ItalicaMoto Formula 150: If Looks Could Kill

Vanity is our favorite sin. It’s a vice all bikers share. We want to look good while we’re on our motorcycles, we want to get noticed. If you’re anything like us, you probably had a poster of your favorite motorcycle on your bedroom wall at some point in life. That’s just the way it is. The heart wants what the heart wants.However, it doesn’t always work out the way we want it to. We can’t all have Panigales and CBRs parked in our garages, at least not right away. This is why we settle for more sensible purchases. For many of us, that means settling for a daily commuter; for instance, a scooter. It’s small, doesn’t sear a hole in your wallet, and you can use it to go grocery shopping and run your daily errands.If you’re in the market for scooters, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Each manufacturer has a roster of scooters that’ll cater to the needs of anyone who’ll walk through their doors. There are many that hit the nail on the head in terms of utility. However, when it comes to styling and design, many miss the mark. Not the Italica Moto Formula 150 though. There are very few scooters that look as good as the Italica Formula 150. But, what else does Formula 150 have to offer? Read on.STYLING AND DESIGNThe Italica Moto Formula 150 is a scooter that will turn heads. The sharp designs give Formula 150 an aggressive outlook. Upfront is a sporty, bulbous front apron that houses powerful front LED lights with DRLs. Lower down on the front fairings you’ll find neatly designed LED side indicators.The 12-inch tyres look great and help give the scooter a robust look. Both tyres get 204mm disc brakes with red calipers which stood out pretty well on the black colored test unit that we had. Suspension duties are undertaken by telescopic front suspensions in the front and a unit swing hydraulic suspension at the back with adjustable preload.[gallery size="full" ids="28788,28792,28789,28790,28791"]Also well designed are the upswept muffler and the seat that gets supplementary support padding for the rider. The rear also gets LED taillights and indicators that are visible even under direct sunlight. Similarly, the digital instrument cluster is also LED and easily visible throughout all times of the day. The buttons are easy to reach and have a tactile feel to them.In terms of utility features, you get a bag hook behind the front apron. Under-seat storage is enough to fit a half-face helmet and a few of your belongings. Although we loved how the Italica Formula 150 looks, we would definitely like to see improvements with the stickers used. The 49 on the rear haunch along with the 150cc sticker looks cheap, for a scooter as well designed like this, they could definitely have done a better job. The heartbeat stickers on other color options are even worse.PERFORMANCEThe aesthetics sets the bar high, but the performance meets the mark. Powering the Formula 150 is a 150cc single-cylinder 4 stroke engine that produces 11.5 BHP at 7000 RPM and 11 Nm of torque at 5500 RPM. It is a peppy engine that delivers power well.Get on the seat and you’ll find yourself in a sporty riding position. The seat height is slightly taller than most scooters but it tapers forward making it easy for shorter riders. Twist open the throttle and the Formula 150 set off instantly. There is plenty to get you off the line quickly and there is plenty more to keep you going. In many cases, when it comes to scooters, you’re starved for power when you need it most. For instance, when you’re making an overtaking maneuver, or when you’re going up steep inclines. The Italica Moto Formula 150 delivers power when you need it.Overtaking was easy and climbing inclines never posed a threat, even with a pillion on board. This really added to the riding experience. Also adding to the riding experience was the suspension setup. Some things are more fun when they’re stiffer, and that was the case with the suspension setup of the Italica Moto Formula 150.The stability is rock solid and it really makes you want to chuck it around corners. Wanting to chuck a scooter around corners isn’t something we say very often, but the Formula 150 is just that much fun. The tradeoff, though, is that you can feel the road under you a little too well, and you’ll acquaint yourself with the potholes of the city roads rather quickly.Rounding off the performance of the Italica Moto Formula 150 are the brakes. You get 204mm discs on both the front and rear and they work tremendously well to bring you to a halt. Pound for pound, they’re one of the best brakes on scooters out there.VERDICTThe Italica Moto Formula 150 is a beautifully designed scooter. It stands out in the crowd and delivers a performance that will not disappoint an auto enthusiast. We loved the stability the scooter provides along with the amazing braking that inspires the confidence to ride the Formula 150 hard.It is one of the few scooters that we’d enjoy taking out on the highways. While there are other scooters that could provide better utility. There are other scooters with a stronger brand name, and there are other scooters that come at a better price. But for those of us who grew up with superbike posters on our walls, this scooter makes it feel like we haven’t strayed too far away from the dream. And we love that about the ItalicaMoto Formula 150.The ItalicaMoto Formula 150 is priced at Rs 3,10,000 in the Nepalese market.