Aprilia Scarabeo. Stylish bug
The scarab beetle was revered as a divine phenomenon in the ancient world. Mainly due to the fact that he can move objects (many people probably even know which ones) significantly heavier than himself
Igor Vladimirov
Aprilia Scarabeo. Price: from 129,000 rub. On sale: from spring 2010
The scarab beetle was revered as a divine phenomenon in the ancient world. Mainly due to the fact that he can move objects (many people probably even know which ones) significantly heavier than himself. In general, the scarab is a powerful beetle, hardy, persistent, but... lightweight. Approximately the same characteristics can be given to Scarabeo grown under the roof of Aprilia
Scooter Aprilia Scarabeo © Photo: Aprilia
This year, two versions of the well-known Scarabeo will be officially supplied to Russia - a 50 cc two-stroke and a 100 cc four-stroke. The frame, wheels and everything else, with the exception of the motors, are almost the same for these two models. What are the main advantages of Scarabeo? Of course, we won’t open America by saying that the trump card of this “motor vehicle” is its design and large 16‑inch wheels. But this is true. Since its birth, in the form we are used to seeing it, it has been a very convenient and safe means of transportation. Perhaps small-capacity engines may seem unimpressive and too modest to some, but in order to judge, you have to try it yourself, and with an open mind. This scooter is not designed for racing and not for riding like a chess player on multi-lane roads, and not for slaloming through the streets. Although you can fly it on the road, you just need to learn how. It is good in two elements, so to speak: in the city crowd, where, as a rule, it is not customary to talk about speeds out loud, and on rural paths. In the city it is good due to its small width, which allows it to cut through traffic jams; in the countryside it is helped by large wheels and good suspension.
Scooter Aprilia Scarabeo © Photo: Aprilia
A decent wheelbase of 1245 mm gives the Scarabeo good stability when traveling at decent speeds. At the same time, the passenger does not destroy the driving style, but only affects the maximum speed.
The slope of the front fork and the overall layout of the Scarabeo, for which it is loved in Italy, France, and even pedantic Germany, allow for quick maneuvers without losing control.
Of course, a large space where the driver can comfortably place his feet, even with minimal imagination, can be successfully used to transport fairly large objects.
Scarabeo is easy to maintain and unpretentious in everyday life. This is another plus in his points collection.
And finally, the appearance. Yes, fans of the transformer style and those who like it hotter don’t like it. He is a living classic, tweaked by Italian stylists. This is the style of the late 50s early 60s, almost vintage. But what!
Scooter Aprilia Scarabeo © Photo: Aprilia
Take a close look at how the designers combined the past and the present and ended up with a very harmonious device. At the same time, if you use various accessories that the whole industry works on, then creating a unique scooter yourself is not a problem. If, of course, you have taste and a sense of proportion.
You can also indulge in engine tuning. But is it necessary? After all, we have already agreed that we need comfort, smooth but dynamic movement, as well as carelessness, which can only be provided by small engines that do not provoke you to twist the throttle and bulge your eyes. You go, you look, you enjoy. And Scarabeo takes you and takes you...
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About the motorcycle
“Automatic motorcycle.” What better definition could be given to Scarabeo! Since the launch of the first model, Scarabeo has charmed its owners with its stability, pleasant ride and excellent feeling of safety. His charm and original design were destined to combine into an incredible success story. The growth in popularity was accompanied by the growth of the engine. In 2001, Scarabeo grew from 150 to 200 cc. In 2004, Aprilia's automatic motorcycle was equipped with a 250 engine, demonstrating the high level of technical excellence achieved. Everything is new on the 250 model: engine, frame, brakes and plastics, everything shows the size of the innovation compared to the 200 version. Now in 2006, the Scarabeo is back with two engine sizes, 125 and 250. The Scarabeo is not just a versatile and agile city scooter, but also a practical tourer. The Scarabeo is safe to drive and its distinctive Italian styling gives it a special charm. Design Undoubtedly Scarabeo is the protagonist of large and small cities. Elegant and original with new, lighter fenders, foot guards and white turn indicators, the latest model takes the concept of classic-modern design to perfection and combines technical innovation with style that transcends fashion. Scarabeo is one of the few products that combine the laws of classical elegance and at the same time be a symbol of the embodiment of modernity. Scarabeo is the highest expression of form and function. This is the first scooter ever created that is specifically designed to combat air pollution and noise while still maintaining good looks. The shapes of the things around us influence the way we live, feel and act. With its expertly smooth lines, relaxing designs and colors, Scarabeo truly improves our lives. The Scarabeo chassis exceeds the level of safety usually expected from a city scooter and can satisfy the requirements of even the most experienced motorcyclists. A unique riding experience is guaranteed by the frame and compound braking system, which combine to improve traction and safety. Equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels and wide tubeless tires, the Scarabeo is a leader in its category. Only Scarabeo can turn a city traffic jam into an ordinary pleasure ride. Around town, the Scarabeo is nimble, graceful and capable of weaving through the tightest of jams. On the highway, the Scarabeo is stable, stable and composed, even in heavy truck traffic and strong winds. On mountain roads, the Scarabeo is tidy and easy to handle and eager for a sporty ride. This extraordinary handling was achieved thanks to large diameter wheels, excellent weight distribution and a high-strength tubular steel frame, which is more than enough even for more powerful engines. The hydraulic telescopic fork is a wonderful combination of comfort and control, and the rear shock can be tuned to match load differences. The compound braking system automatically distributes braking force between the front and rear wheels. Both wheels are equipped with powerful disc brakes. Good tire grip allows the driver to constantly use this system while maintaining full control over braking. Finally, the Scarabeo's natural balance and upright riding position provide the active safety characteristic of a motorcycle. Engine Behind its original appearance, the Scarabeo hides sophisticated advanced technology. Both versions are powered by four-stroke liquid-cooled engines and include advanced features such as 4 valves per cylinder. These engines combine quiet operation and controlled, smooth acceleration. Sharp acceleration from a standstill (even when driving with a passenger) will bring a lot of pleasure both when driving around the city and on country roads. The 250 cc Scarabeo engine produces 21 hp. for impressive performance: the maximum speed allows the Scarabeo to stay ahead of the traffic even on busy, high-speed roads. Finally, the Scarabeo's automatic transmission is perfectly matched to its advanced single-cylinder, four-stroke engine, allowing the driver to make use of all available power. Despite its high power, Scarabeo cares about the environment. Its catalyzed exhaust system ensures easy compliance with the latest environmental legislation. Scarabeo also takes care of the surrounding citizens. Its engine compartment is lined with sound-insulating material for a quiet ride. The 125 model is perfect for car license holders (according to Italian law). However, it also meets all the requirements for holders of a B license (under Italian law). The Scarabeo's standard equipment places particular emphasis on comfort and practicality. That is why it is excellent for both city driving and tourism. Excellent riding comfort is guaranteed by the adjustable maxi seat, allowing both driver and passenger to find the best, most natural riding position. Both models are equipped as standard with a central trunk like the Scarabeo 500, with a high backrest. This case is deep enough to hold two helmets. There's another lockable compartment on the back of the leg guard, providing plenty of space for the items you need most often. The instrument panel is easy to read and contains the speedometer, odometer, fuel level, temperature gauge and clock. Halogen headlight provides enough light for night driving. Welcome to the world of Scarabeo! Colors The Scarabeo is available in the following elegant color schemes: Diamond Gray Peak Gray Main Blue Accessories A wide range of original optional accessories complements the Scarabeo's standard equipment. Two elegant 25 liter side cases make the Scarabeo completely unique and increase the load capacity of the standard central case. Aprilia Radio Mob Control is a communication system that combines the following devices: FM radio receiver with RDS, intercom, hand-free speaker for a mobile phone, input for connecting an external audio device (cassette, CD or MP3 player) - Large windshield - Sports windshield - Hand protection - Side saddlebags with attachments (25 liters + 25 liters) - Internal saddlebag bags - Radio Mob Control - Foot cover - Waterproof seat cover - Anti-theft chain
Passport details
Volume From 101 to 250 cm³ Max. power 19.5 hp Year of manufacture 2002 Year of purchase 2015
The idea of purchasing a scooter hovered in the brain area of my head, not for long and not for long. Once, in close proximity, I saw a 200 cc SYM, which my friend’s friend/wife was driving. The device seemed cool. Compact, but without any toy or wretchedness. Not porn, but perky, to put it briefly. However, the presence of flowers imposed its limitations. According to our local standards, riding a scooter in a vest, especially a member’s vest, was a mess. Maybe not only ours. It seems like it’s even a global trend that started with the Big Four and other la-la-poplars. I won't bother - I don't know. Not interesting at all. I'm such a shitty motorcycle club member. Was. The result of the fact that I was more for riding motorcycles than for the club-political movement was that I gave away the vest from where I got it. Of course, I didn’t run to look at scooters after that, but it opened the way for subsequent events. Having stopped at Mr. Moto to pick up some schmuck, the next stage of the obligatory program was to go to the next room to stroke the motorcycles with my eyes. Just aesthetic pleasure, like at a painting exhibition. Well, or posters with hentai on the wall of the mausoleum - you can look at it, you can drip with saliva, you can’t touch it with your hands. Myself even more so. And here he is. She. It. Aprilia Scarabeo 500. Whatever you say, the Italians know how to do beautiful things. I won’t say that it’s a direct aesthetic orgasm, but against the backdrop of the standard angular everything else, it was definitely catchy. I sat with my ass. I sat with my ass on a nearby Suzuki skywave. He left in thought. In general, despite some narco-engineering solutions (we’re not even talking about the carbs on the 1400th intruder, they’re completely beyond the bounds), I subconsciously have a good attitude towards the motorcycle creativity of the Suzuki company. I can’t say the same about Italians. They can't do technology. And there’s no need to talk about Ferraris, Lamborghinis and the fact that a kopeck was a Fiat when it was a girl. But they know how to make even consumer goods look like a work of art. I won’t say that I thought for a long time - I didn’t need either one, so I settled on April. This is such a whim, even though they are starving in Africa. The decision is purely emotional, but the stones in its foundation were the following: 1. Appearance. That's true, it suited me. 2. Some external similarity with an electric train. Personal fetish: “everything should be perpendicular.” The more equipment has external similarities, interchangeable parts or consumables, as well as other elements that reduce intra-garage entropy, the higher the Zen. And there should be one key - for 40K © Emperor of Humanity. 3. Continuing step 2 – betting ears. Well, just delight and “Whee!” 4. Landing. Personally, I find it comfortable - sitting like in a chair, without legs stretched forward. 5. Side cases. They probably compensate for the lack of a seat compartment more than they add additional functionality, although how many apples can you transport in them, mmm... Plus there is something phallic about them. 6. 16-inch wheels. What I don't like about scooters other than the smallest ones is the wheels. Okay, a small detail that looks adequate on its ten-inch cameras. But a self-propelled mega-sofa on small wheels... And so, the electric train has 16-inch wheels, the car has 16-inch wheels, and this one has 16-inch wheels. And the key is 40K ©. 7. The total of tanks is 17 liters. I don’t like to refuel often, especially since one of the main purposes is weekend trips to my native towns in the Moscow region. For any objective nonsense like how much he eats, how much he rushes, he was not interested at all. In short, the decision was made. Naturally, I didn’t take it to Mister Moto. On Avito there was an option for as much as 100 thousand. cheaper. Initially I wanted to drive it under my own power, fortunately I have experience and my ass wants adventure, but then a pandemic happened along with quarantine. As a result, we limited ourselves to sending via PEC. There were no problems - everything was as it should be. There's not even anything to talk about. However, taking into account all the mistakes that were found in the first 300 km of operation, I realized that this was a damn right decision. I wouldn't have made it home. I had a little self-sex with loading and unloading the moped into the car. I was too lazy to charter a tow truck and then walk to the transport vehicle, so I drove my Chrysler Town Country non-minivan. For those who don’t know, in the salon you can stand on a horse and wear a hat. But you have to crawl through the trunk strictly on all fours. Therefore, the aprilka had to be slightly lowered in height. Remove the windshield - unscrew the 4 screws of the cover and the 4 screws of the windshield. Remove the central case - unscrew the 4 bolts, plus open the cable leading from the ignition switch to open the case. Everything is fine. neat and friendly. I even had time to be happy for the Italians. With the help of a mat and a Tajik, they managed to stuff the moped into the car. The fun came during the unloading. Tajik was not there, so I had to swear twice as much. As a result, the garage was replenished with an Aprilia Scarabeo 500 maxi-scooter, manufactured in 2004, the official mileage at the time of purchase was 18 thousand km. Personal name: Scaraped.
Yes, yes, I am a master of pole photography. Alas, I have paradoxically few photos of my motorcycles. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong.
The mileage for the 2021 plague season is a little more than 4000. At the moment, the seventh thousand mileage is underway and the season is not over yet. In fact, at the moment it is an everyday waste. There is nothing special to compare with - I haven’t ridden other scooters, but the general impressions are the same. 1. The seat is large and wide. With his whole appearance he provokes you to take a smoothie, a hoverboard and go to the barbershop for the sunset. In fact, either the shape is not very good, or the material is too harsh, but after a hundred miles you want to get off and wave your buns. Plus, at the beginning of the 2021 season, I wiped it exactly at the point of contact with the bells. Of course, you can be happy for your steel Yas, but judging by the number of advertisements with altered seats, this is a disease. Apennine dermantine does not like moisture very much. 2. There is no suspension from the word “at all”. Even to me, a person not spoiled by the oak Harley Seam, it seems that the springs are there for beauty, and instead of a shock absorber there is just a metal rod. On potholes, the suspension doesn’t shake from the word “at all.” Although they write that it is soft. No, of course it’s soft when you brake sharply at a traffic light. He only bites his nose on the way. Apparently the steel crowbars are bending. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, and you need to go look at the suspension. 3. Very good. good wind protection especially for hands. For once, my fingers don’t get cold in the fall/spring. Initially I thought about heated handles - absolutely unnecessary. 4. Very good There is not enough clutch and a separate rear brake. Grip is especially lacking in traffic jams and between rows. It seems that I have learned to catch the slippage of the variator clutch, but the right brake is a combination brake and clamps the front disc together with the rear disc. Therefore, driving in the gray zone of grip is scary, especially on surfaces like “asphalt with sand after winter.” I understand that this is not a problem with a specific model - all scooters have this, so this is a remark from the category of “pure whining”. 5. Again, purely whining - there is not enough support for the knees. More precisely, if you control a moto with your hands and knees, then a scooter is controlled purely with your hands. It feels like you are sitting astride a fish. Actually, this is the second point why he is not ready for a long journey, but people who travel on scooters should be given a hero star from phenozipam. 6. At first, when stopping, I reflexively clicked my left foot down. 7. Complete lack of intelligible information on the RuNet, especially in terms of service. Even in English, most questions cannot be answered. There is a shortage of clear manuals specifically for the pre-restyle Scarabeo 500. The same applies to the compatibility of spare parts. Perhaps knowledge of the Italian pissuaro would solve the problem, but for now we have what we have. Primary information can be found on the channel: www.youtube.com/user/ApriliaScarabeo500 Otherwise, it’s poor. 8. Consumption in city mode is about 4 liters per hundred. Dynamics are a subjective matter. It’s enough for me alone, I don’t feel inferior. But starting up a hill with a passenger is already a bit of a stretch. 9. Rolls easily and has large steering angles. But you can’t jump on curbs - the front wheel is too small and the wheelbase is too long. 10. Very beautifully voblit. Once you loosen your grip, the “three crosses” gait begins. And this is with a steering damper. Based on YouTube views, I think it’s a disease. So, the man changed the steering bearings, tires, wheels, balanced everything that was possible and impossible, and I wouldn’t say that the steering wheel was like a glove. The author himself suggests that if you remove the glass, the wobbling will go away completely... And this is on a stripped, restyled scarab without a fairing...
11. Getting “under the neck” is not a trivial task. After filling the lower tank, the filling hose cut-off is activated. If you raise the gun, gasoline starts spraying from the neck. In short, you need to fill it in carefully. Moreover, it is not always clear when it was still flooded and when it was no longer flooded. 12. There is no light. And if the near one is simply very dim, then the distant one serves purely as an indicator that a button is pressed on the remote control. Considering that the low beam turns off when the high beam is turned on, in principle I don’t turn on the high beam, but if it’s very good. I need to hold down the remote control button. Otherwise, it’s easier to highlight it with your phone – it’s more useful. 13. The “wow effect” is much greater than that of an electric train. About her “Is this a Harley?” They don’t ask anymore. “Is he Italian?” about April - regularly. There were also obvious problems. Some of them are factory oddities, some of them are the result of service from previous owners, but more on that in the next series.
Reflecting on the brief experience of ownership, I can say the following. Scaraped was chosen by the heart and remained there. Of the reasons why he was taken - not a single one measurable in rubles, centimeters or kilograms. Does it make sense to choose this bike from a rational point of view? More likely no than yes. If there is no spiritual craving for a specific brand/model or there is no person who would personify this brand/model in the Russian Federation (there are such cult figures as Stas in the Aerostar community or Goshi-Ataman among the Viragovods), then it is better to take something more widespread. Something with which you can buy a specific spare part with a minimum of effort and get information on replacing it. If I were looking for a scooter as a scooter, I would probably choose a Suzuki Skywave or a Yamaha Majesty.
But if you don’t look back at your wast, why did you take it then? 
