Piaggio UK put on a media day at their Headquarters near the world famous Silverstone circuit. I was delighted to be invited and what a day I had.

I arrived at Piaggio UK HQ full of excitement at the prospect of riding some of their 2021 range. In front of me were Vespas, Aprilias and Moto Guzzis which come under the Piaggio group. My first ride was the Aprilia RSV4 Factory which is a street legal rave bike. The wings that first appeared on Ducatis at the track have now made their way to many production bikes and they aren’t there just for looks. The wings help with aerodynamics and fromt end handling, keeping the wheel glued to the ground. I found they worked as traction was superb and the wings also, in my opinion, improve braking at speed. I had a brilliant time riding around the B roads of Northamptonshire following Michael our guide for the day. Michael along with all the other Piaggio team laid on a fun, professional day and we had delicious Pizza straight from a pizza oven. Bellisima

I will be reviewing the bikes in more detail when I have had them on loan; because of time restrictions on the day, we had about forty minutes on each machine as a taster. I can tell you if you want a performance bike with bags of character and excitement then the 1100 cc RSV4 and Factory need to be on your test ride list.

2021 is the 100th year of Moto Guzzi and celebrationg that, the Italian icon has produced the V85 TT Centenario 850. An awesome Adventure bike that is a joy to ride. It has an excellent riding position, plenty of,power and great sound. I can’t wait to do a full test ride.

The Moto Guzzi V7 Special is a beautiful bike with a nod to the brand’s history but truly a machine in the present. An 850cc engine powers this gorgeous naked bike and does a fantastic job. I whizzed along the B- roads with a smile on my face, powering along the straights and taking corners with ease. This model has flown out the showrooms it is so popular, so if you are interested get down to your dealer quickly to book one.

For 2021 Aprilia has the RS660 and the, and I didn’t manage to ride, but I had a good look at them as others rode them while I was on the bikes I have mentioned. They look amazing with a thoughtful design, ready for the track and even more prepared for the road. I hope to get a leg over soon.

Vespa turned 75 this year, to mark the occasion the company coloured and decalled a GTS 300. I took it out with the big guns like the RSV4 Factory and RS 660 and was blown away that it held its own. In a group of six I was the only scooter so I had to put it through its paces keeping up. I was so impressed with the speed it achieved and the handling. It is a capable machine and I would be happy owning one.

I must end with thanks to all the team at Piaggio UK. Grazie Mille. Ciao.

https://www.piaggio.com/gb_EN/