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Aprilia Mojito 150 Custom

Ask my wife and she’ll happily volunteer the information that, I can’t cook. She quotes from Crocodile Dundee “you can live on it, but it tastes like s**t!”

She’s even told me to watch Jamie Oliver, that rather “punk” version of a TV chef, but apart from noticing that he likes to ride around on an Aprilia motor scooter, I find it difficult viewing.

I’ve decided that I should keep to my better talents and let others do the cooking, so, I spent some time with the scooter that the TV chef rides, the Aprilia Mojito 150 Custom. I did some checking on the internet and found out that a Mojito is actually a summer cocktail drink consisting of lime, muddled mint and sugar etc. Well, it’s winter not summer and the scooter isn’t what I’d personally refer to as a “sweet ride” but it was indeed refreshing and fun.

I took the Aprilia over to my friends at the Anna Café at Wallsend, a gathering place for the Novocastrian Scooter Riders. It immediately grabbed attention, with local entrepreneur Carlo Rossi saying “it’s the most exciting scooter I’ve seen in years”. Café co-owner and Vespa pilot, Angelo Zannoni, was also suitably impressed, “it’s got great style”, he said.

Well, proof of the pudding is in the eating (can’t cook that either!). The 150cc four stroke, single cylinder, air cooled motor is excellent for negotiating Newcastle ’s hills and traffic. The ‘automatic’ transmission allows the rider to get the jump at traffic lights and matches splendidly to the engine revs.

Those big wide chrome plated, cruiser style handle bars are actually very practical. Most scooters have shortish bars which can accentuate the breeds ‘quick’ steering but, with the wide bars you get greater handling stability simply because you have more leverage. I unfortunately couldn’t test the headlamp, (also chrome plated), however, Aprilia have a good reputation in this area, so, night visibility should be of a high standard. One advantage is that the light is mounted on the bars so as you turn, the beam leads your path.

Leading link front steering/suspension offers greater front end stability and reduces dive under braking from the front single disk and drum rear. The aforementioned braking is excellent with plenty of ‘feel’.

The 8.5 litre fuel tank means a fill will cost less than $10 by today’s prices and that should see you through an entire weeks commuting. Mirrors are clear at all speeds and give plenty of rear view past the rider’s arms. Speedo and fuel gauge are well positioned for easy reading. As you know, I like loud horns and the Mojitos is quite reasonable.

The dual seat is wide and plush having a ground clearance of 755mm, making it very useful for riders of all heights. The scooter is comfortable enough for longer trips, (even two up), say to the vineyards or Nelson Bay . Storage is moderate with the under seat cavity having space enough for one full face helmet (fuel filler positioned nearby) and another compartment in front of the riders right knee.

Price on road is around the $7,000 mark which makes this a very economical and stylish way of getting around. The Mojito is easy to ride, turns plenty of heads, pops onto its centre-stand without difficulty and looks great. So, pull in the hand brake, push the electric starter, roll that throttle and go join the rest of those scooter riders out there having a ball.

Test Bike (black only available) supplied by Graeme Boyd Suzuki Broadmeadow, 49521577.

May your lid never skid.