Modern Vespa

Due to advancing years I will not be riding from now until the spring. I have lifted my 530HPE off the garage floor using a bike lift so that the tyres are clear of the floor.
Taking into account that the machine will be like this for about 3 months, should I leave the tilt lock on or off. I would appreciate reasons rather than personal preference.
Many thanks.

pics of how you have it lifted please.

All you need to do is put the MP3 on its centre stand and then disable the tilt lock. That is what I do with my MP3 which is only used for winter duty. No worries about tire flat spots.

Leaving the bike for extended periods with the tilt on will cause unneeded stress/wear and tear on the tilt system.

Sboert - this is what I normally do, but as the machine will not move for 3 months I wanted to lift the tyres off the floor to stop them developing a flat section. I agree with you about the 5ish lock, but some people are saying the opposite and I am trying to establish the facts.
Old as dirt - sorry I haven't got a clue how to post photos, but the process is very simple, get a short piece of wood to go between the front frame cross member (just behind the fuel tank on a 530) and the rear frame cross member (just in front of the engine on a 530) and put a platform bike lift under the wood

You will not develop flat spots. I leave mine parked for about 7-8 months each year using only the centre stand and have never gotten tire spots since the stand relieves the bulk of the weight.

Putting it on the centre stand doesn't relieve pressure on the front wheels, in fact it moves the centre of pressure forwards if it is on the centre stand.
A friend who is in the tyre business assures me that leaving any tyre in one position under pressure for several months will cause it to develop a flat spot, you can't see it but it is there and will upset the balance of the wheel. Not really a problem with a car but more so with a m/cycle.

Just throw a bag of sand or petfood under the seat until the bike teeter totters then if that will give you peace of mind.

I've never had any flat spots on my MP3 and it sits far longer than you are planning to park up yours.

Only crappy tyres will possibly develop flat spots - tyre manufacture has come on a long way since 1930.

Some myths seemingly never disappear.

I think we are going off topic here, I have always lifted my wheels in the winter and will continue to do so.
My main question was/ is, are there any facts to prove whether the tilt lock should or should not be engaged when the machine is left for several months. I know people have opinions but I can't find any facts. Piaggio referred me to my dealer who doesn't know.

The tilt-lock can be left engaged - it's just a mechanical brake, but the suspension lock is best left unengaged, as left engaged there's pressure all the time on the hydraulic seals. As the two are bound together, best to leave all unengaged.

Your suspension lock will leak down after a few weeks. You have got your tyres without any weight on them can't see much point in locking up the suspension

What is the difference between the tilt lock and the suspension lock?

The tilt lock has a chunk of a brake disc & a caliper to keep the parallelogram thing [tilt] from moving
The suspension locks, keeps the shocks from actuating, there are some threads about disabling/removing the suspension locks

I do as sbaert says, mine stays in garage for 6 months in winter, no problems or flat spots, I charge the battery every 2 months never leave it on trickle charge.

Garthhh
Does the switch on the handlebar activate/release both the tilt and suspension locks?

Yes, both systems operate together, actuated by the handlebar switch

As Garthhh says above, just make sure bike is on centerstand before you flip that switch, so bike does not fall away from you, easily done sometimes