Yamaha Mio Gravis – A Return to Form
By: Gilbert Chao
The story of how Yamaha achieved dominance in the Philippine scooter market could probably be summarized in one word—Mio. The Yamaha Mio’s phenomenal success may be attributed to many different factors but one which stands out is its versatility. It comes in different variants that cater to specific types of riders. Yet, to those riders who wear many hats (or helmets) on a daily basis and are not limited to a particular riding lifestyle, Yamaha offers the all-new Mio Gravis.
Launched just last December, the Mio Gravis offered young riders a glimpse of how it was like to ride scooters before the turn of the millennium. The Mio Gravis exudes a distinctly ‘90s vibe through form and function. The introduction of the Gravis in the local market is kind of like the resurgence of the chunky dad sneakers that the kids wear these days. However, unlike the shoes, the Mio Gravis’ overall design enables it to offer some practical benefits like a spacious floorboard and a generous 25-liter under seat compartment. Its stout appearance and bulky dimensions also give more road presence as it stands out from the ubiquitous sleek scooters that ply our streets today. Thankfully also, the similarity between the scooter and the sneakers did not include color schemes. Yamaha kept color options conventional and they decided against those cartoonish decals to give the Mio Gravis a more mature character. Talking about shoes, the Mio Gravis runs on meaty 12-inch tubeless tires to complete the entire look of ‘90s era.
The Mio Gravis is endowed with features that make it ideal not only for commuting and running errands but also for earning a living. With a great number of merchandise now being bought and sold online, there is great demand for delivery riders. Most of them use smart phone maps and other applications as they go about their business.
To ensure hassle-free deliveries all day long, the Mio Gravis has a built-in electric socket where you can plug-in your phone and other devices. You can safely store delivery items in the spacious under seat compartment. While it can’t fit a full face helmet, an open face lid will fit in nicely with room to spare. Bigger packages can be placed on the floor board just to get the job done.
The Mio Gravis will also be an ideal workhorse once motorcycle taxis become legalized. The wide, thickly padded seat keeps occupants comfortable even after riding for a long period. If you are bent on spending each day on the saddle ferrying passengers, then this is a definite plus. Pillion comfort is also given consideration as this is the only scooter in the market with two-way adjustable passenger foot pegs. Another thing worth noting is the ride quality. I did my usual C5 road – Osmena Highway test run and the front fork and rear single shock absorber kept the Gravis firmly planted on the concrete. For me, it has the best suspension set up in its segment.
The Mio Gravis is powered by a 125cc air-cooled Blue Core engine which promises optimum combustion, better cooling efficiency and reduced power loss from engine to rear wheel. It produces 7 kw @ 8000 rpm and 9.5 nm @ 5500 rpm. Though it doesn’t seem much on paper but it was enough to propel two 200-pound occupants around old Manila with some “oomph” to spare.
Yamaha placed the 4.2-liter fuel tank under the floor board instead of under the seat to leave more room for the compartment and also to lower the center of gravity. The result is a well-handling commuter that is a blast to ride in the urban jungle. The fuel filler is also conveniently situated behind the front panel so you don’t have to lift the seat when refueling. Yet, when you need to, there is a button upfront to unlock it so you won’t have to bend over to look for that pesky keyhole on the rear panel.
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After a hundred kilometers on the Gravis, I was able to achieve about 28 to 30 kilometers per liter. Since I am a heavy-set rider with dimensions that causes plenty of wind drag, I’d say the average Filipino rider is bound to get much better mileage. On top of fuel efficiency, you also get a full digital instrument panel, an LED headlight and hazard lights as well. It’s not a bad deal for the P 85,900 price tag.
Yamaha Mio Gravis Review Video
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