Piaggio Fly 150 Scooter Reviews
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Piaggio Fly 150 i.e. Review
Piaggio have not only given the Fly a facelift, this is an all-new model. So will it remain Australia's number 1 selling scooter?
Allen Drysdale
The Piaggio Fly has always been an important part of the modern scooter scene here in Australia. It's continually featured as one of our top selling scooters. In fact, it was the number one best seller in 2011 and 2012 and probably looks set to maintain that mantle in 2013.
So the question is - what actually makes a best selling scooter?
One thing for sure is the price needs to be right. It's an important factor for many people who are looking to start out and save some cash. Secondly it's all about the brand. Internet research being what it is today means that most people will have an idea of what scooter they'll buy, even before entering a dealership. Consumers, correctly so, relate brand with reliability and quality.
It helps that Piaggio's 1st gen Fly was a reliable, solid performer. It had a reputation for being the go-too scooter for the budget class. That said, the 1st gen Fly really didn't have any stand-out features. The dash was basic, the storage fair, the engine willing. The 1st gen Fly was just a good solid all-round reliable scooter at a great price. And it helped that it was a Piaggio.
Enter the 2nd gen Fly. This time with a fuel injected 150 cc engine and a brand new chassis. An entirely new scooter from Piaggio, the differences are clearly visible.
The all-new Fly is just that, all-new. The chassis feels bigger, wider and is far more accommodating. The floor area is huge and there's enough space for all shapes and sizes. The floor area allows your feet to be positioned flat, forward or however you like. You can really spread out on the new Fly.
Storage is dramatically improved over the previous model. The new chassis means the Fly 150 i.e can hold significantly more gear under the seat. Piaggio have relocated the fuel tank to the front of the Fly saving even more room. It's also moved weight forward for better balance with a lower centre of gravity. Two seat options are available, tall and short. The short seat option won't fit a full face under the seat, the tall seat option will. Both still feature good quantities of space and the tall seat option comes standard. A top box is available as an accessory, colour coded with no additional rack required, just a fitting plate.
The engine remains willing and able. Still a 150 cc 2-valve unit that doesn't feel overly different from the previous carby models. Once it clears the throat however, the power comes on smooth and torque is still the telling factor here. The Fly 150 i.e accelerates away like a 150 cc scooter should and will easily gather momentum all they way to 100 km/h. The Fly likes sitting comfortably around the 80 km/h mark and this is its sweet spot.
On the road, the Fly 150 i.e. will make light work of city commuting. The suspension is adequate and up to the task, only a single adjustable shock on the rear, though still sufficient. The setup is neither sporty nor soft, Piaggio have tuned this one for a comfortable all-round balanced ride. You'll find 12 inch alloy wheels and standard sized rubber on both front and rear.
Brakes are disc on the front with a basic drum on the rear. The front brake is clearly the one to use here, the back brake is just for steadying through corners and keeping still at the lights.
Cosmetic changes are everywhere. A new front end bringing the Fly inline with other members of the Piaggio family. The rest of the scooter clearly respects its European heritage with nice curves everywhere. It's fresh and makes the Fly look classy.
Other notable mentions include the new dash which is a big visual improvement. The switchgear is typical Piaggio quality in both look and feel. Mopping up the feature list and the Fly comes with a centre stand, side stand and engine immobiliser. The passenger gets looked after with a nice set of foot pegs and sturdy grab handles.
It'll be far from surprising if the new Fly ends up at the top of this years best sellers list. The Fly 150 i.e, like many scooters in the budget class, represents significantly good value for money. The Fly 150 i.e just happens to be a well built scooter with strong family credentials. It covers all the basics well and it's always pleasing to see when the 2nd generation model is a clear leap forward.
Piaggio Australia have been able to keep pricing stationary, matching the outgoing price of the previous model($2990 MLP). This will continue to make the Fly a compelling argument for new scooter buyers. Actually, for anyone that's after a solid budget priced commuter the Fly will be hard to walk past regardless. Well done Piaggio.
2nd Opinion - Pete Gailey
The Piaggio Fly 150 i.e. = Brilliant Bang for Buck
After riding the new 150cc fuel injected Piaggio Fly around Sydney for a few days it wasn't hard to figure out why the Fly is the best selling scooter on Australian roads. Italian pedigree, it's a good looking, lightweight, modern 150 cc scooter.
With bigger 12 inch wheels and a long wheelbase, it handles itself very confidently in the corners, cruises at a real 90k/h, slowing down only on the biggest hills. Light enough not to intimidate, easy to toss around in the gridlock, fast enough for arterial roads, and cheap to buy.
This makes the Fly a perfect entry-level scooter. What more could you ask for? IMO - Brilliant Bang for Buck.
published 22/03/2013
Piaggio Fly 150 Scooter Reviews
Source: http://www.scootersales.com.au/news-reviews-4882/piaggio-fly-150-ie-review.aspx
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