Aprilia Scarabeo 500

Aprilia Scarabeo 500

Scooter boom, scooter zoom

Apologies to Mr. Schneider, our scooter-expert contributing writer, but anyone who scoots across the country is absolutely insane.

Or are they? You might think so until you ride a rig like the new-for-’04 Aprilia Scarabeo. Okay, yes, for lifelong motorcyclists, it will be weird not being directly connected to the rear wheel by gears, your feet will get bored (they have nothing to do on this machine except be attached to your legs), and the near constant drone of the Constantly Variable Transmissioned 460cc Single may remind you of your mini-bike past. But, like most things, you get used to all of this, and just start whipping through traffic like you’ve been riding a scooter all your life.

So how does it work, you know, as a scooter? Very well. Its fuel-injected, sohc catalyst-equipped motor shoots the scoot briskly off the line, with lively pull in the midrange. Enough power is in reserve to accelerate at 70 mph, and the Scarabeo will comfortably cruise at 90, stability at such speeds aided by big, 16-inch wheels and, remarkably, a steering damper. The bars tend to flop from side to side at very low speeds, however, and this ain’t no lightweight at 522 pounds with fuel. The CVT final drive generally holds revs steady between 4000 and 6000 rpm at full throttle and works invisibly (a good thing). Fuel consumption runs a thrifty 51 mpg, with the 4.4 gallons providing 224-mile range. Suspension is scooter-adequate and more controlled and compliant than the accompanying Vespa’s, while the Grimeca triple disc brakes have enough power, and about the right sensitivity for the scooter rider. Keep in mind that all braking takes place at the bars (no foot pedal), and that the left lever combines one front and the rear disc, while the right actuates the other front disc.

There are many convenience features (auto-canceling turnsignals, and even an ice-warning system!) and lots of storage, including two gloveboxes, the stock top box and optional saddlebags, helping make the Scarabeo a very useful machine. But the speedo and tach are too similar in their numbering so that it’s easy to confuse them at a glance. Also, the ignition switch does too many things, including popping the trunk and seat locks, which you often do one or the other of accidentally.

There is no underseat storage, although the aforementioned top box is quite large (easily eats an XL full-face helmet, or two of smaller size). Seating is close-coupled but comfortable, and features adjustable lumbar support. Handguards were much appreciated on 40-degree mornings, as were the good leg and body protection. The only compliant about air management is excessive wind roar, although the flow at helmet level is at least smooth.

This Scarabeo is basically full-rig scooter madness that amounts to an automatic motorcycle. It’s not as big as Suzuki’s Burgman, but what scooter-like device is as big as that $7699 Twincylinder, 65ÛCC monster? This Aprilia is full-size (including its $6299 price tag), but small enough to retain some of that feeling of innocent, easy-to-handle fun that has been the basis of past scooter sales success.

This is not a substitute for a motorcycle, but it isn’t meant to be. It is a cool alternative mode of transportation, which is exactly what it is meant to be. But even if it does have dual tripmeters (and a lap-timer!?), you won’t want to trade in your Gold Wing. Save that for those cross-country trips. For the rest, consider the Scarabeo. -Mark Hoyer