PEUGEOT SATELIS 500 (2007 - on) Review

Unlike most big scooters which aim for open road cruising ability as well as town prowess, the Peugeot Satelis maxi-scooter keeps small-scoot size and manoeuvrability. That means high speed corners and bumps are a bit hairy – but as a swift and practical commuter it’s pretty good.

The small-wheel design means scything acoss down through small gaps and tight turns is easy, but the pay-off is a twitchy, wobbly feel at speed and a tendency to crash over bumps and potholes. The suspension quality is OK, but can’t mask the fundamental handling issues caused by a rearward weight bias (common to most scooters in fairness). Ride it gently and it’s OK though. The exhaust and centre stand stick out past the wide engine – it’s easy to catch them in narrow gaps, so be aware.

Scooter engines will always be uninspiring thanks to the CVT transmission which makes power delivery completely flat, but for commuting the Satelis 500’s fast pick-up and acceleration are ideal. It’s smooth and quiet at motorway speed too, though using the throttle hard makes the fuel gauge drop quickly.

Peugeot scooter reliability is generally pretty good. The build quality of the Satelis 500 is quite good too – the panels fit well, the dash is well designed and the seat covering feels nice too. The seat mechanism opens automatically by unlocking it using the ignition barrel, but has to be closed precisely to get it to stay down.

The Satelis is the cheapest maxi scooter you can buy by some margin, but it doesn’t feel like it. Only the engine-in-swingarm design costs the Satelis in the handling stakes compared to engine-in-frame designs. Find a Peugeot Satelis 500 for sale.

Whoever was the first person who was described as ‘couldn’t get wet if it rained’ probably rode a Satelis. The enveloping bodywork and screen keep the worst of the weather off the rider, and despite being more compact then many large-capacity scooters there’s enough room for our 6ft tester. The pillion seat is spacious, and the underseat storage will take a full-face helmet (if you lie it on it’s side). There’s a locking cubby hole in the fairing too. A fuel gauge and clock are useful features on the classy-looking dash. Compare and buy parts for the Peugeot Satelis 500 in the MCN Shop.