Per our conversation, I accepted Piaggio's offer to check out their new BVT 250 Tour. Initially, I was a little reluctant, as I know you were, to test a scooter in Cruiser, but I figured what the heck, it's not like the other manufacturers were beating my door down to take their bikes, hell if Honda hadn't steeped it up my long term tester would have been whatever I could have afforded down at friendly Frank's Used Bike Mart.
Anyway, the thing arrived a few days ago, and I've been riding it ever since. Believe it or not, it's been over forty years since I last rode anything like this. My first real motorcycle was actually a scooter, a Rabbit 90 in fact, which like the BV had larger than normal (for a scooter) 16-inch wheels on it. I have fond memories of that old junker so perhaps I was predisposed towards liking the BV, I just didn't realize how much fun this little bugger would be or how well it would work. I rode the BV to our regular Monday morning breakfast ride, and the old farts I ride with damn near had coronaries, (not much of a surprise there given our ages and what we eat) trying to keep up with me.
For starters, it has a lot more gumption than I expected. It's got a fuel injected, liquid cooled, overhead cam, four-valve engine, that's downright peppy so this thing flat out hauls, at least in scooterish type of way. It's a full automatic as well, which makes it seem even quicker than it is, but better yet, means the engine is always at its torque peak, and this thing actually goes around corners, though it seemed a bit skitterish in the wet, the result of its tire compound no doubt and it stops way better than has a right to. Of course, it's got disc brakes front and rear, the only thing wrong with them being that that effort at the rear handlebar lever seemed a little high.
I was also impressed with the BV's utility. It's a hard thing to beat when it comes to running errands. It starts instantly, and is ready to go immediately so you can literally roll the thing out of the garage, hit the starter button and be on your way. It's also got plenty of under the seat storage so carrying stuff is a breeze. This one came with a quick detach top box as well, one big enough to hold a full case of Yuenglings best, if you pack it creatively. Best of all it gets like a zillion miles to the gallon, well maybe not a zillion, but by my rough guess over 75 and that's with the throttle yanked wide open most of the time.
For a two-wheeler of any ilk it's is also fairly comfortable, you can certainly ride it for an hour or so if you want without wearing yourself out, though anything more than that, without at least a short break is sure to get tiresome. It even went the distance on the highway one afternoon, holding an indicated 75 mph for at least half an hour without getting winded. So yeah Bill, I'm impressed by the BV whether it (or any other scooter) has got a place in Cruiser is debatable, it can certainly cruise, or at least troll if you ask it to and it is most definitely a practical alternative to either a car or a bigger bike, especially if you're just looking for something to ride to work or run errands with. Besides this thing is just plain fun to ride, it's lively, and within its design parameters, quick enough to keep things interesting. It's also practical, and economical to run, and if it's an issue, takes up little more space in the garage than your average Schwinn
So bottom line Boss? I think we ought to test one of these things from time to time just to see how our readers respond, besides I hear they have a 500cc version available and I'd just love to watch my buddies disappear in the mirrors of that one some sunny Monday morning.