Modern Vespa

I just got back from Vespa Oceanside where I tested the MP3. Iliked it better than I anticipated, and was suprised (pleasantly) at how "scooterlike" vs. trike-like it feels to ride. The small decall on the handlebar says it in a nutshell: neither a motorcycle or a trike, and has it's own handling characteristics.

In practice I wonder if daily riders (early adopters) use the lock feature during the course of stopping/going while riding. I can't imagine playing with the lock at every stop....I lean towards treating it like a two-wheeler and putting my feet down at the stops....what is the general consensus among those of you who have taken the plunge already regarding this?

I also felt the power was ample, despite my lack of interstate testing. The storage is great, and as I said I liked it better than I thought! Would I replace a traditional two-wheeled scooter for one? I'm not ready to do that, but I COULD see one in my garage sometime!

I put my feet down at stops. I just use the lock when I am stopped for real.

I rarely use the lock unless I'm getting off the bike. I've had too many times when I thought it was locked but it wasn't, and I nearly dropped the bike.

Oh, and when the weight gets away from you, you can really feel what a heavy bike this is.

I dont use the locking system unless I am parking it.

I tried to use it at stops for a while, but had too many
wierd launches in directions / angles I didnt like.

It's a feature that could mess you up if you rely on it
or use it frequently.

Does it have the capability of falling down, if you were to get off it say without locking the susp.? Is it essentially top-heavy enough to do so? (I didn't want to try this at the dealers....they frown on that!)

It will completely and utterly fall down if you don't lock the suspension. It is not a trike that is balanced on three wheels. It is a scooter with two wheels working in concert like one wide wheel.

That's the part I think is hard for a lot of people to grasp until they ride the MP3. It's not a trike- it's very much a scooter with similar physics but exceptional handling. I posted about the test rides on ModernBuddy because I thought a lot of people would enjoy something so unique. One respondent posted a link to the Can-Am Spyder-a big 3-wheeled ATV thing. "Uh, no, it's not like that at all!"

yes, it will fall over.
My friend has dumped it twice.
It's ok, because she is cute.

Lots of people think it's a sissy scooter / trike.
It is more stable, but it's not a trike.

Halfway through spending a day with one, I decided that putting my feet down would be easier than using the locking switch.

Agreed. Totally.

i tried locking whilst riding for a while as i thought it might be useful in bad weather (i.e. your legs dont get so wet if they are always 'up') but soon came to the conclusion that it was a waste of time and only useful whilst parking.

For every one successful 'lock and go' there were several hair-raising 'lock and oh no!'. The main problem i found was that as you are rolling up to the lights, you are 'rarely' completely vertical and pointing straight ahead - there is always some degree of lean and small directional adjustments. So if you lock whilst there is some lean and you aren't dead ahead it will cause balacing/steering problems when you pull away. That coupled with the fact that it is a big and heavy scooter makes it a risky game and it's much more relaxing to ride without it and just put your feet down at the lights.

Can you guys with an MP3 see an issue with loss of power and electric 'locking' of the suspension? I,e. I f the battery went dead or a connection was corroded, etc. the scoot would just fall over?
Also, Does it feel a little top heavy two-up?
Thanks

That was also a question that I had and someone over on the Yahoo MP3 board decided to park his on the center stand, lock the suspension and disconnect the battery. He left it over nite with no ill effects, so i don't think that that is an issue.

I agree with the previous posts. I tried the locking- while- slowing- thing and almost "lost it" a few times. Plus, standing at a stop light with your feet off the ground reinforces the "trike" mentality of those around you. Not very manly.
That said, I do come to a full stop at lights and if I just arrived for the red or know it's goind to be a long wait, I will trigger the lock mechanism. It's better than balancing 500 lbs.
Thanks for the info on dead batteries and the wheel lock function.

I use the suspension lock with a cople of caveats.
Putting on the front suspension lock is disconcerting if you are
not stopping in a straight line and then proceeding in a straight
line. Using it at a time that you stop in a curve changes the
response from countersteering to direct steering which makes it feel
like the bike just decided to go in the opposite direction you
selected. Starting from a stop where you want
to turn, you have to go straight first and then turn. Not sure why,
but it does not feel like the lock will come of quick enough to
initiate an immediate turn.
Beeping of suspension lock is not very loud (helmet and earplugs
rule out hearing anything) and the dash light is hard to see in
sunlight.
I had one ahshit moment today. I was wearing gloves with a big seam on the thumb and locked the suspension. (I heard it beep/lock). as I pulled my thumb back, the seam caught the switch and turned the lock off!!!!! Aargh....