A Fond Farewell to Misty, My Piaggio Liberty 125
This is Misty, my Piaggio Liberty 125 scooter, which I bought new in July 2024. She was my first venture into the world of motorbikes, and the machine that got me well and truly hooked. After a year of brilliant service, she's now been sold to make way for a bigger bike, so I thought I'd write a proper farewell.
I've spent most of my life on two wheels, but always the human-powered variety. The idea of getting a motorbike was never really in my head until the practicalities of life in Spain made it unavoidable. A bicycle is fine, but it's limiting. A car is expensive. A 125cc scooter, which you can ride on a regular car licence in Spain, seemed like the perfect solution.
And it was. Misty was brilliant.
What The Liberty 125 Does Brilliantly
For anyone considering a 125cc scooter for life on the Spanish coast, I can't recommend it enough. It excelled at:
- Local Runs: Trips to the beach, runs to Lidl, and nipping down the hill to the coast were effortless. It turned every small errand into a fun little adventure.
- Exploring Coastal Roads: The bike was perfect for exploring the stunning roads of the AxarquÃa region. It's light, agile, and an absolute joy to ride on twisty, scenic routes.
- Carrying a Pillion: This was the biggest surprise. My wife was sceptical, but she absolutely loved riding pillion. After a few miles, she was a natural, leaning into the corners and enjoying the ride.
The Inevitable Limitations
However, while Misty was perfect for one person on local trips, she struggled when loaded up. With two of us and our beach gear, the little 125cc engine had its work cut out.
The biggest issue was on faster roads. A trip to Malaga, about 40km away, involved the motorway. Here, Misty's lack of power became a real problem. She would often max out at 60kph on any kind of incline, which is disconcerting when cars are approaching from behind at over 100kph.
The Perfect Stepping Stone
The limitations made one thing clear: I needed more power. And to get more power, I needed to get a full motorbike licence back in the UK.
Misty was the catalyst for that whole journey. She was the perfect introduction to the world of motorbiking. She proved the concept, got me comfortable on powered two wheels, and ultimately gave me the motivation to get my full licence.
And so, Misty has now been sold to a new owner, ready for her next adventure. Her replacement is a Piaggio Beverly 400, a bike with the power to solve all of Misty's shortcomings while keeping the agility of a scooter. That, however, is a story for another day.
You can see a full gallery of my time with Misty by clicking here.