+ Click to Enlarge APRILIA LEONARDO 300: The convenience of a scooter with the slightly forward-leaning seating position and more predictable handling of a sports motorcycle.

March 20, 2004
By Dave Abrahams

Although the Aprilia SR500 Leonardo concept scooter, which made an unheralded appearance at last year's Milan motor show, has yet to reach production, the Leonardo range of "sports" scooters (Aprilia's term, not mine) has been expanded with the introduction of the 300, specially built to conform to the forthcoming Euro 2 emission standards.

Actually it's all a bit of a con; the 300's motor is nothing more than the current 250SP mill, bored out from 69 to 71mm for a true displacement of 264.5cc, using the same bottom end and carburretion.

It does, however, have a two-stage catalyser with secondary air injection to meet stringent Euro 2 standards.

The styling is little-changed and retains the built-in screen and sporty riding position of the current range that includes 125, 200 and 250cc models, all with single-cam, flat single, four-stroke motors.

Aprilia advertises them as filling the gap between scooters and mid-size motorcycles, claiming the convenience of a scooter with the slightly forward-leaning seating position and more predictable handling of a sports motorcycle.

According to its media release, the Leonardo 300 is set up for stability and neutral steering with a pilion aboard, "even when going into a curve, with no sudden or unexpected reactions, and easy to get down, just like a motorcycle".

Maybe they know something I don't.

However, the Leonardo range still has the motor in unit with the final drive, as on the original Vespa of 1947, which burdens the rear suspension with excessive unsprung weight and inevitably compromises handling.

Although Japanese manufacturers are using conventional motorcycle suspensions on any scooter with performance pretensions, such as the Suzuki Burgman 400 and 650 and the Yamaha T-Max, European scootermakers remain wedded to the pivoted motor, even on seriously muscular machinery such as the Piaggio X9.

There are also passenger amenities such as folding foot-pegs and a large, cast-alloy luggage rack that incorporates pillion grab handles and allows an optional top box to be mounted directly without any extra hardware.

Here's hoping the SA importers bring the 300 Leonardo here so that we can ride one. As yet there are no prices available, even for the European market.

Specifications:

Motor: Liquid-cooled four-stroke flat single.
Capacity: 264.5.
Bore x stroke: 71 x 66.8 mm.
Valvegear: SOHC with two overhead valves per cylinder.
Compression ratio: 10:1.
Induction: Tei Kei 4UC carburettor.
Ignition: Electronic.
Starting: Electric.
Clutch: Automatic centrifugal dry clutch.
Transmission: Automatic torque converter with V-belt final drive.
Suspension: 35mm leading-axle conventional cartridge forks at front, twin hydraulic shock absorbers adjustable for preload at rear.
Brakes: 220mm discs with twin-pot opposed piston calipers front and rear.
Tyres: Front and rear: 130/70 – 12" tubeless.
Wheelbase: 1340mm.
Seat height: 770mm.
Dry weight: 187kg.
Fuel capacity: 9.6 litres.