Road-testing the Gilera Nexus 500: The name Nexus could only have been chosen by a focus group distinctly lacking any literate pretensions, but that's not the machine's fault! The makers, Gilera, once a leading Italian maker of exotic sports and racing motorcycles, are now part of the Piagio group and are reduced, if that is the right word, to making mopeds and scooters.
The 500cc Nexus marks their entry into the big or "maxi" scooter market, they claim that it "is the sportiest scooter ever to hit the market". The claim also goes on to state this is "the first Sport Gran-Turismo scooter", whatever that means, and goes on to express the hope that it will "blow the sports scooter market away."!
At first glance many of the big scooters might seem little different from one another and in a number of cases difference might do little more than boil down to whether or not the mirrors retract at the touch of a button.
The Nexus 500, whilst containing a number of parts used on other big scooters, notably the Piagio Master engine from the X9, is different enough in appearance to be noticed, and different enough in performance to be appreciated.
The Master 500 electronic injection engine seems to have been subject of some judicious electronics re-mapping, making it slightly more powerful and higher revving than in the Piagio X9. Certainly when riding the Nexus it feels both smoother and more powerful.
All up weight is 216 kg, giving a good power:weight ratio. Maximum speed achieved was 160 km/h, fuel consumption hovered around the 18 km/litre mark.
An unusual feature is that the height of the rear suspension is very easily adjustable both to suit the rider's height and riding style. The braking system uses Brembo components and is of the linked variety. While there is no ABS, the brakes on our test machine felt impressively powerful.
A 15-inch, 5-spoke front wheel and 14" rear, both with radial tyres gave a confident feel to the ride. The mirrors, the shape of which puts one in mind of Dame Edna's spectacles, are on stalks, and also house the front indicators. A gimmicky touch is that the dual seat pops up at the touch of a button on the ignition key.
The under-seat stowage, replete with a light and 12v charging socket claims to hold a full-face helmet, apparently the knack is to stow it upside down. Nevertheless it would not accept our BMW Evo 4 helmet.
At ankle height there are two adjustable vents which can direct a stream of warm air from the radiator on to one's ankles in cold weather!
The instruments comprise commendably clear analogue speedo and rev counter and an LCD screen with the now usual surfeit of information which can be scrolled through at the touch of a button on the right hand bar. There is also a steering lock, immobiliser, side and centre stand. There is an optional, easily detachable topbox, which could take our helmet.
Several things immediately struck us as soon as we rode the machine. When the throttle is opened, the automatic transmission engages very smoothly indeed. It does not engage with the thunk to which some machines are prone. The engine has to be the quietest one of this size.
The machine can be cranked over in corners at lean angles that would impress if not frighten some sports machines. Throughout the entire rev range we found we were actually travelling a good deal faster than we thought. Motorway cruising at the 140 km/h mark is child's play for the Nexus..
So is it "the sportiest scooter ever to hit the market"? Depends on what you mean. In terms of straight-line speed, it is slower, as one would expect, than either Honda's 600cc Silver Wing or Suzuki's 650cc Bergman, but only by a dozen or so mph and both are significantly more expensive.
In roadholding terms it just has the edge on Yamaha's 500ccT-Max previously reckoned to be the sportiest big scooter. Overall, in terms of performance, looks, build-quality and price the Nexus is a very worthwhile machine.
In terms of practicability this kind of large capacity scooter really does offer a viable alternative to the car, especially in today's often congested conditions. Journey times in and around our major centres can easily, and safely, be more than halved without sacrificing anything really significant in comfort terms.
Anyone coming from a car to a "powered-two-wheeler" and taking the maxi-scooter route would probably be pleasantly surprised at the Nexus's versatility and efficiency.