Scooter Review

SOTY Part II

Summary on each SOTY contestant.

Scooter Magazine

Honda SH150

Fulfilment of Intended Design

While Honda’s SH series hasn’t been on the Australian scooter scene for long, the fact that the SH is Europe’s best selling scooter says quite a lot for its performance in this criterion.

As a big-wheeled urban runabout, it ticks all the right boxes. Performance is strong, the seat height and narrowness combine to make it easy to reach the ground and the flat footwell, topbox, glovebox and underseat storage swallow anything you can throw at the SH.

Appropriate Use of Technology

Liquid-cooling and fuel-injection coupled with a catalytic converter take care of the performance and the emissions, while Honda’s wellestablished combined braking system takes care of the other stuff.

Quality of Manufacture

Here’s a phrase you’ll begin to hear a lot when it comes to quality: it’s a Honda. In the motorcycle world, that’s enough said. In the scooter world, take it from us. Class-leading quality. They should all be this good.

Value for Money

So how does the SH150i stack up for $5690+ORC? For a remarkably handy scooter that promises reliability and performance in equal measure, as well as offering everything that Honda stands for, it’s a real bargain – especially when it comes time to trade it on your next one.. 

PETE SAID:

Honda really needed a decent big wheeled scooter in its range, and the SH150i fits the bill perfectly. Comfort, handling and convenience are all there in a good-looking scoot that’ll run for ages.

DAVE SAID:

A great daily commuter. It’s well made, has an excellent engine and being a big wheeled scooter it rides extremely well on any surfaces you may encounter.

ORIGINALLY WE SAID:

Even two-up the Honda didn’t miss a beat and my pillion was returned home in shock after the spin: “Wow! That really surprised me, I didn’t expect it to feel like that.” I nodded, and in a flash was gone. 

 
Piaggio Fly 125

Fulfilment of Intended Design

The Fly is perhaps the quintessential scooter for the astute buyer. It’s neither flashy nor groaning with extras, but it goes about its unsung job of being a scooter with honesty, diligence and reliability. If Toyota made scooters, it’d make the Fly. It has pretty much everything you need in scooter without making a fuss.

Appropriate Use of Technology

The Fly is built upon the almost ubiquitous Piaggio 125 engine platform, which means the commonality of parts across the range (including Vespa) makes servicing easy and cuts down on costs.

Quality of Manufacture

It’s a Piaggio, and what that company doesn’t know about scooters would make a slim volume indeed. The Fly may be built in China, and to a price, but it is still built to Piaggio’s exacting standards.

Value for Money

If you look at it as a Vespa LX125 without the badge, is it any wonder it’s a major player in the market? Impressive.

PETE SAID:

Fast enough and very frugal, the Fly 125 offers excellent value for the money. It scores high on the convenience scale, with a flat footwell, underseat storage a glovebox and a bag hook, while the lowish seat makes it accessible for most riders. And it’s backed up by Piaggio’s reputation for quality and reliability.

DAVE SAID:

In the 125cc scooter world this would have to be one of the best quality machines out there. If you don’t want to shell out the dollars for a wasp (Vespa) get a Fly.

ORIGINALLY WE SAID:

Okay, so the pizzazz factor may not be up there with the Vespa brand, but it’s not too far behind and it’s actually a lot closer than you might think. The Fly is more or less the non-Vespa Vespa

Piaggio Liberty 200

Fulfilment of Intended Design

Born out of a need for good road-holding on Europe’s cobbled streets, the big-wheel Liberty is smart, stylish and very attractive. It’s very popular with women who find the slim lines give the greater confidence that having both feet on the floor provides. The narrowness also makes it a faithful friend in heavy traffic, where gaps seem to open miraculously in otherwise grid-locked traffic. 

Appropriate Use of Technology

Amortising the costs of the engine/transmission across a lot of scooters in the Piaggio range (as well as a lot of other manufacturers) is an impressive way of maximising the range and minimising the costs. The big wheels, although designed for cobblestones, work a treat over potholes and offer light, accurate steering at the same time, and adding grey plastic rubbing strips on the leading edges will help minimise damage in minor tumbles.

Quality of Manufacture

See above. Just kidding. Piaggio makes a lot of scooters and the company has ironed out most of the bugs long ago. Remember these scooters are built to lead lives as hard-working transport, parked outside in European winters, not cossetted in garages. The Liberty might look sweet, but it is tough as well.

Value for Money

There are quite a few cheaper big-wheeled scooters on the market, but not so many with the dealer network and distributor back-up to match the Liberty. Strong resale prices show that it is a desirable thing, if you can prise it out of an owner’s hands...

PETE SAID:

Big-wheel scooters are a boon on our crappy roads, and the Liberty’s 16-inch front and 14-inch rear hoops help deliver stability with handling pizzazz. Good power from the Quasar engine means this scooter’s got more than enough talent for weekend runs as well – shame they’re getting hard to find.

DAVE SAID:

Piaggios Liberty 200 has great performance to match it’s sporty look, and is a great option if you want an Italian with big wheels and grunt to spare.

ORIGINALLY WE SAID:

With its sharp looks, responsive handling and engine performance, comfort for two and a $5K price tag, the Liberty S 200 represents a good option for those who want more flexibility from their scooter.

Piaggio MP3

Fulfilment of Intended Design

And how! Barely a year after the MP3 was announced, there were imitators everywhere at the European shows. The MP3 is a revolutionary milestone in scootering, transforming stability and front-end confidence, particularly in the wet. If you don’t get it, you haven’t ridden one. And you should. In the rain. You’ll wonder why you ever slowed down.

Appropriate Use of Technology

Whoever designed that front end deserves the scootering equivalent of a Nobel prize. We hope whoever it was got a decent annual bonus. It’s genius. The compliance over bumps, the locking system, the safeguards and the sheer left-field nuttiness of the idea make the added weight and complexity easy to understand – and forgive.

Quality of Manufacture

We have abused an MP3 250 for more than a year now and, even when oil was treated as an optional extra, the scoot has been nothing but outstanding. Panels, paint and bodywork have stood up well to unsympathetic testers and our only complaint has been a dodgy indicator switch (which seems to bedevil all Piaggios to which it is fitted, like our long-term X8 a year or so ago). 

Value for Money

The original price was a big ask for unproven technology in a conservative market. Mind you, once you’d ridden one you wanted it.
The $1000 price cut that followed was welcomed, as were the various registration deals on offer but, even at the launch price, the MP3 was such a leap in safety and technology that the value was obvious. But\ only after you understood the scooter.

PETE SAID:

Calling the MP3 a revolutionary design isn’t giving it enough credit. Quite simply, this scooter will have you reassessing what you thought was possible on a scooter. Sure, it’s heavy and a little bulky, but all is forgiven once you experience the incredible ride.

DAVE SAID:

At first I thought the MP3 was the freak show of the scooter scene. Now after spending a fair bit of time on its three wheels, it’s impossible to knock, and to knock over.

ORIGINALLY WE SAID:

And you’re going to take that test ride,  or you’d be mad. The MP3 has taken scootering to a new level. It’s quite possibly the single biggest advance since I’ve been in the business, and that’s almost two decades … It’s an amazing vehicle.

Piaggio X7

Fulfilment of Intended Design

The X7 is a scaled down version of the X8 250, itself a scaled down version of the X9 maxi. We felt the X8 was the sweetest handling scooter in the history of the world, until we got the X7 which had all of the good traits of the 8, but with less bulk – and that made life easier for all our testers…

Appropriate Use of Technology

While the X7 had less bulk than the X8, it also had fewer features. Fortunately, the features it lost were extras while the ones it kept were the business. The scooter is a fine example of what can happen when everything works together well, even without any individual technological stand-outs.

Quality of Manufacture

Our X7 soldiered on manfully without any issues, other than the already documented indicator switch issue (where it loses the return spring). There no other issues, though the screen bothered tall riders, making the wind noise uncomfortable. A cut-down version made all the difference, though riders of less than 180cm seemed not to be affected.

Value for Money

At $6990, the X7 is significantly cheaper than the XEvo, though not as sophisticated. Still, it’s probably the stand-out contender as a stepping stone towards the bigger maxis, while still being a joy in its own right.

PETE SAID:

Designed to fill a gap between smallerscooters and the larger maxis, the X7 works very well as a slick urban runabout. There’s plenty of storage and sprightly performance on offer from the 250cc four-stroke Quasar engine.

DAVE SAID:

Piaggio have built a really nice mid-sized scooter with the X7, and having that great 250cc motor means it will do the longer hauls with ease.

ORIGINALLY WE SAID:

It’s not about you, it’s about me. Piaggio’s X7 250 ticks my boxes… The X7 is a business special for the solo pilot, but it’s a bit more WWII Spitfire than Desert Storm Hornet. The engine and handling package is a cracker, but you can see some of the compromises above the knees…

SYM Orbit 125

Fulfilment of Intended Design

As a scooter that is designed to be ridden, the Orbit scores close to full marks. It is engaging in a way beyond the normal, convenient, ride to work scoots. It encourages you to take the long way home, every day. And it’s not frightened of freeways.

Appropriate Use of Technology

There’s nothing particularly outstanding on the Orbit, bar the happy combination of a well designed and built scooter that works extremely well. The rubber fork gaiters are a nice touch as they’ll protect the fork legs from wear, and the underseat battery isolator is a brilliant addition for your peace of mind. The narrowness of the scooter is much appreciated in traffic, too.

Quality of Manufacture

The build quality is perfectly acceptable, and beyond what the price tag might suggest. There is no clock and a couple of screws came loose on test, but these would be easy to remedy at the first service. Overall, though, the quality was really very good.

Value for Money

At $2499+ORC the Orbit is a stunner in this category. Personal transport this good for about three grand on the road? Bargain. And just how much gas does your V8 use?

PETE SAID:

Sharply styled and very well priced, the Orbit 125 is a commuter’s dream. The four-stroke engine is smooth and quiet, the handling’s slick, and the rear luggage rack and the inclusion of a centrestand and a sidestand really boost the machine’s practicality..

DAVE SAID:

A great little 125cc scooter with a nice edgy look. It’s a great inner city scooter that will turn some heads as you pass by.

ORIGINALLY WE SAID:

I have a new scooter to add to my shortlist of desirables. The Orbit 125 is a scooter rider’s scooter. Go and ride one. Then buy it. Phew, that was a short test. Maybe there’s time for a quick schooner at the pub for lunch … Hmm, what else can I say? The Orbit’s good? More or less covered that. Handles well? Done that, too. It’s great value for money? Sort of did that, too. So, what to write about?

SYM VS125

Fulfilment of Intended Design

The VS is Australia’s favourite scooter so we have to conclude that SYM got this one right. A very good blend of performance, handling and all-round convenience at the right money

Appropriate Use of Technology

Again, there’s nothing startling about the VS, though the perimeter disc brake at the front is a stunner and hauls the VS up on a dime. We’d still like to see a clock fitted, though.

Quality of Manufacture

Good, but not great. In the original test, we said that fit and finish were fine, but not quite up to the standard of Italian or Japanese scooters. But then again neither is the price, and that with scooters is always the compromise.

Value for Money

The price has risen significantly (thanks to the current economic climate) to $3499+ORC, so the value for money is slightly less than it was not so long ago, but you still have to factor in the four-year warranty period which goes a long way to softening the price hike

PETE SAID:

You don’t get to the top of the sales charts without doing something right, and the VS125 has earned its best-seller position by the sheer honesty of its performance and a competitive price tag. No-fuss 125s don’t come much better than this one..

DAVE SAID:

It’s not the biggest selling scooter for no good reason. This little puppy is a great performer, value for money and built well for the price.

ORIGINALLY WE SAID:

Small and low usually mean a problem for the medium to large, but the VS125 is big on space thanks to a large seat and plenty of legroom … If you are looking for a small, sporty scooter, but don’t want something built for munchkins, the VS125 should be on your list. A price that’s a shade less than $3000 before on-road costs, and a four-year warranty, should also be strong inducements.

Vespa 300

Fulfilment of Intended Design

For many people the words scooter and Vespa are interchangeable and Vespa has traded on this for years with scooters that are always identifiably Vespa in silhouette. Making a bigger Vespa simply makes a better Vespa, if performance is your thing.

Appropriate Use of Technology

The GTS250 engine now comes as a 300 (278cc, in fact) and has been fitted to this Vespa 300 Super and the Beverly as well as Aprilia’s Scarabeo Cube among others, thus amortising the costs for you. Subtle tweaks to the 300 over the 250 GTS are more about aesthetics than performance, but still add up. The boost in torque is what makes the 300.

Quality of Manufacture

It’s a Vespa and they haven’t been building scooters for 62 years for nothing. Our test machine had a rusty bolt on the footpeg, but nothing of great significance. The steel body offers rigidity, but also a panel-beating challenge if things go wrong, but that’s the same with any modern Vespa.

Value for Money

Ever since the birth of Lambretta, there has been one eternal question. Are you buying a scooter or a Vespa?. You can buy scooters that offer as much performance as the 300 Super for less money, but if you want the cachet that the Vespa name offers, then the outlay is worth it. But, when it comes down to it, it’s your money and your choice. We’d like to say we own a Vespa, but we also realise there are other options that are easier on the wallet

PETE SAID:

The GTS 250 was a landmark design for Vespa, and the new 300 takes the platform to another level. Gorgeous Vespa styling and oodles of grunt from the big-block engine makes the Super a city slicker supreme. .

DAVE SAID:

The top of the line Vespa by rank and by nature. I love the look, the feel and especially the extra torque the 300 provides.

ORIGINALLY WE SAID:

Another surprise for me was the way the 300 Super feels compared to the GTS 250. For a scooter that’s had some subtle cosmetic changes and a tad more oomph squeezed out of it, it is definitely an individual … I want one

As published in TW SCOOTER MAGAZINE - 25/05/2009
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