Piaggio Carnaby practical scooter with a fun name.

ITS name pays homage to the epicentre of swinging London and the barrage of psychedelic, swirling flowers on the official website confirms that the new Piaggio Carnaby is out to grab a little slice of that free-loving '60s vibe. But does this laid-back hippy chic sit comfortably with what is, in essence, a very practical commuter scooter? Or is it more like Jim Morrison in a pin stripe suit working as a City trader? It's time to take the Carnaby for a blast around the capital to find out.

Where else am I going to start but at Carnaby Street? I had half hoped people would appreciate my gesture but on this slightly damp autumn morning the mix of sour-faced shop workers and bemused looking tourists have singularly failed to give my bright-yellow scooter a second glance. To be honest, I think this pedestrianised street is access only and the last thing I want is three points and a fine. With my '60s mojo well and truly drained I headed back for the anonymity of Regent Street at rush hour.

This is where the Carnaby really makes sense, wedged between a big, red bus and a 4x4. The Carnaby is almost tick-box perfection of the ideal city bike: large, 16in wheels for stability (check), a reassuring seat height of 790mm (check) and a low weight with an even lower centre of gravity (check). Until they build the flying hover bike that I keep sending Honda my blueprints for then you'll be hard pressed to feel more comfortable in the hustle and bustle of rush-hour traffic.

Unlike some scooters, the Carnaby couldn't be more accommodating for a pillion passenger. My experienced pillion rated the Carnaby as one of the best on the market. The seat is wide, soft and roomy and there's plenty of legroom without feeling as though you're imposing on the rider. What's more, the soft suspension soaks up speed bumps and potholes; so no more cracked spines courtesy of traffic calming!

Piaggio has taken great pains to make everything about the Carnaby as easy and user-friendly as possible. The idea is that people who have little or no experience on two wheels can jump on a Carnaby and immediately feel at home. Lots of clever touches have been made to make car drivers feel as though they never stepped out of their Fiesta. For example a dashboard cubby hole (you know, the one in your car that gets stuffed with old cassette tapes, boiled sweets and apple cores) and a mobile phone charger point.

Apparently lots of people struggle to lift scooters onto their centre stand so Piaggio has given this the easy' make-over and has designed the Carnaby's stand for easy lifting. The ultimate test - give the scooter to my tiny girlfriend and see if she could lift it on. To make things even trickier, I parked on a slight incline. To be honest, it wasn't even a challenge. The Carnaby leapt onto its stand like a sleeping dog that has heard the fridge door being opened.

Another problem Piaggio has cured (that I'm not sure existed in the first place) is its Easy Start'. The idea is that whatever the weather your scooter will always fire up on the first depression of the starter button. It's true, the Carnaby always fired up first time but then so has every other new scooter and motorbike that I've ridden in the last five years. I don't mean to sound ungrateful but I can hear the well-oiled cogs of marketing whirring away in the background.

Other features in the Easy' catalogue include the Easy Bag', which is a shopping bag you can strap on the front and is invaluable for the weekly shop, and the Easy Cover', which is a weatherproof sheet that covers the rider's legs and is warmed by air from the radiator. Again, it isn't breaking any new ground but works well and will make mid-winter commuting more snug. The engine, like all Piaggio scooter engines, is a dream. In my experience Piaggio-built 125s (with their single-cylinder 15bhp motors) pull away quicker than the Japanese rivals and both leave the influx of cheap Chinese scooters breathless in their wake.

You only really appreciate the importance of 0-30mph acceleration when you're sat at the front of the lights with a cavalry charge of impatient mums on school runs red-lining their Land Rovers behind you - if you don't get out of their way you'll be trampled under the stampede. As a practical town bike Piaggio has upped the ante but, like modern day Carnaby Street, that '60s vibe of fun and freedom does not exist. Tourists arrive, photograph themselves underneath the street sign and leave feeling slightly underwhelmed.

Similarly, if you're expecting fun and free-loving frolics on board this scooter then look elsewhere. Instead, the Carnaby is one of the best scooters around for taking you (and your briefcase) through rush-hour traffic twice a day, reliably and comfortably. It shouldn't be painted bright yellow it should be executive silver or even pinstripe! We have an excellent scooter here with a serious identity crisis.

9:36am Friday 7th December 2007

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