Modern Vespa

I keep reading in MP3 about "tilt lock." What is it, and what is it used for? I guess we traditional Vespa owners don't have it, right?

its a classified function only for MP3er's. If I told you I'd have to .......

Its for the front end. it locks the suspension so the scoot can stand upright when still.

Once you've tried it you'd find it hard to go back to standard 2 wheel configuration.

It's an insidious device that lulls the rider into the false sense of security that their suspension is locked and they don't have to put their feet down. In 99% of the stops, it will actually lock, and all is well. In 1%, though, it will not, and the rider will balance for just a fraction of a moment longer than on a two-wheel bike before suddenly the bike falls over on its side.

yup what he said. not to be trusted.

It does come in handy when trying to move one of those beasts around while not under power, though.

OK, I get it. But on my GTV 300 I really don't have to put my feet down very often. Usually I can just balance on my two wheels long enough to get going again. Using a tilt lock would be kind of like dropping my center stand every time I came to a stop. Leastwise, that's how it seems to me.

It's Italian - par for the course!

you really have to ride one. the tilt lock is mainly for when you stop and park it. some folks play with it when coming up to stop lights to look cool but most of the seasoned riders just put their feet down like normal 2 wheel riders do.

Like witch said it makes it very easy to push around in a garage.

Except that an MP3 will roll around on three wheels with the tilt lock set, pretty much like a tricycle. Hard to do that with a 2-wheel scooter on it's centerstand .

ouch

The tilt locks only tend to fail when the bikes haven't been ridden enough. Like any other bike, they're made to be ridden. For people who park them for extended periods of time, the hydraulics in the suspension start to give out and they really just need to be bled to start working correctly again. It's not really a big deal for people who ride often and keep up with the regular maintenance of the bike. For people who are willing to drop that kind of coin on a vehicle, just to leave it sit for months at a time, it's kind of their own fault. That last part is just my opinion though.

And when it happens thousands of dollars will also fall out of your wallet!

Oh, there's that failure too, but that's not the one I'm talking about. The failure I'm referring to is when (a) the rider doesn't actually quite hit the switch fully, or (b) when they hit it too soon while slowing down.

Yeah, I can see that. But I gave up pushing my tricycle around MANY years ago!

What's wrong with looking cool? Yeah it is asking for trouble but I do it all the time on my commute. The looks I sometimes get are worth the risk. I have missed before but I am always ready to get my feet on the ground quickly and haven't dropped it yet. The trick is to slow down enough and lock it while you are still rolling without taking your eyes off the intersection. Of course I only do this at intersections that I know because if there are any dips or bumps a locked, moving MP3 handles just like a top heavy shopping cart.

Once it's locked is it OK to leave unattended for months at a time? Is there also a stand?

No once it is locked it is generally ok to leave it that way for a week or two but for longer periods it should be on a center stand which it also does have. The reason is that on some the hydraulics get squishy after time and it will start to lean a bit. I know mine does.

Besides the fact that it's just plain easier - how many people have dropped a heavy two-wheeler while walking it around (especially on a sloping surface).

Or when you actually get the suspension locked just before your right (or left) tire rolls into a modest rut in the road. Or when you're locked just fine and accelerate on the green light and hit one of the aforementioned ruts before you've established speed and balance.

Correct...
Once you have one, its hard to take it away...

Keith,
Marietta, GA

Each wheel has it's own suspension, a rut in the road wouldn't make a difference.

I'd call either of those rider error, and rider error doesn't care how many wheels you've got or whether you've got a tilt lock. Rider error knows no prejudice.

And you ridden an MP3 to a rolling stop, applying the tilt-lock, or taken off from a locked start , and then found the road is suddenly uneven how many times exactly?

thank you.

When the suspension is locked, the suspension is locked. There's no independence. That's what we mean by "locked". If you hit a rut after locking, the bike is probably going over.

I think you've missed the point.

Yep. Like I said earlier. Rolls like a top heavy shopping cart with the suspension locked. And in addition to hitting a rut on take off that can throw ya if you came to a lively stop on an uneven or tilted surface the suspension will be compressed and on take off the high wheel can throw you to the side a bit.