Typical it would rain when I picked up my new scooter. Still at least it wasn’t torrential like it was when I got the X8 400- brand new tyres and brand new brakes wouldn’t have been much fun in torrential rain :crazy:
It had 0.4 miles on it when I rode away (very short test ride then…) and 32 miles on it when I got home would have been more but the heavens looked like they might be about to open any moment. In fairness when I got there they were still fitting the hotgrips so I think I rushed them a bit. The sales guy had to clean it up while I was there waiting.
She seems quieter (at least engine noise), and smoother than the X8 (though essentially it’s the same bike just updated)- probably due to 18,600 less miles. A bit more comfy too which I put down to the slightly redesigned seat which feels squidgier and that the rear suspension was set on the softest setting where as it was on 3 on the X8. Not that the X8 was ever uncomfy it was very nice but this is just a bit plusher. Nice to ride as well, though I was concerned about the new tyres. I did let rip once on the motorway, but didn’t go too mad.
Some not so good photos - dodging rain drops. LOVE the colour and the fact that the mirror backs are painted not just black plastic like the X8.
Like the digital display and dash which looks much more modern than the X8 - plus allows you to have trip/odo in miles.
BUT - what’s this - no remote for boot /seat like I had on the X8 :o Note a fairly neat job of the Hotgrips controller.
The remote is not even mentioned in the manual so Piaggio must have stopped doing them, but only very recently (perhaps for 2010). It doesn’t seem to be an option either.
This XEvo does get handlebar buttons for both seat and boot like the X8 though - plus also the Hazard warning switch. The courtesy XEvo I rode didn’t have a seat button - as that’s where the Hazards button was placed, so thats what I thought it’d be like. No biggie really as I was very used to using the buttons on the handlebars and only used the remote occasionally or if I wanted to be flash. Plus without the remote it won’t be as easy to lock the keys under the seat like I have done, or accidentally open the seat/boot with the sensitive remote and not realise!
The other thing was that there’s supposed to be a seat cover under the seat but the place where it’s meant to be was empty. The chap said they haven’t had them on any new Piaggio’s recently. A bit weird, but no big loss as I never used the X8 one as it was USELESS because it wasn’t waterproof!! :laugh: Having the space does mean if I could be arsed I could find a seat cover that would work and store it in there I guess though!
Overall I like the XEvo - the plastics on the front panels feel softer and nicer to the touch than the X8’s did, the dash looks much better and I quite like the backrest - not that I’ve ever had a pillion. I also like the new seat which feels more comfy to me. Other than that it’s pretty much the same as the X8 - which is a good thing as I always rated the X8 very highly as a perhaps underrated scooter.
I’ve gone over all the screws I could get to with ACF-50 already, but it’s kind of weird seeing all the bolts and nuts pristine clean. Won’t be for long I’m sure.
I Like it a lot. :w00t:
