insured

50ccSHOOTOUT
50ccSHOOTOUT
DERBI
GP1
0-30mph
9.34 sec
RRP
£2299
IGGY SAYS:
If looks could kill this scoot would be incarcerated
for life, it oozes style like a festering sore.
The latest GP1-50 takes many of its design
tips from the Moto GP stage (as its name
implies). The radial front brake, upside-down
forks and stubby underslung exhaust system,
which are barely visible beneath the bodywork,
come straight from the race track where the
Spanish firm have a chequered history. The
double-beam aluminium frame with its centrally
mounted two-stroke Piaggio engine distributes
the weight evenly between the front and rear
wheels and the balance is certainly noticeable on
the road. This machine handles like a dream and
laps up the twisties.
From a standing start the Derbi took a bit of
getting going, it seemed slightly over-geared to
me and it may also lose a bit of power through the
(unusual for a scooter) chain driven rear wheel.
Once into its stride though it was no slow coach
and it actually beat the CPI by a couple of
mph. While we were riding flat out with our heads
down it clocked up an impressive 54mph on the
neat digital display, which incidentally has enough
functions to keep you amused for a while,
although I found the button to scroll through the
screens was a bit fiddly to use.
Top quality components and a well designed
chassis make the GP1 a fun machine to ride and
it corners like it’s on rails. Everything just feels
right on it. The brakes are excellent; especially
the front which is more than powerful enough
for any 50cc machine. From a practical point
of view, the GP1 only has a side-stand,
which helps to give a bit more ground
clearance, but it’s not always easy to park
without a centre-stand and it’s going to be
a tricky job lubing the chain with the rear
wheel on the ground. With Piaggio’s recent
acquisition of the Derbi firm you should be
able to rely on its reliability and spares back up
too. This scoot is just sex, it looks good, feels
great and rides like a high class hooker.
60 NOVEMBER 05