Modern Vespa

Good morning. All I heard is read about the mo3 was how great it handled, how stable it is etc. I recently picked one up and in all honesty, UT scares the shut outta me and I've been ridding more than 45 years! It's very sluggish and choppy when making slow speed turns, and is wobbly as hell when cruising. It is a nightmare to ride. I've been over, under, and around that crazy front end and see nothing bent, loose or broken, but it rattles like it's falling apart on our lovely California rough as f#!@ freeways. The front tires are both bald and need replacing, and when going straight the handlebars are a tad low to the left, like a bicycle if the bard are misaligned. It has heavy cosmetic damage on its left side, but I can't see anything wrong with the steering components. Amy thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

Sounds like 'The Notch'.

Indeed does sound like "the notch" aka lack of service on the headstock bearings. Those bearings need to be greased at a minimum every 6K mi/10k km and more important they should have been retorqued when the bike was new at 500-600mi/1K km

As far as the handling observations, those are pretty much all in line when you come from the motorcycle world

I have to readjust myself every year when winter approaches and the MP3 gets put back into active service

I'm gonna venture to guess that steering rod linkage got whacked when the body damage occurred

Thanks for clarification on 'the notch' it feels like worn bearings, andi did a visual, nothing looks bent, although the alignment looks off, I dontsee any type of alignment adjustment. I'll get a manual and see whats involved in getting to/reac8ng bearings, thanks guys

Read the pinned topic Short term fix for "notch"? - It works...