Modern Vespa

For a moment in time, I thought I would wait for a used MP3. But I get the feeling the used ones may be thrashed from day one - as with this example.

I'm glad I will run mine in with care - and hopefully it won't spew it's fuel all over the pavement ....

And if it does, I certainly won't admit it on here ...

Last I checked, fuel lines aren't subject to the usual rules of engine break-in. That line would have popped off eventually, given enough bumps in the road. Maybe I hastened its demise a bit, but I have to chalk that one up to build quality and not anything to do with how hard I rode it.

And hopefully, it was a freak accident. I haven't heard of any BVs or X9s with this problem.

You probably got the last one made on a nice sunny Friday, before a long weekend, and they probably had cake in the break room for the bosses birthday as soon as the shift was over.

Maybe it is not too soon to find out where we can get the parts and service manuals? That might have saved Jeff some time taking his mp3 apart.

Also, could one of you mp3isti please measure the height of your mp3 without the windscreen and mirrors? I am hoping that the height is less than 50 inches so that it will fit through the back doors of a cargo van. I would like to rent a van to pick up my mp3 when it arrives in San Antonio. My dealer does not have any yet.

The official specs say the height is 55 inches, but I assume that includes the windscreen, and mirrors.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. We are still waiting for the MP3 to arrive in Denver. There's an MP3 in my future but I'm holding out for the 400cc.

Hey Jess I hope you can get that Tricycle ready for this weekend....

I've been pleasantly surprised by the power on this one. Not as fast as my GTS, but it's definitely better than the demo unit I rode. It's still a bit slow from a standing stop, as if the variator couldn't find first gear, but cruising speed on the freeway was reasonably fast on the ride this morning, topping out at an indicated 85mph.

And I've still got under 100 miles on it.

I hate the damn thing. I took it on the Sunday ride, and sure, it can handle a turn, but you have to manhandle the thing if your upperbody stregnth is anything less than 'high above average'

My arms, neck and torso are still painfull.

It's a heavy bike, for sure. Very difficult to move around when not under power.

That is exactly why I didn't take it out on a test ride, I think it would be too hard for me to manage with my less than average upper body strength.



Mel

well if you can get an indicated 85 mph on it new, which would probably be almost 80 mph by gps, then the 250 might be ok for me and i can stop waiting for the 400...if it can ride at 80ish then highway riding should be safe enough

though i still like the looks of the 400 better with the larger rear tire and nicer pipe and nice dark blue color...

of course i still might get a GTV as i mostly city ride...but the three wheels looks promising for mountain runs at speed and for the times you have a couple of inches of snow and still want to ride your scooter....


g

Don't try a sidecar rig as it requires even more upper body strength.

#4 actually worked?

I've been using the 'It will replace the __________ ' pretty successfully, but since our anniversary is coming up, and heck, who can see tennis bracelet anyways, hmmmmmm........

You lucky Evil Bastard. That gasoline thing is a pain, but I'm glad it was worked out. Plastics aren't really all that bad once you know which ones connect to which. I remember the same feeling the first time I tried doing something to my Peugeot. Now I know which panels need to come off for various systems and I know how they go together and come apart. I can work pretty quickly now.

Jess,

Where are you keeping this damn thing? I don't recall seeing a garage at your house.

Since there was another post about riding an MP3 and I don't want to start another new post about riding a MP3 here goes mine. I took a half day off work today to go talk with the owner of the Vespa dealer where I bought my LX150. I wanted to get an idea what he would give me for a trade as I'm thinking about a GTS. I drove the GTS first and really liked it, very quick compared to my LX150. Since it is a bigger, wider scooter it felt a bit cumbersome at first, but that because my LX is, well smaller. While I was at the dealership they had an MP3 that I took for spin. Wow, an amazing scooter, the looks, no stares it brought was unbelievable. The MP3 handled great, very quick, just a neat scooter. The bottom line is, I'll be holding on to my LX150 for a while at least to see what 2008 brings. Of course my wife said, if you want it buy it, BUT sell your restored 1966 VW to pay for it, she dosen't want any payments, and I have to admit neither do I. So it's decision time, sell my bug or wait.

Oh come on ladies - are we going to let the boys have all the fun

Upper body strength is really not essential.
Pop on the lock and you can back up, park quite readily.
On a flat surface you can even get off and move the MP3 with one hand ....
I think you can have a blast with the MP3 and still have wimpy, shapely lady arms ...... it's all about technique and experience !

This post is dedicated to the women gold wing riders of the world!

Ms D

Probably closer to 77... You can get up there BUT you can't get there quickly. All the boogie in this bike is in the middle of the range -- slow at the bottom, and slow at the top. If you need to get to 80 quickly, this might not be the best bike in the world. And even though it manages on the freeway okay, and is super stable, even in crosswinds, that's not really where this bike shines.

Which segues very nicely to the next topic... OMG this thing is so much fun in the twisties! It is, and I kid you not, an IVM -- Instant Valentino Machine. I took the long way home today, (through Palomeres into Castro Valley and then on to Redwood Road all the way to Skyline, for those that know the area) and it was the most fun I've ever had riding a scooter, ever, period, end of subject. Palomeres was fun, but the real joy came on the downhill stretch of Redwood Road, where the pavement snakes through the ravines and trees and taunts you to flick your bike to and fro. Granted, this bike doesn't flick like my GTS does, but a quick back-and-forth shift of the ol' butt and that bike was veritably dancing a jig through the turns. I leaned into the turns like I've never leaned before, and the bike felt positively planted. I have no idea how fast I was going (stupid speedometer design) but it was way faster than I would ever dare on my GTS. The bike did all the hard Valentino work and I got all the exhilarating rush.

I know I sound like a breathless fanatic, but this thing rocks. It's weird for the first 10 minutes you ride it. After that, you too can be Valentino.

You know Jess.....I was warming up a smart-ass comment but then I remembered how Nyle ate up our friend from Riverside.....on a MP3.....ouch.....

So discretion being the better part of valor I will STFU.....

for now....hehehhe

glad you're havn' fun....

R

8)

Yeah, well Nyle is a special case on all counts. And even with me having an extra wheel, you're still at least twice the rider than I. A blast. Truly.

Hmm, I considerd the MP3 but over here it costs $2500 more than a gts for half the engine volume...

No 250 in Norway?

Nope :?

Only 4 mill. residents here, hugh vehicle tax = not enough intrest/market?

Just to add to that, keep in mind that this bike is my wife's, and she's not exactly Mrs Upper Body Strength. I know you all don't believe me when I say this is her bike, but seriously, it's hers, and will replace her Buddy (we think).

woah...going from the buddy to the MP3 will be quite a change for her...they almost aren't the same species

g

Very true. So far, she likes riding it, and feels like she can handle it, and goes fast. It enables her to go places that she would be afraid to take the Buddy.

And she also rides Vespas. The Buddy is not her only scooter experience.

parking was easy, so was flat out riding. it was handling a twistie at a slow pace, like lombard st or the marin headlands that put me in pain. plus I had a passenger. be aware that your passenger can actually steer the bike by leaning--even a bit. Body positioning to allow for a passenger to hang on and maintain the center of gravity also meant that I had to keep my arms up a little higher than on a scooter, causing stress in the shoulders. if my passenger held onto the grab bars, he had his own turning power and the bike would fishtail.
that being said, it had massive power across the golden gate bridge, hiting 80mph in a head wiind with a 400lb person load. not too shabby.

So she now has 3 modern scooters and he only has one and a motorcycle? I think he needs anoter ne so the numbers will be equal.

He also has a vintage and a salvage GTS on the way.

So is Mrs. Jess on scooter restriction now?? And is lil' Hobbes going to be looking for a new home??



Mel

So you're saying....I could ride one!!

Ding ding ding!

Too funny - pls have mercy ...... I'm pulling a muscle here ..... x

opps...post error


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