The aforementioned stadium seating gives the passenger a nice view of the road ahead… provided that they wear a good visor to lessen the blow from incoming winds. Meanwhile, the backrest and hand grips contribute to a comfortable position.

The good sized disk, two-piston caliper and ABS make stable braking. I would prefer to see a larger disk to add some real power to the overall braking capability of the machine. (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com)

A comfortable ride
The Peugeot Satelis 500 Executive deserves praise for its comfort-tuned fork and rear shock, as they provide soothing peace of mind and body on rough pavement. Yet, for all its compliance and smoothness, this two-wheeler firmly grips the road and doesn’t let turbulence from semi-trailers change its course. High-speed stability is commendable indeed, with the rider feeling some buffeting while the machine stays on course.

The Satelis proves equally at ease on byroads, maintaining great balance and leaning almost effortlessly into corners. And like any scooter, this one makes short work of city traffic. Its 213 kilos only present a challenge at very low speeds, at idle or upon takeoff. Starting from a standstill improves when the rider uses an easy-to-learn throttle technique – cracking it open a bit in anticipation to get the clutch to bite slightly - makes sure the clutch engages quickly and properly from a standstill. Otherwise, the Satelis will hesitate a fraction of a second, forcing you to keep a foot on the ground a little longer… and letting other vehicles move ahead at the green light...

(Much) more than adequate performance
The 37.4-horsepower, single-cylinder engine sends the big Peugeot from 0 to 100 km/h in 9 seconds. There’s also plenty of torque to overtake slower cars with confidence. Top speed largely exceeds the legal limits, as I found out when leaping by a semi-trailer.

ABS brakes allow quicker, safer stops, which is great in emergency situations. It took me 38 meters to come to a full stop from 100 km/h – always in a smooth, straight line. You can even hear the small ABS compressor working for you while braking.

We averaged 4.5 L/100 km during our mixed conditions test. The low-mounted fuel door makes the job easier at the pump, while the fuel gauge flashes intently to let you know you have roughly 20 kilometres left to find a gas station. With a 13.2-litre tank, this scooter offers a range of up to 300 kilometres.

An excellent tourer
The 2010 Peugeot Satelis 500 Executive ranks among the best heavyweight scooters on the market, a group that includes the Burgman, Silver Wing and Majesty. At $10,995, pricing is set in the same ballpark as the Burgman 650 Executive.

The torque and power from the big engine can help you cut loose and have some fun on twisty roads. (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com)

Pros
Handling
Riding position
Stadium seating
Heavyweight-caliber performance

Cons
Braking distances (despite ABS)
Transmission response (upon takeoff)
High price