I also booked a ride on the Scarabeo 500, because I was curious and also to see if it would be suitable for Clare. I loved it! First up, it's not that much bigger than a 250 Scarabeo.. Bigger than a Vespa, but much much smaller and lighter than the other over250 scooters. Burgmans, Majesties, even the Gilera Nexus are notably bigger. The seat height was pretty good. I was tiptoe when sitting well back on the seat, but I found that as I came to a stop it was natural to sort of "stand up" and if I did that I rolled forward to the lower narrower nose of the seat and the ground was a lot closer. I could step through too, unlike the Gilera which has a big hump between transmission and legshield. I think it's easier to get into than the Majesty or Burgman too. Dead easy to put on the centrestand, you just rest your foot on and it leaps up like a well trained dog :) Harder to get it off though, have to push a fair bit. The sidestand's good and easy to operate from the seat. The one I rode wasn't run in yet, and was a bit tight, but did seem to have a reasonable amount of go. Didn't get to test it at the traffic light drags, but I'd say it is like most auto scooters, a bit slow to start but gets moving very quickly. Went from 0 to 40 well enough to stay clear of most cars if not fast ones driven with intent. Rollons were good, moves from 60 to 80 and 80 to 100 and 100 to 120 well enough for easy safe passing. I took it through a bumpy corner at 120 and while it most definitely isn't a Guzzi it coped well enough. Didn't feel rock solid stable but it didn't twitch or go off line. Felt more stable than my Gilera Runner which doesn't surprise me as it has a longer wheelbase, bigger wheels, and weighs more. I couldn't do much speed work on it as the limit on the road I was on was 80 and while it was a back road around Botany Bay park I had to be sensible. It did do 120 up a smallish hill into a headwind and had more to give. It managed bumps well, suspension soaked up all the ratty bumpy tarmac I could find, and bumps at speed didn't bother it that I noticed. I dunno it will frighten sportbikes up the local racer road, but it won't frighten the rider either as long as they don't think they are riding a sportbike. Brakes were good. Stopped very well using both, not too bad with right only (I think the brakes are linked). I did feel the front tyre squirm a bit under hard braking. Made me back off as I thought it might let go. At speed it needs the screen, wasn't fitted as they'd only just got the bike. I did get a few gusty sidewinds which didn't upset it, the screen's small so wouldn't affect that. I'd say that for someone who wanted a commuter that did the freeways and occasional long trip, say Syd to Canb it would be brilliant. Easy in traffic, no problems getting quite quickly to legal speed and above, comfortable, light, and the red ones look great! I have no idea how it would go on extended tour, would depend a lot on the screen. Fair bit of luggage space under the seat. The seat opens with an electronic doover on the key or a manual release in the glove box. Comes with an immobiliser, don't lose the electronic keytag! Overall I was very impressed. Light, versatile, a damn nice allrounder scooter with enough go for say the big uphill hauls along the Hume to Canberra. Maybe not as comfortable at high speeds as the big maxis but I bet this would be a lot better as an everyday mount in traffic then they would be. I also wholeheartedly recommnend The Scooter Shop in Caringbah. Good people, friendly, helpful. No idea what their workshop's like as I was there on a Sunday, but they had scooters in it of brands they didn't sell, so someone's using them. Zebee
