Like ‘em or hate ‘em, there’s no doubt that the scooter market is far more open to innovation than the big boy’s bike market. Electric engines, strange front-ends like the one on the Piaggio MP3, continuously variable transmissions, huge storage capacities, supercharged engines - for a market segment that’s looked down on by many bikers, it’s certainly proving itself to be a lot more progressive.
This doohicky is the Adiva 250, and it’s a convertible, featuring a fully retractable roof and a windshield complete with a wiper. This will no doubt remind many people of the disastrous BMW C1, a roofed scooter that failed dismally because the sort of people that wanted to be able to stay dry on their scooters also didn’t want to deal with helmet hair, and the C1 never qualified for a helmet exemption.
But I believe there’s still a market out there for a scooter with a roof - I mean, how many times do interested non-riders ask you “what happens when it rains?” With the Adiva the answer doesn’t have to be “you get wet,” although you’d better hope the car beside you doesn’t go through a big puddle.
The foldaway roof stows in the top box compartment, probably taking a fair bit of luggage space with it, but then you can remove it entirely on nice days. The original patent design also shows some sort of bodywork extending a rail across the side of the bike to help deal with falls and side impacts, but it seems these haven’t made it to the roadgoing version.
The price… Well, comparable to a Piaggio MP3 at UKP4,999, which is a lot. And who knows if it will sell - but I for one am glad to see this sort of wacky concept get a run, if only to shake up the ridiculously conservative motorcycle market a bit!
“This humble scribe has been involved with testing motorcycles and cars for 25 years and in that time, I’ve driven and ridden most everything of note and NOTHING spins heads like the Adiva with the roof on. It is laugh-out-loud material - people point from the footpath as you ride down the road, and it isn’t an isolated incident to see large groups of people turn in unison as one of their throng exclaims loudly upon sighting the Adiva. Park it in a built-up environment and you suddenly have people around you asking questions.”
Source: http://www.thebikergene.com/scooters/adivas-convertible-scooter-now-available-in-250cc-version/
