insured

looking after itself in use. What you do
get is a large diameter, white-faced,
analogue speedo and an identical-sized
fuel gauge providing all you really need
to know during a journey. Sat in the
middle of these are the main beam and
indicator warning lights and a handy,
clear to read digital clock on the lower
edge of the dash. No lap timers or other
gimmicks, just exactly what you need
for a daily commute. Although not
crucial to safe riding, it would have been
nice to find an oil warning light within
the dash too. It is all too easy on any
engine, but more expensively so with a
four-stroke, to let this side of the
operation go unchecked. There is an
easy-to-read sight glass on the lefthand
side of the engine casing, but you
do have to remember to bend down and
look at it at least once a week and top
up accordingly should the level be
below the marker. Outside of the dash
area are a couple of clear sight glasses
allowing you to keep an eye on the
hydraulic fluid for each brake system.
The wide 13in wheels and tyres give
good grip and fine handling, this is
VITAL STATS – Daelim NS125 III
Engine:
Air-cooled four-stroke single-cylinder
SOHC four valve
Capacity: 124.9cc
Bore stroke: 56mm x 50.7mm
Transmission: automatic CVT
Starter:
Electric/kick
Frame:
Steel under-slung cradle
Front suspension: Telescopic fork
Rear suspension: Single oil-damped unit
Front brake: 220mm disc, single-piston floating caliper
Rear brake: 220mm disc, single-piston floating caliper
Front wheel: 130-60 x 13
Rear wheel: 130-60 x 13
Length:
1970mm
Width:
670mm
Wheelbase: 1350mm
Seat height: 750mm
Weight:
120kg dry
Fuel capacity: 8 litres
Colours: Blue or silver
RRP:
£1899 OTR inc two-year warranty
Contact: ISE distribution, tel 08451 301903
(www.isedistribution.co.uk)
helped by the weight distribution found
throughout the chassis design with most
of the heavy components sitting less
than 10 inches off the ground keeping
the centre of gravity nice and low.
Because of the low-down design,
braking is a joy too, the disc set up
fitted to both the front and rear wheels
are effective, hauling up the
comparatively large scooter in no time.
Despite being the same diameter and
grabbed by an identical design of
caliper, the rear disc is the one with all
the power, easily overcoming the
stopping clout of the front set-up. This is
however, no bad thing with any
automatic scoot design.
In use I found this scoot vice-less. It
goes, it stops, it looks good and appears
to be very well put together. You could
even see clearly in the super wide, rear
view mirrors (which is something you
often can’t do on scoots costing twice
the price).
The Daelim brand has been around for
some time now and is backed technically
by some of the largest Japanese
machine makers ever. The UK market
tends to be a little bit snobbish when it
comes to brands. This makes it difficult
for new names to emerge, even if the
quality and performance is as good, if not
better, than the rest. The people
responsible for importing the Daelim
brand into these shores, ISE distribution,
are all very experienced motorcyclists in
their own right and know a good thing
when they see it. They seem to be doing
a great job too, with a superb
spares back-up and an everexpanding
chain of dealers
throughout the UK. What they
have with the NS125 is a solid
and reliable workhorse,
capable of getting you to work
or to the shops in doublequick
time, slim enough to slip
between the congested traffic
and substantial enough not to
take crap off anyone.
NOVEMBER 05 43