Stories from Scooter Commuter

  1. For they know not what they do! 5

    Scooter Commuter &bull Sep 23, 2010

    After years of seeing bizarre, dangerous and inconsiderate behaviour by car drivers, and since reading email and texting your friends became the norm for the London driver, I thought I was beyond being shocked. I was very wrong!Coming up behind… Full Story »

  2. Honda SCV 110 Lead

    Scooter Commuter &bull Jun 20, 2009

    2008 Honda SCV 110 Lead Red Five-and-a-half hours, 30 miles. Last week I part exchanged my X9 250 for an X9 500 Evolution. More about that bike later, but unfortunately, the Surrey Honda dealer which sold it to me failed to service the bike whilst they had it. A service was just about due according to the original Piaggio service schedule, and I wanted that bloody book stamped! They offered to service it the next Saturday, and offered a courtesy bike. So I set off early on Saturday morning to ride the… Full Story »

  3. 2004 Piaggio X9 250 SL - Imperial Blue

    Scooter Commuter &bull Jan 1, 2009

    I have been riding this second X9 for a few months now. A month ago she started behaving very oddly. When slowing down she used to shake from side to side and was uncertain into corners. Even though the front… Full Story »

  4. Piaggio X9 250 SL redux

    Scooter Commuter &bull Oct 23, 2008

    After over a year on the X9 250 and 12,000 miles it was getting long in the tooth so regrettably had to go. It has been a please to ride. The replacement is ... More on my year on an… Full Story »

  5. Scooter Update

    Scooter Commuter &bull Dec 22, 2007

    I was sorry to see the comment about problems with the Granturismo. Other people I know have this bike have had very few problems with it, and even the forums dedicated to it record few reliability issues. However, battery problems… Full Story »

  6. Piaggio X9 250 SL

    Scooter Commuter &bull Aug 9, 2007

    The lines from the front look very much like any touring motorcycle, and even from the rear it doesn't look too much like a typical scooter. The bike is large enough and plastic enough to get loads of respect from car drivers, other scooter riders, and even sports bike riders who probably don't realise until too late that it is a scooter.StorageHaving been spoiled by the GT the underseat storage does seem small, but it is easily big enough for a full-face helmet plus armoured trousers, or several bags of shopping, a twelve pack of larger or whatever.SpeedThe Honda 250… Full Story »

  7. Vespa Granturismo 125

    Scooter Commuter &bull Aug 9, 2007

    Booked my CBT and took it on this brand new machine. I considered many alternatives, and have never been especially keen on Vespas, but the size and comfort of the bike, along with its highly visible front and rear lights convinced me to buy one.CosmeticsWhat can you say? Love or hate scooters, you have to admit there is something appealing about the smooth curves of the Vespa styled scooter that Piaggio have been making variants of since 1946. This particular model is larger and heavier than most Vespas, but it also has a modern four-stroke water-cooled engine. The exhaust paint… Full Story »

  8. Piaggio Zip 50

    Scooter Commuter &bull Aug 9, 2007

    I had ridden a little before when I was in my late teens, but this was my real introduction to scooter commuting. I kept this bike for nearly two years doing 13,000km, riding it on the full moped license I was granted when I passed my car test in 1990.CosmeticsNot much to be said here - small simple and technically uncomplicated bike using a two-stroke catalysed engine. Piaggio have been making and selling loads of these for years. As with all Piaggio painted exhausts, this needs repainting regularly. It goes from black to rust red in the first couple of… Full Story »

  9. Heavens!

    Scooter Commuter &bull Jul 5, 2007

    Now I know this summer has been renowned for its terrible and changeable weather (although I am not sure what is "changeable" about rain and more rain) but Tuesday took the biscuit.As I was riding home approaching Wandsworth at just before… Full Story »

  10. Practically Testing

    Scooter Commuter &bull Jun 24, 2007

    After my experiences with the CG125 I decided to take my test on the bike I am most familiar with, my Vespa. I realised this would mean only ever riding automatic bikes, but I can live with that, especially as I have never been a Moto GP wannabee.I arranged a full day of training with Elite , followed by a test on the second day. When I turned up I discovered I would be riding with an instructor I had not met on my previous visit, called Jim. There were no other students so the two of us rode around… Full Story »

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