DERBI GP-1 250 (2006 - on) Review

When you hear the spec of the Derbi GP1 250 Racing scooter it’s easier to think of a proper motorcycle rather than a funky-looking twist-and-go scooter. It’s got radial brakes, earlier versions had a single rear shock and it even has a twin-spar aluminium chassis too. This is about as cool-looking as it gets in the 250cc scooter market.

Boingy but good fun. The earlier versions had a single rear shock which was less able to cope with big bumps than the later twin shock scooters. Around town the GP-1 is more than able to handle carving through traffic. It can get a bit out of it’s depth on bumpy British back roads. Early scoots had twin radial front calipers and discs which were powerful. Later models made do with a single disc.

It’s a 244cc four-stroke single cylinder motor which puts out around 22bhp so don’t expect fireworks. It is more than powerful enough for the rest of the bike however and is shared among many of the rest of the Piaggio group in various Vespas and Aprilia scoots. Will still do around 80mph flat out. 

Look after the motor with regular servicing and it will give you years of happy and reliable miles as this has been in many other scooters and is well proven. Quality is as good as you would expect for this sort of money – it’s not up to the best Honda standards but way, way, way better than cheap Chinese stuff.

Compared to the Japanese scooters out there the Derbi looks like good value at £2999 and you get a good quality product for the money backed up by the massive Piaggio Group owning the Spanish Derbi arm. Secondhand prices are really good. Find a Derbi GP-1 250 for sale.

A fair bit of storage available with room for a helmet under the seat (not all lids fit so check yours does), a lockable glovebox with 12v charger outlet and two small cubbies by your knees which have rubber flaps to cover them and don’t lock. Later twin shock models had a little more room under the seat. Dash has a fuel gauge and usefully has a second mileage reader that starts up once the fuel level reaches reserve. Compare and buy parts for the Derbi GP-1 in the MCN Shop.