Piaggio X9 Evolution 500 reviews

I've had 22 bikes (everything from full-dress touring to sport-touring to cruisers to retro to 'nakeds'), and I have to say this is among the very best, if not THE best. Easy to maneuver around town and yet very adequate on the highway. Good acceleration. Outstanding comfort & wind protection. Stylish looks. Can park for free on sidewalks. Optional saddlebags & topcase, when combined with glove compartment, underseat storage, & bag holder swallow as much gear as my former Goldwing. Good on gas (4L/100km or about 70mpg). Did I mention comfortable? No heat onto rider from engine (a blessing in hot weather). Strong brakes are a bit stiff at the lever and difficult to modulate. Givi windscreen is awesome for total wind protection with very little buffetting, but you need to take it off in really hot weather or you'll cook with so little breeze. This bike is easy to overlook among 'real bikers' but that's a shame because it has a lot to offer. Works just as well 2-up as solo. Passengers enjoy the wide plush backrest on the optional topcase. Crashed the bike this past weekend (sand on pavement - went down at high speed). Bike was still running when we found it in the bushes/ditch. Surprisingly little damage, considering the impact (saddlebags were not broken; fairing was cracked but all lights still functional even though scraped). This is clearly a tougher bike than I had imagined! Design also allowed me to fall clear of the bike without getting impailed by the handlebars or riding up over the tank, as might have been the case on a conventional motorcycle. Impressive. Show less

I traded my 2005 Piaggio BV200 for this Piaggio BV500 and it was the greatest deal I have ever made. There is no comparison between these machines. The 500 is a tad longer but handling characeristics are exactly the same. I love it. Show less

I love my scooter. My only complaint is the lack of underseat storage which is taken up by the motor. It has great accelaration, handles great, brakes great and looks great. I actually bought it online. Show less

Had some initial problems with a loose smog inspection port, loose ground wire, overtightened oil filter, and overtightened oil dipstick. Absolutely awesome scooter that is great at both freeway speed and through the City. I commute from the north bay, across the GG bridge and then across SF. This is the perfect ride. Show less

It didn't take me too long to appreciate the sporty design and sophisticated look of the BV-500, which reminded me of the Vespa, but took on new meaning with its technological improvements and with its more muscular body. Ironically, I bought it before I even knew how it runs, because I did not have an M-1 license. Thus, my decision was based on prior reviews, which were very positive, so I felt very comfortable. As soon as I got it on the street, I was a bit amazed by how powerful it was. I've driven motorbikes in countries like Thailand and Malaysia, but those were 50 cc's. The BV-500 has 460 cc's, so at a turn of the wrist and throttle it is ready to take-off and hit 50 mph, before most cars pass the light signal. Driving on the highway was smooth and it hugged the roads better than I could resist the wind --- it was such a rush to take it past 80 mph. Each day it gets better and better, as I get more comfortable and accustomed to the smooth ride. This bike by no means is a lightweight as it weighs over 450 lbs. and this is evident as it hugs the road and seems to be unaffected by wind drifts. The storage capacity under the seat is small by comparison to the other models; but I'm able to store my jacket, gloves, manuals and tools. The front compartments help me store my cell phone and any loose articles I don't want to keep in my pockets. In a next day or two, I'll hit my 500 mile mark, which means I'll have it serviced as part of the initial inspection to make sure everything is ok, as it seems. My next toy or project is to add satellite radio to my BV-500,..We'll see how that goes. Show less

I love the bv 500, I have a bv 250 in Italy, and it is also a very nice scooter, but for the wider streets, and longer rides to get everywhere the bv 500 is precision. I am a pretty big guy, and most people ask, "Why didn't you get a motorcycle?" Because compromising the agility of the BV500 with the power of a motorcycle was not an option for me... the comfort and agility on this scooter is superb. The agility allows you to easily swerve back and forth to move out of the way of any car or truck, and has the right amount of kick to speed right by them without struggle. I haven't maxed it out yet but I heard it hits 110 with ease, which is more than enough for safe, fun, responsible riding. Show less