Piaggio Gilera Fuoco

Big & Butch

WHAT WE LIKED

NOT SO MUCH

RATINGS: Overall rating: 4.1/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain: 4.0/5.0
Chassis: 4.0/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 4.0/5.0
In the saddle: 4.0/5.0
X-factor: 4.5/5.0

OVERVIEW
Piaggio (which includes scooter brands Vespa and Gilera) really stuck its corporate neck out when it released the leaning three-wheeler concept in the shape of, initially, the MP3 250. Would the market accept such a wild-looking gadget and, if so, who exactly would buy them?

By all reports, the sales figures are solid, and the devices have received rave reviews from motorcycle media. For the MP3 series, the company stuck with adapting the unusual dual-wheel front end to what was already well-accepted technology - essentially the X8 platform.

When it came to the prestigious and somewhat exotic Gilera brand, the crew decided to use its well-tried 492cc injected single and go all-out in the styling department. The end result is by far the most butch animal ever to shoulder its way into a scooter showroom. It's a spectacular toy in its own right.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
The $12,990 plus ORC price is at the top end of the scooter world and has been reduced to now include on-road costs as a one-off promotion. There aren't a lot of scooters in this cost segment, but the Fuoco stacks up pretty well in that limited company.

It's not the quickest scooter out there (an honour that remains with the Suzuki 650 Burgman) but is fast enough with a quoted and believable top speed of 143km/h.

Where it stacks up is in the included equipment. It is very well finished, has probably the nicest dash in all of scooterdom, and has numerous add-ons. The latter include a very comprehensive (and functional) light set, luggage rack on the rear and of course that special two-wheel front end.

Under-seat storage is adequate but nothing special for its size. I'd be tempted to fit the factory topbox to increase its flexibility.

DRIVETRAIN
The 492cc powerplant has been with us in various guises for some time now and is a proven unit. It's a little lumpy at low revs, but spins up willingly and has very useful midrange. Throttle response is crisp and fuel consumption is modest for such a big machine - 20-22km/lt.

Its expanding pulley transmission offers no surprises - gentle on initial take-off and maintaining a smooth transition from there.

CHASSIS
This package is running a long-wheelbase version of the MP3 chassis which, combined with the substantial powerplant and big superstructure, means it's no inner-urban flyweight. This is a substantial motorcycle.

However it is perfectly manageable in the peak-hour snarl and is not your average city animal. The sheer bulk is acceptable in town and really works in its favour out on the highway. It then becomes a super-stable platform with ample performance. Having a passenger has minimal effect on performance.

The suspension is well-sorted, erring on the side of comfort, and able to handle mid-corner bumps and surprises with ease. That, combined with the huge amount of extra grip offered by the second wheel, makes it feel ultra safe and sure - particularly in dodgy conditions. Adjustment is restricted to spring preload (or ride height) at both ends.

Braking is up to the job of pulling up a fully-loaded machine - again the extra front end grip helps - and offers decent feel.

A unique feature is you can lock the front-end upright at very low speed and at a standstill. It unlocks itself when you take off.

PACKAGING
To me, it looks and feels like a premium product and is nevertheless priced at a reasonable level.

All the three-wheelers in the corporate range are discussion-starters - it will take a long time before people get used to see them getting around, and perhaps many years for this wild-looking version.

COMPETITORS
In theory, the Fuoco is in a class of one. There's no direct competitor. The nearest challenger is Suzuki's very fast and capable twin-cylinder Burgman 650, which is priced about the same. It's a more conventional machine in the chassis and styling departments, with more room under the seat. Yamaha and Honda also have well-sorted big-bore scooters which should be looked at.

ON THE ROAD
Riding any of these three-wheelers is a treat and should leave you with a smile on the dial. I've got a lot of affection for this one because it has heaps of performance and looks a million dollars.

It isn't a nippy machine and is happier away from peak-hour traffic. So long as you can cope with that, you'll have a ball. Handling is good and the performance quite enough to keep most people interested.

See the video review.