaty exhaust note definitely adds to the experience.The Panarea 125 pulls strongly up to 60 kmph, then continues to show eagerness to reach the 85 kmph mark. This makes overtaking maneuvers, even at higher speeds, easier. The scooter is happy cruising along at 60-70 kmph.Ride and Handling The Panarea 125 is one of the sweetest handling scooters in its segment. Whether it’s navigating through crowded city streets, slaloming safely through traffic, negotiating between stop-and-go city traffic, or cruising around the ring road, it rewards you with excellent ride quality and confidence-inspiring handling. Now, you can’t say this about all scooters in the segment.This all begins with comfortable ergonomics. You feel instantly at home once you’re seated. Everything is where it’s supposed to be, the buttons and switches are within reach, the seat is comfortable, and your feet are well placed.  The Panarea 125 boasts a decent spec list and that lively motor performance provides enough grunt to cruise across the city and take on the twisties. It is a petite scooter which makes it nimble and agile. The suspension setup also takes on everything our roads can throw at it without breaking a sweat. Similarly, the brakes do a great job of bringing the scooter to a halt.The Panarea has a 4.6L fuel tank and the company claims it provides a mileage of 50kmpl. While we did not get to conduct a mileage test, anything around the periphery of the claimed number should mean that you can ride it around for a long time without having to worry about refueling. Verdict Although it is hard to fault the Panarea 125 on the basis of its performance and design, the less-than-pleasant ownership experience of previous Benelli scooters could be a sore point, in spite of having an excellent product at bay.If you are in the market for an attractive scooter with peppy performance and good ride quality, the Panarea 125 has exactly what you are looking for. It does everything you would expect from a scooter – it's stylish, comfortable, utilitarian, and easy to ride.In a sea of Ntorqs, Fascinos and Grazias, the Panarea 125 makes a strong case for itself with its attractive styling and great riding quality. However, this does come at a significant premium. The Panarea, which carries a price tag of Rs 3.34 Lakh, definitely does not fit into the budget scooter category.