Piaggio Liberty 150 MY2016, comes of age and does everything again [ROAD TEST]

Piaggio Liberty 150 MY2016 - 18 years and 900.000 copies sold, numbers that few others can show off. Piaggio's high-wheeler reaches its fifth generation and does so with radical changes. New appearance, new engine, new chassis and revised chassis and with a 16" front wheel and ABS as standard. Many new features and improvements for a product that is a best seller also for its almost unique approach. Small and light, practical and economical, but without giving up an elegant and trendy look. With i iGet thrusters (editor's note: pronounced “ai ghet”) performance increases and consumption decreases, to keep up with the times and with the best competition. Available in three engine sizes starting from the 50, moving on from the 125 to the 150 which was the subject of our test, from 2.020 euros up to 2.590 for the Liberty S 150.

Aesthetics and finishes:

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It grows in size and capacity of the saddle pad, improving in quality and elegance

So, after a quick and distracted "look" at someone you might think that it is simply a restyling. Instead, the Liberty MY2016 is all new, profoundly revisited and improved from many points of view. However, the choice to keep it was a good one style unchanged, succeeded, enriching it with elegant details, like the chromed profiles ed increased attention to quality. The materials are excellent, such as the coupling of the various parts and the quality of the painting, impeccable even upon careful observation up close. It is clear that Piaggio invested a lot in the fifth generation of the Liberty even before getting into the saddle and starting it up to drive it. Many aspects have improved, from the new instrumentation, more complete and also more beautiful to look at, to the greatly increased capacity both of the rear shield compartment (it reaches almost 4 liters and you can store a charging smartphone in it if you opt for the USB socket), but above all of the saddle pad, finally able to accommodate a "normal" helmet. Salt from 12,5 to 17 litres and it has a regular shape, perfect for storing a good jet that decently protects the head, without having to sacrifice safety by choosing the helmet for its reduced dimensions rather than for its quality.

Even the electric opening system, in the past the subject of some minor criticism, resolves one of its defects thanks to the added position of the key in the block. Now there are two "off" positions, one like the old one and one that disables the under-seat compartment opening button. Thus you can choose based on the situation and the risk of theft, even when you are forced to leave the scooter without the steering lock inserted (for example in a car park where staff need to be able to move it). Improve ergonomics, you immediately feel at ease in the saddle and the position remains comfortable even after several kilometers of riding. The new saddle is more welcoming, even for the passenger, and comfortable thanks to the very well made padding. The dimensions increase, but the Liberty remains perfect for the city, including the limited spaces to find a parking space for him. It can be placed without problems, for example, even in the few centimeters left free in the garage near a car, with the great convenience of being able to move it on the central stand and not, without too much effort, given that it remains a featherweight (106 kg per dry) compared to the increasingly larger and “fatter” scooters on the market. The side stand is missing (but available optionally), but given the low weight, it is an accessory that you can actually do without.

Engine and performance:

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A new family of iGet engines, shown here with 3 valves and air cooling

One of the most important innovations at the Piaggio stand at the last edition of Eicma was precisely the new family of Piaggio iGet engines. Available in multiple engine sizes and versions (3 or 4 valves and with air or liquid cooling, depending on the models and markets for which they are intended), the Liberty 3 valves (2 intake and 1 exhaust) with air cooling, capable of consuming little, but also having an excellent performance/price ratio. From 50 to 150, obviously passing through the 125 intended mainly for the "B driving licence" public, the 4-stroke single cylinder is silent and apart from a few small exceptions at the minimum, it is essentially vibration-free. It guarantees improved performance, with a performance increase of approximately 10%, which however must be combined with a -16% on consumption. Between 125 and 150 less than two horses "dance" (11 against 13), but the choice between the two is certainly not made for this reason or even for the 100 euros that separate them, but for the possibility of the first being driven without having the A driving licence, for the second to be able to travel sections of the motorway or ring road. The data on power is not the highest (remember, for example, that the legal limit for 125s is 11 kW - 15 horsepower) both because the objective is top efficiency, as we will see when talking about consumption, but also because with the right output and a well-calibrated transmission the horsepower is almost always more than sufficient, certainly in an urban environment. In traffic the Liberty 150 confirms itself as one of the best choices, easy to handle and quick, thanks precisely to the excellent power delivery and renewed transmission, with updated variator clutch.

Even when stationary it is more agile than in the past, also thanks to the substantial changes affecting the engine, equipped with a new intake line, with electronic injection and also a dedicated exhaust. Maximum torque and power arrive precisely where the variator makes the engine work most often, respectively at 6.500 rpm the 13 Nm, at 7.750 the 13 horsepower. They are not yet Euro 4 units, but they are ready for the transition from the current Euro 3 standard without major upheavals. The new iGet was able to convince us, it is perfect in terms of performance - economy ratio, it only has a couple of small flaws. In our choice to try the 150 instead of the 125, to be able to travel on the motorways, we were able to see that it lacks the necessary reach in this context. The maximum speed is higher than the indicated 110 km/h, but at this speed the engine works inefficiently and the consumption demonstrates this quite clearly (it drops below 20 km/l). A reasonable cruising speed is around 80-90 km/h. The other report concerns a slight difficulty in starting when cold when temperatures are cold. It is necessary, as is normally always recommended, not to open the throttle while pressing the start button and to use it delicately even in the first seconds. After a few strokes of the starter motor the Liberty always starts, while when temperatures are milder starting is more immediate and less uncertain. However, if you overdo it with the accelerator you end up wetting the spark plug and to get it going again there is no other solution than dismantling it and cleaning it or replacing it, we can assure you...

Ride and handling:

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It gains a 16" front and is perfect for the city: easy to handle, agile and light

The most obvious innovation concerns the transition from 15 to 16” for the front wheel, but the Liberty is also completely new in terms of chassis. A more supported fork and single cradle steel frame which takes the place of the old one, are the two most important elements. The new Liberty is now stiffer (+17% longitudinal rigidity and +15% torsional rigidity), which makes it better in driving dynamics. The 16" wheel and fork make it a scooter that is ready for changes of direction and easy to handle, but also much more stable and safe than in the past. At the rear the 14" wheel is confirmed, which allows you to free up space for the underseat compartment. Bosch ABS makes its debut as standard on the 125 and 150, for the front wheel only. Where it is needed after all, why the rear drum It helps to reduce stopping distances, but it is the 240mm front disc to take on the most important part of the work. Furthermore, the locking of the rear wheel produces a skid at most, while it is at the front that the action of the ABS can avoid dangerous steering locks, which would cause almost certain falls. The effort on the levers when you need to brake a lot is not the most contained, but the stopping distances are reduced, even when using only the right lever. Small and light, it runs in extremely small spaces, as well as having a fairly low price, Liberty represents a simple, but valid approach to urban mobility. The underseat is not giant, but a helmet now fits comfortably, if you want additional space you can use the optional 30 liter top case. The lack of aerodynamic protection can easily be remedied with a nice windshield, also in this case leaving you free to choose how to best configure your Liberty. A defect? The increased cornering stability comes at a price rather dry answers about potholes, especially for the passenger. The 5-position preload adjustment of the double rear shock absorber is of little use.

Price and consumption:

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It costs little and consumes even less, as long as you don't use it at maximum speed

The Liberty starts from 2.020 euros for the 50, rising to 2.390 and 2.490 for the 125 and 150, also due to the standard ABS. In addition to the side stand, the long list of options includes windscreen, 30 liter top box, motorcycle cover, an anti-theft system, a USB socket housed in the storage compartment in front of the legs, the PMP (Piaggio Multimedia Platform), the Piaggio Sound System (which does not include speakers, but reproduces the sound through the vibrations of the bodywork, used as a sounding board) and a remote control integrated into the key, which in addition to opening the saddle is able to activate the lights remotely to allow you to find the scooter. The Liberty is available in three shades: Pearl White, Midnight Blue and the new Etna Brown. If you opt for the “S” version can be chosen between Ibis Red and Matt Titanium Grey. The additional 100 euros of the "S" are motivated by different finishes, with contrasting colored details. We are referring to the black (and not chrome) rims, luggage rack and mirrors, as well as the red stitching on the saddle. On the consumption front, the data declared is striking, with 57 km/h and 40 km/h for 125 and 150. We anticipated that in motorway use if you travel at full throttle the figure becomes much less striking, with a mileage that drops to a third, below 20 km/l. In the city it goes decidedly better, because even when using all the power during acceleration, you can easily stay in the 30 km/l zone, like the best competitors. The autonomy is not the most exaggerated, because the useful capacity of the tank is around 4 liters (6 liters total, of which 1,5 are reserve). On the one hand this translates into a full tank that is just over 5 euros, on the other, between one stop at the petrol station and another you travel approximately 120 km.

PROS AND CONS
We like it:
Perfect in the city, easy to handle and comfortable, performance from the new engine, economical if used with care, attractive price
We do not like it:
Consumption on the motorway, it lacks a bit of reach

Piaggio Liberty 150 MY2016: the Motorionline Report Card

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Test clothing:
Jacket: Alpinestars Motion Waterproof Jacket
Trousers: Alpinestars Denim Pants – Raw Indigo
Shoe: Alpinestars Vulk Shoes
Gloves: Alpinestars Polar Gore-Tex Gloves
All these garments are part of the Alpinestars 2016 collection which you can find described in this article.
Helmet: Caberg Freeride