Let’s be honest, there is only one basic reason why anyone buys a scooter; convenience. Cutting your way through the knots of traffic, badly parked vehicles, mobile phone jabbering pedestrians and the hundred other hazards in any modern city is becoming almost impossible in a car. The solution, as thousands of people in Australia and overseas are discovering – despite pitifully poor marketing by most manufacturers – is the humble scooter.

Except not everyone want s a nifty, thrifty fifty, even though they are without doubt the most cost effective answer to the gridlock that faces most commuters. If you want to travel with style, panache and a little bit of power, then a 125-250cc scooter is perfect.

Fact is, for all those traffic light GPs when a 50cc scoot simply leaves you revving desperately, whilst buses rapidly overtake you, there ain’t no substitute for cubes, and the 250cc Yamaha motor which powers the Benelli is a little belter. Quick off the mark, with plenty of torque, the Benelli Velvet can soon have you worrying about the location of the next Gatso in town, rather than being pinned in the gutter by a white van driver with a grudge against anyone wearing an anorak.

That’s a good thing, as speed can sometimes get you out of potential trouble in heavy traffic, allowing you to dodge hazards in a way that car drivers can only dream about.

Benelli Velvet Touring 125cc A new vehicle representing a full-scale "evolution of the species". The Velvet Touring range adapts to current trends requiring large bikes capable of ensuring maximum comfort for both driver and passenger. Hence the large seat and the new organization of space inside the bodywork. At the same time, Velvet retains the well-known features which have always distinguished this bike: easy driving, agility in traffic, superb performances and "motor-bike" road-handling are essential features for anyone riding this scooter as a genuine alternative to a car in daily jungle of city traffic. Benelli Velvet Touring 150cc Velvet Touring combines in the 150 cc version the already well-known characteristics of agility and easy driving with the minimum displacement required by Italian law for motorways and other major roads. Overall performances are higher for improved general satisfaction, and users now have a perfect bike even for medium-range out-of-town trips. Both driver and passenger enjoy maximum comfort thanks to the large seat, the convenient and secure crash helmet chamber, the large front windscreen fitted as standard and a practical reinforced nylon bag-pack. This not only acts as a support for the optional rear luggage unit, but can also be alternatively fitted with a back-rest protecting the passenger in the event of sudden

Benelli Velvet 250 Not only does this scoot look good, but its Yamaha engine pushes the city slicker along to an indicated 80mph, with outstanding braking too. Add practical touches like the roomy saddle, handy storage lockers plus the windbreaker front screen and you have a great all-rounder machine for urban living. Avanti.

VELVETY SMOOTH
Don’t get the idea that the Benelli Velvet 250 is a performance scoot, because this machine offers a luxurious ride in town, no matter how bad the pot-holes might be. The suspension is soft front and rear, which can make the Velvet feel a little bouncy if you hit a bump whilst cornering, or drag its centre-stand, but because of its sheer size and weight, the Benelli never feels as twitchy as some of the 50cc scooters.

If you settle back into the comfy saddle, back off the gas a tad and take life in a more relaxed manner, then the Velvet simply wafts along, making you feel de-stressed whilst others suffer road-rage attacks. Everything about this scooter is smooth and easy to use, it really feels like a quality product.

On the practical side of things, the Velvet has a handy little screen, which keeps most of the windblast off the rider’s upper body, up to around 70mph. There’s also two useful storage spaces on the Velvet, one under the seat – which sadly can’t quite accommodate a full face helmet, and another little cubby hole in the front section of the bodywork. Another thing worth mentioning are the mirrors, which are well positioned, giving a much better view than on many rival scooters.

You can tour on a 250cc four stroke scooter, as many people are discovering nowadays, and on that basis, the Benelli is a much cheaper option than say, a Honda Deauville, although it doesn’t quite have the two-up room that a proper motorbike has. The Yamaha 250 four stroke unit fitted to the Velvet is a proven reliable motor, and the package wrapped around it looks well designed and durable.

A very classy scooter.

Come and see us Sydney Scooterz, at Northside Motorcycles today and try one out for yourself.