All Tests – The X8 in the court of the maxis – Used PIAGGIO

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The X8 in the court of the maxis

All Tests - The X8 in the court of the maxis - Used PIAGGIO

The X8 400ie is the latest addition to the famous Piaggio X8 family which already included the 125 Premium, 125 Street and 250. But to get out of traffic jams more efficiently, a larger displacement was needed … it in use? Test.

French bikers are becoming more and more fond of maxi scooters, as evidenced by the excellent sales of the Yamaha TMax or Suzuki Burgman last month (read).

And we have to admit, at the end of this test, that scooters have no equal for playing with traffic, while taking care of the comfort of its user and its load. But how exactly does the X8 400ie fare compared to its many competitors? ?

This is what we offer the curious to discover before they try it … and adopt it? Otherwise, for purist bikers, the Moto-Net editorial staff would like to remind you that our (special 1000th article!) Is still online. !
Paris, 08/25/2006 – The X8 tackles maxi scoots with a new 400 cc. Video Site.

"Fast and brilliant, the Piaggio X8 400ie is the only compact GT that offers ample space for the rider and passenger, excellent aerodynamic protection and a cargo capacity that makes it equal to the bigger ones.", we can read in the introduction of the press release. A verification was therefore necessary !

Like the great families of two-wheelers (like the GSX-R, the CBF or the old ZZR for example), the members of the X8 siblings are very similar, although several parts differ..

Almost exact copy

To accommodate the 400 cc engine, the X8 naturally had to take a few centimeters, which are only noticed by particularly expert eyes. The lines of the 400ie are therefore extremely close to those of its little brothers 125 and 250, giving the maxi scooter the same class mixed with sobriety..

The rear has been renewed "with automotive style inspiration", specifies Piaggio. An argument that one could understand about a 125, supposed to attract the holders of the license B, but which seems less relevant vis-à-vis motorcyclists holding the license A…

The elimination of the chrome decoration on the new sidewalls further moderates the plush and "bourgeois" side of the Piaggio, so that the only two chrome parts located on the front side and the floor seem extra..

The increase in painted surfaces to the detriment of austere black, mainly on the trunk, end up dressing the X8. The black plastic protection of the pot weighs down the line, but could be beneficial in the event of a fall.

The dashboard and the controls which are unanimous on the existing models logically resume service. Thus, owners of small X8s tempted by a gain of horses will not be lost! And this is where the X8 400ie intends to score points: by staying "respecting the concept of the vehicle: born for the city, but also capable of great escapes"…

Not so "compact" GT as that !

If there is one characteristic specific to the X8 that the new 400ie can no longer claim, it is that of compactness: to accommodate the new engine, the scooter has not only swelled from the rear – so to keep a sizeable trunk – but it also gained a few pounds.

While the majority of this weight gain is due to the engine, the double-cradle steel tube frame braces also weighed down the X8. As a result, the weight of the beast rises to 210 kg with the full tank of gasoline, i.e. 27 kg more than the 250 and 41 more than the 125 Premium..

Overweight is obviously felt during maneuvers on foot. Even the descent from the power station is not easy, as long as the sidewalk – or rather, the sacrosanct politically correct zone for two-wheelers on the side of the street! – or inclined. The hip stroke should be firm and accompanied by the arms. At my command, ten sets of 20 push-ups every morning !

Fortunately, once the engine is started, everything goes much easier and even more pleasant….

Master in 41 letters

To allow its last scooter long escapades, Piaggio equipped it with a new single cylinder derived from the 500 cc, which we find on the X9 and Nexus of the Italian group, of the MASTER type. In passing, we congratulate the engineers who have succeeded in matching each of these letters with the characteristics of their mill: "Multi-valve Advanced Super Torque Engine Range (MASTER)"or more roughly" Advanced Multi-valve Super Torque Motor Range " !

Without exceeding the critical threshold of 34 hp dear to young drivers, the transalpines promise thanks to their "Master" a "reduction in consumption compared to larger displacements, but performance worthy of "maxis" and a maximum speed higher than that of its competitors in the 400 class".

In use, it is clear that the 400 with electronic injection is doing very well! At low speed, it shows pleasant flexibility and ignores the sudden unpleasantness. Throttle management is easy, well supported by a lively front axle that allows you to quickly find your marks.

It’s the planted crutch that is wrong !

Comfort is at the rendezvous … as long as you are not too short on legs. More than the height of the saddle (790 mm), it is its width and the absence of a cut in the floor that will penalize the little ones. Likewise, during the first stop, the crutching on the lateral is rather tedious..

First, the lug of the side stand does not protrude much from the floor. Then – and this is the most annoying – the automatic return is like that of the majority of scooters: much too efficient !

It is therefore necessary to acquire a certain flexibility and a sure kick in order not to be frightened. Since users of maxi scooters are a priori seasoned in this type of practice, few of them forget to raise their stand before setting off … We can therefore wonder why the manufacturers persist in offering such restrictive equipment. , which subsequently require personal touch-ups…

A two-stroke engine !

Make no mistake, the new Piaggio is equipped with a four-stroke. There is nevertheless an operation in two phases which will delight the frustrated of the winding 125, tired of being overtaken on the periphery or on the four-lanes:

From 0 to 30 km / h, the X8 400ie enjoys a measured acceleration that matches that of the best 125s and won’t surprise novices. By persevering more, the 400 shows excellent reach. The latter extends well beyond 110 km / h, a speed at which most small displacement begins to peak..

Faced with other maxiscoots, the big X8 is therefore efficient, especially with regard to times at 90km / h, where precisely the twin cylinder of the Silverwing was running out of steam (read).

The pleasant position and the excellent protection of the bubble – the sound of the video confirms it – allows you to scroll the kilometers serenely. As for the passenger, he also benefits from a comfortable saddle and has appendages at the floor level which are very useful when braking..

In addition, the relative rigidity of the frame – it is not a sport either! – allows to print a good rhythm on departmental, without having the unpleasant impression of driving a marshmallow on wheels, even in duo.

In fact, the X8 offers a good compromise between agility in town and stability on the road, whether in terms of its engine, its steering or its suspensions. The latter are effective even on irregular surfaces, the pavers of the capital presenting an adapted test..

Watch out for emergency braking…

Finally, only the brakes can inspire a slight mistrust: the two front discs are not excessively biting but yet, by strongly squeezing the right lever, we can quickly block the front wheel. Admittedly, on the video, the demonstration is carried out on cobbles more "self-sliding" than self-locking, but all the same…

On a clean road, the Michelin of the X8 was surprised where a motorcycle would not have flinched. Fortunately, the braking is adjustable and some preventive tests – as each time we discover a new mount – will not be afraid in an emergency..

But ABS, curiously unavailable even as an option, will certainly be missing on rainy days on the grouille! A point for the competition but also its cousin the X9 500, whose ABS effectively secures the driver.

In the jungle of cities

The "commuters" – those who use their vehicle to make their daily journey home / work – will also regret the absence of warning, very useful for being spotted by other road users poorly awake or too focused on their tachometer … In addition, we note that the rear indicators nicely integrated into the brake light have a more red than orange tint, limiting their visibility..

Another aspect of the X8 400ie – specific to the whole family – which does not lend itself well to traffic jams: the large (therefore effective) but fixed mirrors. Indeed, what was my surprise to see me deprive of retro left after only twenty minutes of testing !

The thug was driving a construction van and loosely taking advantage of my careful driving – okay, slow -, he started up with his feet to the ground once the light went green … tearing with his dumpster the poor left retro which did not didn’t ask for so much !

After a makeshift repair to save the aesthetics – the left mirror was broken -, the retro right however showed a large and clear field of vision. The mirrors therefore deserve tilting brackets !

In terms of storage, if no space is available under the handlebars, the trunk is spacious … especially when getting off a ZZR 1400 (read)! An integral can be housed in the rear part, but the front part accommodates only one jet. That said, no problem going to work or even wandering around for a weekend..

Finally, no bad surprise either at the pump since the pace is careful – but not slow this time! – on the whole of this test resulted in an average consumption of 4.99 l / 100km, slightly below the 5.41 announced.

The Piaggio X8 400ie has been available since July at a competitive price of € 5,290 and is adorned with five all-metallic dresses: Midnight Blue, Excalibur Gray, Smoky Gray, Graphite Black and Ruby Red.

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