Modern Vespa

Woohoo!
Yesterday the MP3 400 and I, did it.
The "Grand Challenge" - 1000 miles (1611 kms) in under 24 hrs. The route covered main roads, smaller subsidiary roads, and 100's of km on small, narrow, twisty country roads in the middle of the night. Weather was a mixed bag, with approx 900km (550mls) in drizzle or rain.
I made a couple of navigational errors in the middle of the cold, wet night and added an extra 71km (40+ mls) as a result.
This is an organised, annual event here in NZ every October (springtime), held by the Rusty Nuts M/cycle club and is open to allcomers.
This year, almost 100 machines started. The MP3 (one of only 2 machines under 500cc) made it with 89 minutes to spare! I even stopped for 2 hours to have a quick nap and breakfast at home, on the way!
The other small bike (a GN250 Suzuki) made it, only 12 minutes before cut off time. 38 riders pulled out before the 24 hrs was up - from a variety of mechanical, physical, or 'time' issues.
I also rode about 140km (87 miles) each way, to the start (and home again afterwards), which actually means I did 1962km (1220mls) in under 30 hrs including stops, pre-start and post-finish time.
Woohoo!
The MP3 never missed a beat, purred all the way, passed a few other machines much bigger than it and was actalyy nice and comfy for almost the whole length of the trip (I had a woollen sheepskin on the seat).
Well Done Piaggio.
Well done MP3
Well done me. Boy, did I sleep soundly last night!!!

Look at the link to find out more on previous events.

http://www.rustynuts.co.nz/default.aspx?PageID=79

Fantastic feat, well done. You should be very proud.

Congratulations! Helluva ride!

I just did my first road trip (250 mi each way) so have some idea how difficult that would be. Like you, I was impressed at how steady and reliable the bike is. Mine ran like a top, never labored.

Did you have a GPS? I had one but it was my first time and I didn't have a bluetooth listening device. I should have had (and will next time) at least some wired earphones. Most of the time I couldn't hear what the voice was saying and it would have been a lot easier if I could have. I don't see how you could do it on an unknown road at night without one.

Very impressed.

+1 Amazing. Well Done....What a fantastic feat.

Congratulations....and cheers....jacq

Hi.
No GPS. Some of the others did have them. In fact, I didn't even use a map as I'd ridden most of those roads, sometime in the last 15 years.
The route was written by the organisers, in the most basic terms, on handouts of A4 paper. In the middle of the night, you had to stop and use headlight or torch, to read and remember road names, etc.
Basic stuff, in a technological age, but it added to the achievement.
%)

Congratulations!! That's awesome that you were one of only two below 500cc and yet still completed. That's quite an achievement physically and mentally for you and your mp3!! You deserve a long nap after that.

Some workings - for those who may be interested............

Verified run distance - 1682km (1038ml).
Total elapsed time - 22hrs 31 mins .
Average speed (including stops) = 74.75 kmh (46mph).
91 Octane petrol - 84.6 litres (18.99 imperial gallons).
8 fuel stops made.
Petrol cost - NZD $155.39 ---- Avg per L = $1.84 NZD.
Overall consumption = 19.9km per L (55 mpg).
Satisfaction = PRICELESS!!

( I estimate my fuel/checkpoint stops, nap time at home, and 2x drink/snack breaks, add up to 3hrs 15mins. On this basis my actual riding time would be approx. 19hrs 15mins.
THEREFORE............ likely average ACTUAL speed = 87.5kmh (53 mph).

Hey, AWESOME JOB!! That's really amazing! I recently took my bike on a road trip for over 600 miles over the course of a few days. I, too, was amazed at how well it performed and held up through some rough weather and riding and some higher speeds.

Congrats again!

GH, good on ya.

Coming 22nd out of 100 on a three wheeled scooter riding in the company of high powered bikes over 1000miles.

That's showing them.