All the Tests – An X Evo in the absence of Nuovo – Used PIAGGIO

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An X Evo in the absence of Nuovo

All the Tests - An X Evo in the absence of Nuovo - Used PIAGGIO

Forerunner of the high-end scooter, Piaggio had its heyday on the 125 market with the success of the X9, then the X8. First taken aback, the competition has finally reacted and it is now resistance that must perform the XEvo. Test !

Piaggio is one of the first manufacturers to have known how to charm motorists, by offering them more opulent models than the traditional 125 scooters and by taking up the codes of the world of the car: comfort, practical aspects and typical automotive equipment..

Main representative of the X series, the Piaggio X9 born in 2000 is the first high-end scooter from Piaggio. In 2004, the arrival of the X8 completes the offer by offering a cheaper model while remaining rewarding: Piaggio then truly stifles the competition which does not offer any real equivalence..

In 2005, the success of the X8 was confirmed as sales of the X9 began to decline. In 2006, the competition reacted, in particular Yamaha with the arrival of the Xmax which meets the success that we know today. It was then that Piaggio decided to modify its X range.

The X9 is already at the end of its life when Piaggio seeks to build on the success of the X8 by offering two variations: a high-end X8 stamped Premium and a more economical version called X8 Street. Difficult to navigate then in the different models offered.

In 2007, Piaggio restored order by positioning the XEvo, a new model largely inspired by the X8, with a more "statutory" design, while retaining enough benchmarks not to offend X8 enthusiasts. The latter is then positioned as the sole representative of the high-end two-wheeler. This newcomer is currently supported by the MP3, and the entry level is not forgotten with the arrival of the X7 this year. Like its predecessors, the Piaggio XEvo is available in different displacements: 125, 250 and 400 cc.

Unfortunately for Piaggio, the numbers for 2008 do not look good: while sales of 125 scooters are still growing, the XEvo has been slow to pick up the pace of its predecessor. Because the competition reacted: Yamaha with its Xmax with undoubted success, but also other brands that have repositioned themselves such as Peugeot with its Satelis, Suzuki with its Burgman, not to mention Asian manufacturers – not Japanese – who are increasingly offering models at attractive prices.

So what is the Piaggio XEvo worth? Is he sufficiently armed to allow Piaggio to survive in the category before the arrival of a real novelty? Test.

The Piaggio XEvo is a worthy representative of the famous "Italian charm" and is a continuation of the X8. All the ingredients of an elegant GT scooter are present: alternating taut and curved lines, generous volume, abundant chrome and expressive optics.

The rear is content to plagiarize that of the X8. We therefore find the boomerang-shaped optics, original but well integrated into the general line of the scooter. It will nevertheless be necessary to remain cautious during the reversing maneuvers, because the stop of the fire is the first element to touch a possible obstacle..

The front is completely new and very much inspired by the brand’s MP3 model. The lighting part is now divided into two elements while the turn signals are separated and migrate down to join the ridge going up along the lights.

The mudguard should further divide opinion: imposing, it is integral with the front unit as is the case on most motorcycles. Original for a scooter, this element – effective moreover – may not appeal to everyone.

However, all is not positive. The finish, although good overall, is not perfect, especially in the three-part taillight assembly. Same reservations for the gas hatch – whose strength can be doubted – or the handlebar cover which adopts the paint of the scooter and on which is displayed the Piaggio logo in letters simply glued, failing to be "cut in the mass"…

Whether in terms of the chassis or the engine, the Piaggio XEvo is very clearly inspired by the X8, with minor modifications on the engine side in order to comply with Euro3 standards..

Useful information

At Piaggio, revisions are recommended every 3,000 km after a first "preview" at 1,000 km at the end of the break-in. On the other hand, it is difficult to comment on the prices of the revisions, which seem very disparate from one dealer to another. It should also be noted that the Piaggio group does not enjoy a very good reputation for after-sales service, with problems particularly in the supply of spare parts. However, this problem affects subsidiaries with lower circulation volumes more and Piaggio is working on a restructuring of its after-sales service in order to remedy it..

In terms of accessories, Piaggio offers common equipment ranging from apron to top case. It should be noted that the latter is offered at an exorbitant price (about 400 €), probably due to the opening of the trunk which requires a more complex fixing system..

The chassis therefore remains a double cradle trellis frame made of steel tubes and the suspension elements remain unchanged: telescopic hydraulic fork 35 mm in diameter at the front and double hydraulic shock absorber with adjustment in four positions at the rear, the front and rear allowing a travel of 90 mm.

The scooter still camps on a 14 inch wheel in the front and a small 12 inch wheel in the rear. On this point, it would have been more judicious to be inspired by "fire" the Piaggio X9, equipped with a rear wheel of greater diameter (14 inches at the front as at the rear).

The wheelbase of 1490 mm and the seat height of 790 mm will not surprise the regulars of the X8, who will quickly find their ease on this model..

The engine is the known "leader" 4-stroke 4-valve offering a maximum power of 14.9 horsepower at 9,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 11.7 Nm available at 8,500 rpm.

On this side, the novelties are found with the use of a new electric fuel supply pump and a controlled carburetion, supposed to solve the cold starting problems, recurring on the previous models equipped with this engine..

Because the injection engine is still not on the top of the range of Piaggio – for reasons of cost, development? -, and we will certainly have to wait for the next generation to see the appearance of an injection engine.

Handlebars in hand, first impressions are good. The controls are easy to reach thanks to the handlebars not too high. The legs are not bent too much and it is possible to move them forward to place them on the inclined part of the footrests.

The driver’s seat, wide, has a soft touch that suggests good comfort. The shape of the saddle imposes the position on the rider and does not really allow him to adjust his seat to his liking. Anyway, the imposed position turns out to be in the end good and should be suitable for the greatest number of people..

The passenger is not left behind: its seat is comfortable and its support excellent, thanks to the element – delivered as standard – comprising the two handles and the seat backrest. Note that the position of the passenger’s feet is not clearly defined between the edge of the trim and the driver’s feet, but nothing dramatic.

The motorist is clearly targeted by this model which offers reassuring volume, high-end aesthetics and equipment close to what can be found in a car..

Thus, opening the boot in two parts can be done using the control on the scooter or directly with the ignition key..

Likewise, the speedometer unit inherited from the MP3 and equipped with an on-board computer provides the driver with a lot of information: tachometer, time, exterior temperature, engine temperature gauge, service indicator and mileage trips. Unfortunately, the on-board computer of our test model had withdrawn !

From the first laps of the wheels, the pilot is confronted with a noticeable defect of the XEvo: starting … It can be qualified as "slack", a big downtime being felt on the clutch point..

And this dead time seems to vary according to the time of use of the scooter: it is even more marked when the engine is hot. Be careful not to be surprised – or surprise others – when leaving in a packet at a red light !

Once this idle time has passed, the engine is remarkable for the category: vigorous acceleration reached at 8,500 rpm where the torque is optimum, convincing pick-ups and top speed in the good average: around 120 km / h with the counter at 10,000 rpm.

If other scooters in the category can stand up to it, there are few that continue to convince as a duo. However, the XEvo is very well freed from this exercise by maintaining relatively quick revs.

These good performances are unfortunately not without certain counterparts: the engine is quite noisy at high speeds and above all, consumption is far too high for the category in this period of "crisis" (around 4.5 liters per 100 km). Autonomy therefore tops out at around 200 kilometers before reaching the reserve..

Handling, for its part, is satisfactory even if it does not reach the benchmark in the field that represents the Yamaha Xmax (read our). The Piaggio can be put on the corner without complaining and transmits clear information to its driver when you try to rush him a little.

The stability is exemplary, despite the rear wheel of small diameter not reassuring on paper. And the suspensions are not far from ideal for a scooter with small wheels: hard enough to maintain good cornering efficiency and soft enough not to break your back on the first irregularity encountered..

Under the rain of a particularly capricious month of September, the feeling loses its superb a little with a less clear feeling from the rear.

But whatever the weather conditions, the braking remains convincing. In the dry, the power is there with just the right amount of bite. The very nice brake levers do not have the exaggerated play that is often found on scooters.

In the rain, it will be easy for an informed driver to apply good braking. Nevertheless, it is precisely under these conditions that one is entitled to claim braking assistance … And there, Piaggio responds to absent subscribers! Impossible to equip the scooter with an anti-lock system, or even any combined braking, yet proposed on fire the X9 … Too bad!

Regarding the practical aspects on a daily basis, we can only be enthusiastic about the trunk: in addition to offering a large volume of 56 liters to accommodate two full-face helmets, it is very practical to use with these two separate accesses.

Side crutches, the central gives complete satisfaction and allows to crutch effortlessly despite the heavy weight of the beast (161 kg).

On the other hand, the automatic return side stand is delicate, even dangerous in use: placed very close to the center of gravity, it does not allow the scooter to be tilted sufficiently and to feel the point of balance. It will therefore only be used occasionally and in good conditions..

Despite the improvements made, the cold start remains a little capricious and it will be necessary to play with the right grip to prevent it from stalling. Likewise, depending on the engine temperature, idling may lack regularity: it then emits a not very rewarding sound which in no way corresponds to the statutory aspect released by the plastic of the XEvo..

The Piaggio XEvo is therefore a homogeneous scooter: it has no crippling gaps and offers a good compromise between dynamic qualities and user comfort. However, consumption deserves to be better controlled and it is regrettable not to be able to equip it with a braking assistance system, a significant safety argument..

Offered at the recommended price of € 3,699, it is well positioned compared to the competition: it is cheaper than the benchmark in the category (the Yamaha Xmax at € 3,990) and than some more recent models such as the Honda Swing (4 400 € with ABS). In addition, the Piaggio website is currently releasing a promotion at € 3,590 !

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