italian giant Piaggio...

italian giant Piaggio claims its XEvo is a business class scooter – and after a week with both the 125cc and 400cc models, we have to agree, as they offer more than your average twist-and-go two-wheeler.

The screen shields all but the tallest riders from the elements, there’s plenty of legroom and the dash has a rev counter, temperature gauge, clock and trip computer. Drivers switching from four wheels won’t miss their car’s boot, either. The under-seat storage is vast, with room for a laptop bag or briefcase. It even swallows two helmets, with a little fiddling.

On the road, we preferred the 125cc version, which felt livelier than similar-capacity rivals. It was also smooth, if a little noisy. The 400cc machine was ideal for longer commuting, and easily kept up with motorway traffic. But in town it fared less well, with plenty of vibration and a rough tickover.

Still, both models handled securely and gave the kind of ride you’d expect of a luxury scoot. Our only real concern regarded the brakes, which lacked feedback and needed a firm pull of the levers. Yet the XEvo is a welcome addition to the range, and

is ideal for car commuters who are tired of jams.