Maxi Scooter Riders Club :: View topic - Piaggio mp3 - yet another write-up

Keith · Moderator

Here is an(other) interesting write-up on the mp3 experience, taken from the Modern Vespa forum ( with pictures ):

Click here.

Personally, I still don't know what to make of these oddities. I've sat on one and it's far, far too small for me, but the front-end treatment is fascinating.

In describing the very secure handling, the tester hit the nail on the head (for me, anyway) when he wrote:

"... and then it hit me: I couldn't find the sweet spot because the MP3 wasn't misbehaving. ...Of course, it was lacking that ethereal moment of riding bliss when everything comes together perfectly, too. In short, I was merely riding along with nothing spectacular or otherwise worthy of note happening. Kind of like driving in a car. .."

So my question to those of you who have ridden one is this: does its undoubtedly fantastic and secure handing take away some of the sense of satisfaction you might otherwise have got by getting it 'right'?

(Devil's Advocate mode ..... Twisted Evil

)

stickyfrog

I have had my 250 and overall i love it. I use it to commute 43 miles daily. Handles just like a 2 wheeler with the added benefit of the extra footprint in front. I average about 68 mpg and drive 70% of my drive at 60 mph. Top speed I have ever hit was 79mph. I currently have 2800 miles on it.

My only complaint with it is that the seat could be a little more comfortable (i put an airhawk on it and it helped) and a little more leg room (i am 6'2" and my knees are slightly higher than my hips). I think some low forward foot pegs would help that if i could can get someone to fabricate them for me.

Try one if you get the chance. They are really catching on in the US now and most dealers sell them before they get them in stock so it may be hard to find one to try.

joyce · Moderator

Hi Stickyfrog and welcome to the forum.

I have an MP3 400 and I love it Cool

.

Ginger Phil · Member

As long as my car sells this week I've done a deal on a new 250 MP3 in black.

For me it's about saving my life as when I crashed my Nexus back in December I could easily have died if I'd have gone in the same direction as the bike. Laughing

joanjenn

I am looking at these scooters for a new ride for me- I have just sold my HD Sportster 07 and am selling my 04 Honda Helix 250 for health reasons as I am recovering from a nasty break of my left leg at the knee and per Dr orders I have to have less stress on the leg so on the the 3 wheel ones- I have a big trike GW 1500 nowfor long distance riding and want a smaller safer scoot for replacement of the HD 883 and the Honda Helix for short mountain trips and general riding in the mountains if Va in the USA.
Can anyone tell me more about their feeling about the Piaggio MP3 as I like the safety features of two front wheels, better brakes and also the lockout for stability when stopped. I am favoring the 500 which is new here.
Thanks , Joan a short , older female.

joyce · Moderator

I have had my MP3 since March and I have done just over 2,000 mile to date.

I test rode the 125 and 250 last year but have to admit I wasn't overly impressed with their performances. I was still looking round for a new bike and when I saw the 400 and had a ride on it I was sold.

Advantages - It feels much safer in the wet, on gritty roads, on lanes full of cow muck etc etc. It is much easier to park than any of my other bikes and you can even lock the brake. Ample storage (I believe the 500 has slightly less), it looks funky. If you are having to wait for any length of time you can put the tilt lock on and rest your legs.

Disadvantages - It is a heavy bike so if you drop it you hope that someone is around to help pick it up again. You must remember to put the tilt lock on before you switch the engine off (I have heard of quite a few people who have forgotten only to see their pride and joy kiss the tarmac.) There is no reverse on it so you need to watch where you park so you don't have to push or paddle it backwards up a hill. If you are paranoid about peole looking at you the MP3 is not for you Smile

For me the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I love my bike and I know I made a good decision buying it.

joanjenn

Thanks for the info- are you tall ot short? How well do you reach ground? That is one thing I am leery of as I can just get toe boxes down from the seat- I am short!!! Would this be a major problem>? I am not sure- I think th elock out would be a life saver for me but I would have to remember it!!!!!! Now that I am older -ha

I appreciate any help or ideas you can give me. Thanks, J

joyce · Moderator

I am 5'4" and I wear Doc Martin boots as they have a better grip than my normal riding boots. I can get a good toe and part foot on the ground which I find quite adequate with these boots on.

I have had problems in the past with too high a seat it makes you dread each set of lights in case there is a slant on the road.

joanjenn

Thanks, I am about 5 ' 3" and have a 25 in inseam and wear HD boots- have not see Dr Martin boots- are they specific to England?
I can toe down but not much more and it is a bit scary to me- especially in parking- Had a HD Dyna which was lowered and could almost flat foot with straight leg and then a Sportster 883 L which I could flat going front but had trouble with moving any of them around, especially backing- do you have any problem or did you in learning to put on lock switch? WIll the steering still turn with it locked? They are so expensive that I hesitate with the weight and height but I think I would be happy with it.
Thanks for the help- a hard decision to make when I have not been able to ride one- some dealers here won;t let you for insurance reasons - the nearest one is 3 1/2 hrs away who will let me ride and it is a 250 demo. bike.
I love riding, have put a lot of miles on several bikes but am way too short for comfort!!! Now have a GW trike (older) for long rides and want this Pigg. for several hundred mile rides. Rode from Virginia to Wa State (almost to Pacific coast) and back last year on trike and almost that far on 2 wheel HD Dyna year before.
Joan

joyce · Moderator

I am not sure if the Doc Martens are sold just in the UK. They are work boots with a metal toe cap. I am sure there must be something similar where you are.

You can paddle it backwards or get off and push back whilst the tilt lock is on and yes you can turn the front wheels at the same time - I use the paddle method when I am backing into a parking space especially if the road is on a slant.

You would need to go to an experienced person to have the seat lowered, (if you was going to try that route), as there is a sensor under the seat and you need to be sat on the seat before you start the engine up.

joanjenn

thanks, Looks like I just don;t fit anything and have tried many and rode many even though not fitting well. Now that I have encounted a bad med problem ( not from bike!!) I have had to be more careful as I think I told you. Sooo, this is why my HD has gone and so might my Hnda Helix (though lower). Soooo, I am looking for as safe as I can find and still have fun!!
I appreciate all of yor help! WE do have steel toed work boots- maybe I can try some!!!

I have a friend in NC who I ride with sometimes originally from England. She still has an accent! HAHA Of course my NZ friend says "I don;t have an accent, you do!!! " HAHA

I am a retired registered nurse so much older than you I know ,but I appreciate your input!!! I can aways learn!!!! Joan

joyce · Moderator

I am not so sure about the older bit - I am a retired tutor Smile

Do you have a forum like the one on the UK called the National Assoc of Bikers with a Disability (NABD) if you have they may be able to help or at least put you in touch with someone who can help.

The UK address if you want to have a look is
http://forum.disabledbiker.co.uk/index.php

Hope you can get it sorted so you can get back to riding comfortably again

joanjenn

I rode a 250 demo model today!!!! About 3 hrs from here!!! No dealer real near- needless t say I was a bit ancy as I had not been on anything but the Helix/ the owner of th small dealership was too looking at this old lady!!!! I bet he wondered if I could really ride!!!!

Anyway- could get part of each foot down (not much but toe area) and balance it ok on failry flat area- might be harder on slants- started it off and rode around parking lot and it turned at slow speeds easier than Helix and HD- stopping was the hard part as i was unsure of hitting switch and I did and it didn;t work at first as I was still on throttle some. But it did when I did it again and suddenly stopped! Would take some practice!!! Especially on uneven terraine as this was. Also left hand brake where my clutch is on trike is another very different thing to learn!!!

I didn;t ride long as it was boiling hot and also I got the feel of it- handles better all in all but the stopping!!! But that is ok once I get it fone!! HAHA WOuld imagine a fast stop might be hard to coordinate!!! How long did it take you to be comfortable with it or were you a scooter rider first? Switching between a mc and a scooter is a little hard- my Helix has a rt foot rear brake so it is nearer to the MC in that sense.

So, the diff is 88 lb in weight - the owner of dealership said 400/ or 500 steers heavier and not as nimble- did you find that? I found the 500 I sat in the other day (that dealer wouldn;t let you ride) it was a little heavy when lock was off- I could tell the difference. Do you find much difference as the 400 or 500 would be better for th eterraine I live in and the interstate roads? I sure thank you for your input as I dont know any other rider. The 250 migh tbe easier for me but not enough power on the Helix 250 for passing and so on on these hills!!!

I will look at site you sent- what did you ride before?

I am 69 years old - might as well tell you!!!! Not as strong as I once was when I played basketball and softball!!! HAHA

Cheers and thanks again, Joan

joyce · Moderator

Hi, I have been riding scooters for the past five or six years. My last scooter before the MP3 was an X9 500. I found the 250 slightly underpowered but (for me) the 400 hits the spot. I haven't riden the 500's but I have friends who think they are great.

I have always put my feet down when I stop and only really put the tilt lock on for parking.

You can lock the bike as you stop, then pull the bike up to level knock the tilt of and straight on again as the wheel drops on the lower part of the slope. That way you are in control and setting off again is much easier - it is a knack and becomes easier once you have tried it a few times.

There are a couple of MP3 forums if you want to look for other views - but remember people tend to write in when there is a problem not when everything is OK so don't let it put you off.

http://www.modernvespa.com/forum/index.html this is very much US based and
http://mp3scooterclub.co.uk/cgi-bin/forum_show.pl?msg=PwdChange
a mainly UK forum.

joanjenn

Thanks Joyce, All I can read helps- have been riding Motorcycles for 6 yrs. Rebel, 250- Suzuki Savage 650- Hd Dyna -HD SportsterL and what I have now are GW 2500 trike 1995 and Honda Helix 250.
Hope to get a 400 or 500 MP3 , I went to Italy 2 yrs ago but have never been to England- bet it is nice there!
WE live in the Mountains of Va near the NC line. , Joan