APRILIA ATLANTIC 500 (2002 - 2006) Review

Version: Trinbdas

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £800

Good

Buying experience: Good

Year: 2005

Annual servicing cost: £300

Fast and powerfull

Year: 2004

Annual servicing cost: £40

My first scooter. I am an experienced rider and am happy with this bike over all except for how it scrapes easily in turns. It is surprisingly stable and comfortable even at 90mph. Happy with it's acceleration and I average 57 miles/gallon. It's been trouble free. In 3 years and 6k miles, I only replaced the oil & battery, however the prior owner dealt with electrical repairs before 11k miles total. I smell gas in the oil. By far more comfortable than the last 8 or so motorcycles I've ever had, (except maybe the Gold Wing which was also a giant beast), and to my surprise I don't miss shifting! The problem is that it high - sides easily in turns as most scooters do. You have to lean with it to prevent if from scraping in even a moderate turn. This is the only thing I don't like about it, because that's a safety issue not to mention a large part of the fun in riding a 'bike'. The last owner gave up riding altogether because he had a scary near accident by leaning it too low, which doesn't take much. The frame won't 'give' like a motorcycle foot peg. So it's definitely not for racing around through the turns. I mostly commute to work on it including lane splitting and hope I never have to turn too sharply too soon.

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £300

The Best: Fast, Comfortable, Big Ride compared to smaller scooters. The Worst: Electrical problems. Sluggish on the start, but picks up speed quickly.

Buying experience: I purchased from a dealer. The asking price was 2,299. I paid 2,700 total to complete the transaction which included taxes, tags, registration and title transfer.

The Atlantic is a big scooter with a big engine and a big heart. The single cylinder thumps away pleasingly and at higher revs it pulls well and is very smooth, initial take off is a little sluggish (compared with the more refined TMAX for example). Returns 55mpg whatever you do with it and fine for long rides with wide comfy sadle and good weather protection. Equipment levels are excellent, better than I've seen on any other scooter with trip computer, revs, hazard warning lights, space for a radio (speaker holes are there but not fitted on mine), 12v socket etc. You'd have thought that the great big bulge at the back was a boot, but its not- a real missed opportunity in my view. It will happily sit at 85mpg without bother, in all a very capable machine. The only problem I've had a was a small fire on the fusebox where a wire had melted, that was quickly replaced and since then its been going fine. Fit a Tucano leg cover for £80 and you are well set for the winter commute too. They are a rare site on the roads and you can pick them up for bargain basement money. My 2003 reg with 14k on the clock was a snip at £800, less than half what a TMAX would set you back, and almost steps up the mark.