Modern Vespa

Hi guys. Having had the recent bad luck of being pushed off the road by a hit and run idiot in an SUV on my 2010 SC 250 cube, trashing the bike and breaking my right ankle, I'm looking around for an mp3 of some sort, thinking it would be easier to ride, sooner back on the road, and be something different. Faster too Most seem to be in CA, where I got my 250. Ran across a 2009 500 that's been in storage from a closed dealer with 0 miles, dry tank, no battery. Would I be looking at a host of problems - electrical and fuel related - getting it on the road? How do they rate in terms of reliability, parts availability, etc in general? Problems to look out for? Never seen one on the road here in Ohio. Best years/models to look for? Thanks for any input.
Cheers, Ron

best model you looking at it less electronics on it

new battery and fuel and look what it does

then change out the flueds

There have been quite a few around Columbus, I have owned 3 of them myself. Iron Pony used to sell them new as of 2 years ago. They are rather top heavy and even with the tilt lock can sometimes be tough on your ankle. I don't know if Motohio still sells them, but that is where I got my first one.Used.

Thanks for the input. What models did you own? Have a fav? Cheers, Ron

BTW, is an mp3 stable when parked with wheels straight, lock off, and E brake on?

looks like I'll be taking the plunge tomorrow

A MP3 will not stay upright without engaging the tilt lock mechanism or using the center stand

Also, there is no E brake. The parking brake lever is strictly mechanical.

Thanks for clearing that up. Which end does the parking brake lock? Don't have an owner's manual yet. Cheers, Ron

Parking brake locks the rear wheel.

Safeley off the trailer and into my garage just in time for the return of winter here


2009 MP3 500 red

Congratulations. beautiful beast.

Nice looking scooter, the 500 was my favorite out of the 3 I owned. My first was a 2007 250, second was the 500, and third was a 400. I put a higher windshield on the 500 because without it the wind would try to take my helmet off at higher speeds. I bought it in Athens and actually blew the visor off of my full face helmet coming up Rte. 33 back to Columbus at 75 MPH.
I had a lot of fun blasting around Hocking Hills in nice weather.
There are a lot of scooterists in Columbus and the surrounding suburb, find them and get to know them, they can be a lot of help and a very good time. They also go on a lot of planned rides during the summer. Look for Easy Peasy Scooter Posse on Facebook.

What a beauty. I love that Fuoco styling. Wish they kept it.

Thanks guys. BTW, was a sidestand ever fitted to one of these. Seems that would be a handy addition

Sidestands were never a factory fitted thing for the MP3 probably due to the weight factor.

I've been told by someone on the AF1 forum that Buzzetti makes one and maybe a factory option also. I'm going to check into it and report back.

Yo can exchange the front-end easy the rear with some modifications
FP3 400

Not sure why one would need a sidestand. One of the coolest things with the MP3 is that the tilt lock mechanism works so well - much better than any side stand I have ever owned, which can be very unstable at times (I have always fitted center stands on most of my bikes). The MP3 basically has a built-in, no hassle center stand.

Yes, the el lock is a cool feature but not supposed to be used for more than 2hrs and I have trouble getting it up on the ctr stand with my bad right ankle, so a side stand would be a nice thing to have just now.

I've left mine on for days without issue. Its only if your going to leave it parked for an extended time that you should do the following. This procedure will release the compression stress on the front suspension for better storage.

1) Lock the front suspension
2) Put bike on Center Stand
3) While holding the bike steady, unlock the front
4) Re-lock the front after the bike has settled.

The vast majority of the time, under regular operating conditions including a few weeks between rides (due to weather) I just leave the front lock engaged while on center stand. When I'm out riding I do the same.[/quote]

use your left foot then.

Like pinhead, I never worry about how long I leave the tilt lock on - no issues ever. Also note nowhere, anywhere, has Piaggio ever officially said anything about the tilt-lock being just good for 2 hours or another limit. It's nowhere n the owner's manual. Personally, I think it's one of those internet myths.

Good to know, thanks. I think what caught my attention was someone mentioned a problem with the battery draining.

From my understanding, it's purely mechanical and doesn't draw any battery once engaged. The problem may be longer term hydraulic pressure issues if shocks etc are compressed, like seals etc... But I have heard of people in Europe leaving it locked for months. Probably not a best practice, though.

To be clear,then, it will be stable parked with wheels locked straight, handbrake on, with the center stand not strickley needed? That way no need to stress my right ankle. Eager to try it out!

As long as the bike is level, then yes. If you lock the suspension with the bike keeled over, then no.

Just be aware the tilt lock is not a substitute for the center stand. The tilt lock is only meant to be used for short durations.

thanks for clearing that up. a friend will join me on his scooter to watch my back, so to speak.

dead battery = no ride. The red alarm light was flashing when I left it parked in my garage several days ago, and maybe the wheels locked, don't remember. was supposed to be a new battery. Must've had some sort of drain on it, and maybe just a bad battery. I have a good slightly smaller battery from a Scarabeo 200 I'll charge up and try again tomorrow.

A couple days of the blinking red alarm light should not cause a dead battery or bike. Mine was sitting for a month while on the center stand with the tilt-lock engaged and it still fired right up on the first try. I'm on a NOCO Lithium NLP14 12v battery for my Mp3; so far no issues with cold winter or summer heat.

Check your battery voltage with the bike cold, running, and see if you can get a reading on what the alternator is putting out. Remember to unplug USB devices or anything else that might be parasitic connected to the accessory SAE plugs.

Thanks, I'll be checking that out tomorrow. Are you a zippy fan BTW?