Motorcycle.com

a great scooter

i bought the piaggio bv250 based on reviews and articles only. i owned a yamaha vino125 and as much fun as it was, it didn't have the power to do much but get around town. the 250 is more that just twice the engine displacement, it's in a whole other galaxy. it hauls my 200# frame around easily and ...at 70mph it has nary a vibration with throttle left to spare. i'm 59 yrs old and have been a biker most of my life. i've never had so much fun on two wheels and at 75mpg+ i save a bag full of cash. the 16" tires make turns a snap and the discs stop the scooter sure and safe. storage is ok but not great. the foreward storage unit is mostly for looks although i found it a great spot to velcro in my garage door opener, anything else left loose will just fall out when you open the thing. all in all a great fit for me. i wouldn't take it cross country but i would not hesitate to ride it cross state. i thought about the getting into the bv500 but it is just more than i need at this time. i'll keep the 250 for years i'm thinking.

my only complaint would be a small one: i wish the seat were an inch or two rearward. i feel a bit scrunched up at times. other than that small thing, the bike is comfortable and quick. Read Full Review

GO FOR THE BV500!!!

There's no replacement for displacement. The BV250 has adequate power for *most* commuting purposes, but I wish it topped out at 140 instead of 125 km/h. I ride it to work, sometimes in the rain, and once in awhile from the suburbs to Toronto on the highway. The gas milage is very good - unfortun...ately it only takes premium. I guess one can't complain when I can top it off for about $10.

The performance when you're riding solo is good. When you're two up, it feels very very back heavy, (my passenger was only just over 100lbs). When you're in the rain, be careful. The stock tires are very slippery. Taking off from a stop light, I spun the rear tire and almost dumped the scooter on it's side.
It's very smooth, with very little vibration - surprising considering it's a single cylinder engine. The brakes are firm and progressive enough that you won't accidently lock them up but will bring you to a stop as quickly as can be expected without bending the laws of physics.

The underseat storage is the only thing that I can properly complain about. It's ridiculously small for this size of a scooter.

All in all, it does what it's supposed to do with a minimum of fuss and all the flashy Italian style you're probably paying too much for. Read Full Review