Modern Vespa

I'm about to buy a 2009 Mp3 400 and really don' know much about them including where to buy parts. I'm 74 and find 2-wheel bikes are getting heavy, but I don't want to give up riding. Three wheels is my only option. I looked at the spyder's and Harley trikes but a bit out of my range. Anyway, any help would be great, Thanks, Ernie

Please be aware that Dealerships generally do not like to work on any Piaggio thats over 10 years old.

The Mp3 is over 500 pounds and very top heavy due to the hydraulics and mechanical components that make the tilt mechanism operate. The Mp3 is not immune to toppling when stopped or moving slowly, especially on uneven surfaces, even when the tilt is locked. Using the tilt lock at stops takes allot of practice and isn't a substitute for being able to hold up the bike, especially on uneven surfaces.

If your worried about picking up the bike or weight then you might consider looking into a Can-Am Ryker or smaller displacement 2 wheel scooters in the 150cc to 300cc range. There is also the Honda Super Cub, Vespa, Piaggio Liberty 400cc, and more. These would keep you riding with minimal weight, size, risk, etc

Since your on the East Coast and if you have a large enough budget, you should look into the Kymco Cv3. Its a 3 wheel like the Piaggio Mp3 but with a better engine (550cc twin), performance, and build quality. Examples of these are starting to come on the US market at around $10,000.

But I'm chatting too much, here are the main parts sources for the US Market.

Be sure you know exactly which sub-variant of Mp3 you have. Some parts are common across all models while a few are unique to a specific trim. For example, the right brake-lever on the Mp3 500 Sport is different than the business version for the same model year. Crazy. So check before buying.

ScooterWest out of San Diego is one of the best
https://www.scooterwest.com/piaggio-scooters-parts-118/spare-parts.html

Scooter Parts Co has parts for a variety of brands.
https://scooterpartsco.com/mp3-400-c-108_3554/

EasyParts is the best for basic parts; make sure to switch the website to English. May have to pay international shipping but they'll have genuine parts found only in the EU market such as LED compatible turn signal relays.
https://www.easyparts.nl/models/Piaggio-MP3-400-m2468

Parts Piaggio is the official OEM source and thus expensive.
https://www.parts-piaggio.com/piaggio-scooters/400-PIAGGIO-SCOOTER

The MP3 only stands upright when it's standing still. As soon as you start moving, the front end unlocks and it's a tilting three wheel scooter. It will fall over if you don't lock it at a stop or can't hold it up. When I sold mine, I disappointed a couple of handicapped riders who thought it was a freestanding trike like the Spyder or Riker. It's not.

It has its own charms, but it's heavy and a pain to move around when you're off it.

Best of luck to you.

I am 76 and own a 2009 250 mp3 I find it very heavy to to move even on a slight slope. I think unless you have a lot of upper body strength you will find it a pain. I am able to lock the front while getting on and off which suits me fine but as others have said on uneven ground it is very top heavy and a liability. The reason I bought it was because I have trouble flinging my leg across the saddle of conventional bikes and using a kick starter It suits me because I only use it on flat ground but have had trouble manouvering it on sloping parking lots etc. I think you would be better looking for something which weighs a lot less than 200+ Kg.

Thanks to all the reply's, that is very helpful. I am now rethinking my choice. We have a 2014 Burgman 200 and I love the bike but when my wife rides whit me, I find it's very top heavy. We tried out a can am spyder but my wife says the seat is comfortable, but the foot pegs are so far behind her that is painful. Again, thanks, very frustrated.

You might look into a scooter with a trike conversion or a sidecar.

Trike conversions add a frame with two outrigger wheels at the back for added stability. A company named Lehman used to make them. I'm sure there are others.

A sidecar gives you a third wheel and a nice place for your wife to sit.

Neither is cheap, but they're a lot cheaper than a new Can Am or Harley Tri Glide.

Good Luck.

My other concern is moving the bike around when it's not running. Our garage does not have room enough to turn it around so I would need to push it around. Along with being old, I weigh in at 165 lbs. Would the 250 be a better choice?

I had a 250. It was fine for city use, but I felt it was underpowered for highway use. It would be more so if you rode 2 up.

And, it's still heavy and awkward to push around (as would be the trike and sidecar options I mentioned earlier).

Hi Flyerernie
The ability to lock the front suspension does make passenger handling easier, but its not a subsitute for being able to put feet down.

Using the tilt-lock at short stops (stop-signs, lights, etc) takes allot of practice. I've had my Mp3 8 years now and still haven't mastered it.

The Mp3 400 might still be a good bike for you and your passenger, it has its unique charms, its fun, and the tilt-lock does come in handy when pushing the bike around. There are many folks on this forum that have a disability of some form or are up in years but still greatly enjoy the Mp3

Folks on the forum just want to help make sure that new owners understand what they're getting into for safety and expectations.

Ural make a motorcycle and side car with a reverse gear just the thing for old blokes like us and I think there is an MP3 model with reverse as well. haven't seen one out here in Australia yet but I think I saw it on an advertising promo on U tube

Found it go to the 5 min mark and see him reverse although he has to put his foot down going over the small kerb if he hadn't it would have turfed him off.

So now I'm undecided, a couple more questions if I may. I've read there is a problem with the steering getting "notchy" after a while. This 400 we are looking at has 5100 original miles for short trips around since new. Is the notchy thing happen that soon with this mileage or later on? Does the MP3 have a side kickstand or just the center stand? If the bike is leaning some when you lock the front end, does it lock there or does it return to center? I do most all my own Maintenace on my scooters, Burgmans, Majesty's and others throughout the years. Biggest concern would be getting parts for these bikes. I realize I'm asking a lot of questions from all of you, but if all works out, I can hopefully pass it on in time. Thanks to all, Ernie!

Did the bike gets its initial 600mi-1K km service???

If not, then chances are the bearings were not greased and retightened correctly and your bike will probably have this issue at some point.

That 600mi/1K initial service and checkup is critical. A lot of bikes (not just Piaggio) have it in their service booklets as mandatory.

I don't buy any bike that never got the initial service done by a official dealer.

FYI, I relube the headstock bearings with each oil& filter every 3K mi/5K km

No side stand
The tilt lock will lock at any angle, there is no center return

The tilt-lock will lock the bike at whatever angle the bike was at when the lock was engaged. If locked on an uneven surface or at a strange angle, then safely un-locking the tilt can be tricky. Its front-end top-heavy so if the front is locked on a slopped drive way and you lean it over too far while pushing it around then it can topple over and then be frustrating to lift up. Ask me how I know

The tilt lock locks not just at whatever angle the bike was at, but also the front suspension locks in whatever compression state it was at too.

If you tilt-lock the bike while coming to a stop then you could lock the front suspension while its in a compressed state. When you start moving again it will un-lock causing the front of the bike to jolt upwards a little when the lock is released and the pressure on the front suspension is reduced. Not a big deal if your expecting it, but its a quirk of how the locking on the Mp3 works.

The same thing happens when parked on the center stand. Putting the bike on the center stand after parking often leaves the front suspension partly compressed. If you un-lock the bike while on the center stand, the front will pop upwards due to the reduced loading of the front end.

You must also make sure that the tilt-lock is fully engaged when taking the bike off the center stand. Otherwise it can bounce around allot and topple over if your not prepared to catch it. I've done this a couple times and learned the hard way to always check the lock is enabled before taking it off center stand.

OK! I just spoke with the owner of 7years. He states he bought the bike with 1500 miles and took it to a dealer and said they went through it, including new belt, tires and all fluids. He never got around to get a bike license so he road it often around his small town and every year it went back to the dealer for a full service. so now it has 5100 miles. New battery this spring and found a great deal on spare tires and bought 5 new tires and a case of oil filters all of which come with the bike. He recently found a good deal on a 2009 400 Burgman and is now riding that often and can use the room, so the MP3 is going. Seems like a truly good guy, so we are headed out Saturday with trailer for a 4 hour trip to pick it up. I now have a 2014 Burgman 200 and will sell the least used in the spring.

Welcome to the Mp3 club! Your going to have a great time riding around with it. Expect lots of curious people asking about the weird 3-wheeler and friendly waves from other riders.

Great answers.

I'll just add that I am 6'1 and have done weights all my life. Even to me the MP3 500 is a heavy mother... I have never fallen off it while riding, but slow speed handling and pushing it around is when you'll inevitably drop it (I have done it twice). It seems well designed for it because mine -unless you look at every corner with am amplifying glass- still looks new.

I don't find it difficult to lift, but everybody's mileage might vary. Oddly enough I have never ever once dropped my BMW R1100S or Honda NC750X. And both my drops of the MP3 happened early in my ownership journey, so perhaps my own expectation was also I didn't have to pay as much attention - and you have to, it will drop like any other motorcycle.