Modenas Karisma 125

Overview

The Modenas Karisma 125 is for all those riders who want a step-up from the mopeds of the manufacturer and want something bigger and more practical. With a very sporty design which according to Modenas meets many practical fronts, the Karisma 125 is the more affordable one of the only two scooter offerings from the company in Malaysia. The Modenas Karisma 125 is available in only two shades of red and white for the time being.

Design

Going by the looks of it, it is easy to judge that the Karisma 125 looks far more premium, sporty and proportionately designed as compared to all the mopeds of Modenas put together. Modenas has justified the Karisma 125’s premium positioning above all the mopeds with its much sportier and balanced styling, which looks mature and bulky.

The sense of muscularity and sharpness is instantly identifiable when you look at the Karisma 125 head-on. The angular handlebar cowl, despite being a simple body panel, looks fascinating, thanks to the presence of a tinted black visor. The V-shaped dual headlamps placed on the front apron covers much of the portion of the latter, with the turn indicators positioned on its upper corners.

Compared to the hefty looking frontal stance, the side profile of the Karisma 125 looks leaner. The side body panels look slim, however, the bold body graphics make it look bigger than it actually is. The floorboard is large enough to accommodate tall riders with ease, and so is the long single seat. The alloy wheels have a trendy appeal to them, which only doubles up with the fine pinstriping job carried on them. The all-black theme for the engine, wheels, and exhaust give it an upmarket sense as well.

The side body panels taper upward at the back to form a very angular looking tail lamp assembly. The clear lens tail lights, along with the large pillion grab rail, make the Karisma 125 look equally sporty as the front of the scooter.

While there is no doubt that the Karisma 125 is one sporty looking scooter, the one area which has been avoided is the instrument console. While the segment layout of the all-analog dials for speedometer, odometer and fuel gauge looks decent, it would have been better if there was a semi-digital meter console on board.

Ride & Handling

The Modenas Karisma 125 has a simple suspension setup of telescopic forks at the front and a trailing swing arm with a monoshock at the rear, which is slightly tuned on a stiffer side to make the overall riding experience slightly involving on the tarmac. Adding to it, the angular and lean profile of the Karisma 125, along with 14-inch wheels, make the Karisma 125 a nice and agile handler to control. When it comes to braking, the Karisma 125 has a nice 220mm front petal disc brake as well as a 120mm drum brake on offer.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

The Modenas Karisma 125 sources its power from a simple four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled, 124.66cc engine, which here on the scooter, is coupled to a simple CVT transmission. The engine puts up a maximum power output of 9.5PS and a peak torque output of 10Nm. However, at 113 kgs, the scooter feels slightly on the heavier side as well.

Braking & Safety

Despite being positioned as a premium 125cc scooter, the Modenas Karisma 125 lacks the presence of safety features like ABS or even a CBS. However, the petal front disc brake does its job quite in a fine manner.

Verdict

With the Karisma 125, Modenas has managed to offer a subtle upgrade above its vast range of mopeds, which feel functional in their tasks, but lack the emotional appeal one would expect from his ride. The sporty styling, along with a decent balance of performance, ride quality and handling, makes the Karisma 125 an apt choice for youngsters who wanted more from what the mopeds of Modenas have on offer. Adding to it, the usable underseat storage space adds in the practicality front and makes it preferable for more mature riders as well.