Piaggio Beverly 350 SportTouring – Road test

The Piaggio Beverly 350 SportTouring is today the top of the range from the lucky Beverly family. Piaggio has in fact completed, and after trying it we must say with excellent results, a downsizing process that saw the disappearance first of the 500 and then of the 400, in favor of a smaller, but still sporty, 350. Born in 2001, the Beverly represents a great commercial success for Piaggio. To date, 300.000 units have been sold. The displacement has grown over the years, from 125 it first went to 200, up to 500cc, passing through 250, 300 and 400. The new Beverly 350 is actually replacing the old 400. Now the displacement preferred by users is precisely this, from 300 to 400 cubic centimetres, and Piaggio is betting strongly on this latest version of the Beverly, with a really well made product. It has maintained its unmistakable line and very successful, but trying to improve the dynamic behavior and give it a greater quality in terms of sportsmanship. She surprises with her performances, maintaining all her elegance unchanged. The Beverly 350 Sport Touring, with ABS and ASR as standard, has all it takes to be considered the scooter with the greatest attention to passive safety. In addition to the two-channel ABS, which we are starting to find on other scooters and which will soon be mandatory by law, the Beverly plays the ace, bringing a traction control system to the debut for the first time on a vehicle in its segment, however, very effective and in any case excludable. Technology and a great engine, completely redesigned, make clear the intentions of the Pontedera company to bring the Beverly back to sector leadership.

Aesthetics and finishes:

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A winning product cannot be changed, but refined

Aesthetically the Beverly 350 SportTouring it is true to itself and very similar to the previous model. The lines have always had a distinctive character and do not change, the Beverly is immediately recognisable, it would have been a mistake to change its look, at least from our point of view. A model that you like, from the top of its sales numbers, it does not need changes, but refinements. If you look closely, there are many details that have undergone improvements, resulting in sportiness and elegance. The 5 split-spoke alloy wheels painted in glossy black are new, which we found very pleasant, as well as lighter than the previous ones. The elegant two-tone colors, coordinated with the seat and other details of the vehicle, the satin finishes, the new double parabolic headlight with LED position lights, everything makes the new Beverly 350 SportTouring even more captivating. The exhaust pipe has also undergone a change. Now it is very adherent to the bodywork and raised, making it its own typical characteristics of those of sports motorcycles. Its elliptical section accentuates this concept even more. The rear tire is large, 150/70-14, and from an aesthetic point of view, combined with a streamlined and slender line, it accentuates the sensation of being in front of a vehicle with high performance compared to the displacement. Piaggio technicians didn't just think about creating a sporty, high-performance scooter. The In fact, DNA remains dedicated to comfort and practicality which have characterized the Beverly in all these years. The proof islarge underseat compartment, able to accommodate two real helmets and equipped with a courtesy light and a practical electric control for opening, located on the left block. If necessary, a mechanical emergency control is also available, located in the rear shield compartment, where we also find a 12v socket. The driving position is among the most comfortable, for all sizes. The new instrumentation is very complete, as well as having a well-finished look. It houses three easy-to-read analog instruments, for speedometer, fuel level and coolant temperature, as well as a display with all other information, including instantaneous consumption and outside temperature. On the lower part of the dashboard you can immediately recognize the LED and the button to deactivate the ASR.

Engine and performance:

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Great performance, makes you want to travel

The engine of the new Beverly 350 SportTouring is a true revolution. If the aesthetic look of the Beverly has been improved, but not distorted, the engine it does not have a screw in common with the 300 or 400. The actual displacement is 330 cubic centimeters, but it has 33 horsepower like the old 400 and weighs 13 kilos less. Its complete redesign, in addition to bringing benefits in terms of performance and weight, also benefits driving pleasure. The delivery is in fact always optimal, it picks up well at bass and extends significantly when necessary. The clutch is another revolution. As soon as you accelerate you realize that having opted for a multiple disc solution in an oil bath makes its operation much smoother and smoother.. Compared to a "normal" dry clutch, it is tear-free, even after intensive use. Great attention was given by the technicians of Pontedera also in the reduction of internal friction and mechanical noise. The result is an engine that, as well as being very powerful, it is economical in consumption and more reliable and long-lasting. By refining and improving all the internal elements of the engine, the The belt is changed at intervals of 20 thousand kilometres, the oil at 10 thousand. The cooling system has also been completely redesigned, in order to guarantee the right and constant engine temperature, in all conditions. During our test, despite squeezing the engine to the max, and with high external temperatures, we rarely heard the cooling fan turn on. All these features mean that the Beverly 350 adapts perfectly to any use you want to make of it: cities, ring roads, motorways and trips out of town are all situations in which the Beverly is at ease. Piaggio has truly created an innovative and modern engine, destined to become a point of reference for years. It is no coincidence that Pontedera tells us that of all the vehicles in the group, this engine, together with the V4 of the RSV from which the bike that races in the Superbike world championship derives, is the object of greatest praise. The clutch is also wonderful. Starting from a standstill is smooth and progressive and always guarantees significant acceleration, you can go from 50 to 130 km/h in an instant, extending up to over 150km/h indicated. The phenomenal thing is that, thanks to the reduced exhaust and mechanical noise and the absolute lack of vibrations, it seems to go much slower, only the glance that falls on the instruments makes us realize that we are exaggerating.

Ride and handling:

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For a scooter it is a surprise to talk about driving pleasure, it has nothing to envy of a motorbike!

From the first meters the Beverly 350 ST makes it clear what it is made of and how well it was designed. For a scooter like this it seemed simplistic to limit the test to cities and ring roads. We paired it with a naked driven by another tester and we embarked on an extra-urban route full of curves and fun. The choice was right, it allowed us to better evaluate some qualities that would otherwise have remained hidden from us. In the city it stands out over its competitors, thanks to praiseworthy handling and the fluidity that an innovative transmission gives it. When the speeds get high, as on the motorway and ring road, it is confirmed as top for the total absence of vibrations and good protection which grants the albeit small standard fairing, not least for the speed performance far higher than the legal limits allow. All this makes the Piaggio Beverly 350 an almost perfect vehicle for everyday travel, but also increases the desire to use it for a trip, or for a Sunday stroll which is usually exclusive to motorcycles with decidedly higher powers. As soon as we leave the city he is perhaps at his best, pleasantly surprising us. Over the years, scooter displacements have increased, as well as the power and the level of chassis and brakes, but we rarely felt like challenging a motorbike on a "geek" route. To clarify the concept better, with any "brand" you can dare a trip or a trip out of town, but it is certainly not your ideal playing field. Only some maxi scooters, over 500, are completely at ease on the hairpin bends of a pass, as in city traffic. We happened to have the same sensations with the Beverly 350 Sport Touring, whose displacement and size, however, are much smaller. The generously sized rear tire guarantees safe support even in fast corners, while in tight mixed terrain the agility and excellent progression of the engine allow even a not too skilled rider to put many bikes behind him, with reduced effort and a great driving pleasure. If you really want to find it, there are some defects, but the opposite would be impossible. The front fork and the brakes, especially if you ride it as if it were a motorbike, show some small limitations. If for the fork we are talking about truly marginal defects, which can hardly be noticed with more "civilized" use, for the brakes it's a little more serious. To be honest, they didn't seem up to par with the exceptional characteristics of the chassis and, above all, the engine. Forcing the pace the plant denotes a certain lack of modulation and an excessive effort on the levers to stop in short spaces. They are not serious sins, we have also noticed the same defects on competitors with much higher displacement and price. On the other hand, the ABS works very well, confirming the technological level of the Beverly 350 sport Touring. Its intervention is never invasive and guarantees very short stopping distances, without the scooter breaking down. One last note forThe rear shock absorber, if it is excellent for outings, is also quite stiff and the price is paid in terms of comfort on cobblestones and rough roads. In general, comfort remains high, for riders of all sizes. The passenger is less pampered, both due to the position of the footrests, which are external to the size of the scooter, and due to the stresses of the strong accelerations of which he is capable. A sleek and slender line, moreover, cannot be reconciled with a rear seat typical of other much larger and heavier scooters. What we could define as the "gem" of the Beverly 350 deserves a positive note: traction control (ASR), a world first for its segment. There was a lot of curiosity. Devices like this are now common on many motorcycles, but we wondered if 33 horsepower really needed traction control. After thinking about it, the answer was obvious, in daily use, between rain and city road surfaces, among the worst you can find, its usefulness is certainly there. After trying it for a long time, in all conditions, including a whole day under a downpour, we are even more convinced. In the dry and in "normal" conditions, the electronics allow you to relax your level of attention a little and drive more peacefully. Slippery pedestrian crossings, manholes, cobblestones, damp spots and anything else can be dealt with in complete tranquility and safety, even by suddenly opening the throttle with the vehicle tilted. The system is obviously devoted more to safety than sportsmanship. You can feel it when the tire loses grip, a rather decisive cut in power, with the engine stuttering and then starting to push again when the asphalt conditions allow it. In extreme situations, with very limited grip, operation is very invasive, to avoid unnecessary risks. For more experienced motorcyclists it's almost too much, but the importance of traveling in complete safety in any condition prevails, a small thing. There is always the possibility of deactivating it with a button. Congratulations to Piaggio for having approved an important safety device on scooters.

Price and consumption:

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Top quality and technology increase the price, but consumption is reduced

The new Beverly 350 SportTouring with ABS costs 5.970 euros. Traction control and a multi-plate wet clutch are just two examples of what it can offer with extra respect, just to take the competitor highest in the sales rankings, to an SH300, whose price list stops at around 5.200 euros. A certainly a demanding price, but certainly justified by the contents and quality, as well as the sporting qualities that he revealed to us during the test. There are 5 colors available, all two-tone, with saddle and contrasting details. In addition to the glossy black of the tested example, you can choose midnight blue, Antares red, moon white and matt comet silver. The consumption of the 300 and the performance of the 400, is not a slogan, but the pure truth. Piaggio claims consumption above 30 km/l in the combined cycle, a fact that is difficult to replicate, especially if you get carried away. From what we have seen, it is however difficult to go below 25 km/l, really excellent value, which combined with a 13 liter tank guarantees considerable autonomy .

PROS AND CONS
We like it:
Well finished and with a successful look, high level engine and performance, the ASR also works well

We do not like it:
Improved brake modulation, rather stiff rear shock absorber

Piaggio Beverly 350 SportTouring: the Motorionline Report Card

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Test clothing:
Jacket: Spidi Street Tex jacket
Trousers: Furious Tex JEANS
Gloves: Spidi Jab RR
Shoes: Xpd X-ZERO H2OUT
Helmet: Caberg Freeride UK