Modern Vespa

Was considering changing to a motorcycle and was wondering if anyone has gone back to a motorcycle after prolonged MP3 riding? If so, how did it affect your riding - did you lean to much ? did you regret it and wished you'd stuck with a 3-wheeler? I know several motorcyclists in this forum have gone on to an MP3 and was just interested in hearing from anyone who had 'gone the other way'. By the way, I've been riding my MP3 for almost 2 years now (in Jan '09) and can't remember what a motorbike is like anymore, it's been so long!

Rent one...take a test drive on one....

My 250 will be only scooter I will ever own...I've made a committment. I'm married to it... Happily...

Good Luck...cheers...jacq

I still own a three two wheelers (customised cruisers) and I can say that in the 5 months I have owned my Fuoco I have not ridden them once.

Almost reached my wifes six month rule....

I am thinking about getting a Aprilia Mana 850, but that would be at least two years from now. But if they come out with a MP3 850 I would go for that instead. And what ever I get, it would not replace the MP3 500.

Wayne B

I've still got an '83 PX for the summer fun months - though I've seen the Mana a few times. I really came close to taking a test ride at the Twisted Wheel this past summer... glad I didn't or I might have bought that instead of the 500.

Never going back to 2 wheels at all on this end. My MP3 is my life.

Hugh

Resistance is futile! You have been assimilated!

I have a Honda Silver Wing and a Suzuki Boulevard S40. The Honda has a flat front tire. I ride the Suzuki maybe once every 2 weeks just to remember how to shift. I am planning on taking the "Ride Like A Pro" class and once I am done with that, the S40 will be up for sale. As more than a few may be aware, dropping an MP3 or, for that matter, a Honda Silver Wing, can cause extensive damage to expensive plastic, not so with the Suzuki. It is a nice bike, but it "ain't no" MP3!

My two main bikes are the Fuoco and the GP800. Horses for courses, as always. The Fuoco is brilliant for city riding, and is a very competent tourer. It is superb at dealing with dodgy roads and road conditions.

The GP800 is not so good for inner-city riding, but copes just fine in the suburbs. It is supreme as a tourer, and on the twisties.

As for the twisties, this is one area where the two overlap. The Fuoco has a limit to its lean, but still glides the technical roads as fast or faster than the GP800 - however the latter with the greater instant torque is a far better overtaking machine. Empty roads, use the Fuoco, play with the traffic, use the GP800.

Long motorway journeys are a bit of a trial (not much, but a bit) on the Fuoco - its range is limited to about 120 miles at WOT. The GP800 will get better than 180 miles before the reserve, and I've seen 215 before now.

The GP800 seat is more comfortable for me, no question. However both can be made more comfortable with custom mods, backrests, Airhawks etc. I find I need none of those on the GP800 even doing 500 miles in a day, I do wish for some of them doing just 250 miles on the Fuoco.

A cold, wet day commuting? Use the Fuoco every time. Ease of urban parking is a definite plus...

A progressive ride-out? Use the GP800, no question.

A day out with mates on back-roads? Hard to choose.

Ya know I said no to 2 wheels, but for my MP3 I would like a different seat with a built in lower back rest.

Lets here it now

We've had the MANA since late August. It's smoother at highway speeds and in the corners. Just really a blast to ride.

Now, coming from the MP3 250 to the MANA & back, I know each of their +/-'s. However, the wife going to the 250 from the MANA? She didn't like it....especially when comparing the two @ highway speeds.

So, for me the 250 is really the ideal commuter whereas the MANA I'd love to plan a long road trip for.

Of course, if I got rid of the 250 for a 500.....

I just bought a used two wheeler today; but haven't taken possession yet. I will share what I got including pictures after I actually have it.

Im in the same boat than Wayne B. I am considering a Mana 850 in a year or two, but if there is a MP3 800 its mine and my wife will keep my 400, she loves it.

Got a brand new Kawa 650cc 2 months ago. Just two weeks after that sold it and got back on the MP3 250. Still the best for the moment. Dreaming about the GP800. Scooter is still the best for me.

I sold my Scarabeo 500 for the MP3 500, and don't
miss it. I still have its little brother ( 150) which I used to love,
and it sits gathering dust. It feels incredibly wimpy
and unstable in the front end compared to the MP3.
And when I ride it I am always looking for the front
end lock, and miss it like crazy when I go to get off!

I do not have the money nor the space for it.
But I would not mind a little vespa PX on the side

When I ordered my MP3 500 they didn't have any and said it might be 4 or 5 months. It was only 2 months but I bought a Buell Blast because I rode in rider school and they were cheap and I thought I could get my money out of it. I got a 2002 for $2,000 with 2,500 miles. Fortunately, I sold it for $2,160 last week with 2,620 miles so it was a good decision. I don't think I would buy any 2 wheeler again except, possibly the Mana, and now that Piaggio has said the MP3 850 will have the Mana engine in it, I will probably stick with the MP3 forever. I took the MP3 on a 500 mile weekend trip and think it does a decent job on a long haul.

I would DEFINITELY buy the 850 if it came out with a lower seat. And I would LOVE to see a waterproof 12v connector in the dash.

I have a Fuoco, an R1100 Boxercupand a Tmax. The Fuoco is no substitute to the Boxercup which is way faster everywhere. But the Tmax is going. No choice as i need the space for my new Harley XR1200 ( not for sale in America ) bike.

I find that I do not have any problem climbing off my three wheeled automatic rear brake on the clutch lever Fuoco onto my Boxercup.

I will still choose a big good handling bike any day over the Fuoco when the need for speed arises, but all other times I'll ride the Fuoco.

As I have said many times, the Fuoco can only come close if it has another cylinder, displaces at least 900cc, a semi auto tranny and better ground clearance.

I'd take the three wheeled Fuoco over the Tmax anyday though. Unless it rains. Then the Tmax will be the bike of choice as it will keep medry.

Hi, for you more experiance ride, whats the biggest advantage with the MP3 when you compair to the 2 wheel´s.

I have mostly driven (1,5 year) my 250 Mp3 and thats is where most of my experience comes from.

But the time has caught up with me, and my thought of more power has cross my mind more ofthen now then it has ben in the past.

Dont get my wrong, the 250 is great in town, but the feel of more power is there.
Well its probably the same all have from time to time.

As i se it Fuoco is expencive and there are not that many of them where i live (Sweden), so its a new one i have to by.

The price for it is about 20-30 % more than for a regular 500 cc.
(On new ones)

So im after the benefit and the disadvantage with the Fuoco and "normal" 500 cc.

Just think of yourself coming around a bend and there happens to be a patch of sand. Which would you rather have in front of you, one wheel?.... or two?

No more two wheelers for me. If the bigger mp3 comes out, I may consider it. But for the riding I do around here, the 400 is enough.

Well this is one of the reason for the 3 weel style, but even with the 2 front wont guaranté you not to drop.

Any more + or - from experiance riders?

They are almost impossible to low-side, but if *both* front wheels lose grip (black ice or a sea of diesel) then over it'll go, no doubt about it - it's been done (not by me fortunately).

Braking is superb, and road debris can generally be ignored, front traction in the wet is doubled, filtering over white lines, over-banding and cat's eyes is a doddle.

Bring on an 850 (or 1000 or 1200) cc version.

I don't get it - how does the TMax keep you dry better than a Fuoco? Does your version of TMax come with a roof?

I have quite long motorcycle history in a past 20 years and my primary interest was focused on a high powered RR models. Then one day I've decided that it was enough and bought BMW GS1150. It was quite pleasant journey, more than 50000 km in a two years most of then in a beautiful mountain places in Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia etc......
After BMW was to expensive to maintain I've find quite nice blance - brand new Yamaha FZ1-N that was powerful enough and comfortable to ride 1000 km in one piece without much back pain.
In a first few months I've made 5000 km and then park it in garage and forget. Next ( this year ) I've made 30 km so most of the time my friend ride it until quite nasty accident when Yamaha was completely wrecked to pieces.

So, seven days later I received insurance proposal at 1 PM, at 2 PM I've decided that I would like to buy motorcycle again but this time it should be scooter , at 3 PM I've ordered Fuoco without ever saw it in real life

Conclusion ? 3000 km in a last 45 days, happy as never before and I will never buy two wheeler again

I understand your thinking.

And your English is infinitely better than my Croatian, so thank-you for your efforts.

I was thinking the same thing. Except for a few verbs here or there, perfect. Man, impressive. Plus I think the enjoyment of the mp3 crosses all language barriers .

BTW. I will be very grateful is somebody PM me how to open Fuoco trunk when key is locked under seat - I'm tired to have three keys in various pockets

There is another one strange thing - Nautilus Stebel and Garmin Zumo are my must have accessories last three years and I was quite surprised when saw that many riders on this forum share same taste

I ride both and don't have much problem. The mp3 feels a little slow and heavy as I pull away but the adjustment only takes 100 yds before I feel at home again.

Conversly on a nice day the bike feels light and powerful and fast, but anticipation of bad road conditions or other hazards means that in any blind corner or city street situations etc. I will be slower than the mp3.

If you have never ridden a sports bike I would recommend starting out very cautiously with a small capacity bike.

Regards Roadster

I love the ride of the mp3, and told my wife I'd sell the old Harley. But I just can't part with it. I rarely ride the Harley now, but every now and then, firing up the motor, with different cams and loud pipes, terrorizing the neighborhood and dodging the local police is just too tempting. Two totally different machines.

The HD provides much better wind protection, and the wife is more comfortable on a long ride...but the 3 is just fun, relaxing and a joy to ride, easy on the hearing too.

I have no issues switching back and forth from two to three wheels. I've been riding for 40 years, it is the ride I enjoy. Went on a hairaising loud HD ride this AM, then a nice liesurely mp3 ride of 110 miles after lunch.
Bring on an 850 for me too.

I ride both my MP3 and my Honda Shadow DLX 600. Prefer the MP3 but so like the seat height of my Shadow (25.6" & weighing 452 lbs. Total mileage on her, 902). Total miles so far on my 2007 MP3 250, 80. Yep, you read that right....low miles on both Signed up for MSF course in early-mid Dec. at local Harley dealer....need to get license then I'll pile on the miles. Weeeeeee

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. I enjoyed reading every one of your replies and found the information very useful. Some very sound advice and tips from all you experienced riders out there. I think I crave more power and tourability (is that a word??) of a motorbike but am put off by the additional hassle/expense as the MP3 is just so easy to ride and uber-convenient, most of the time - i don't think i could let the MP3 go just yet...

Don't think of replacement, think of adding to the stable. yes, I know this may seem economically infeasible for some folk, but if and when you have two bikes, the overall cost doesn't rise by much, often the insurance goes down! Plus you have your own spare.

Definitely worth saving for IMHO.

I luv our MANA.....but this link, once you scroll down abit, has some cool pics of a future Piaggio cousin!!!


http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165721

I ride the MP3 when I am working, I put a GIVI box on the back and can carry my stuff from one place to the next (I am a property appraiser.)

But like so many others, I have a big 2 wheeler (FXDB Harley) for long runs at speed. It sits lower and is more comfortable after 4-5 hours in the saddle (At 6'4" and 220)

The wife has a Can Am Spyder and will occasionally ride the HD, but the 500 is too tall and wide.

I still have my MP3 500 and probably always will unless I trade it in for an 850. But last week I bought a JCL 250 Chinese scooter and am loving it for going down the street for coffee, to the store, etc. I HAVE POSTED SEVERAL PICTURES IN A LATER POST - page 2 of this thread.

The MP3 is best on the highway - no question - but the seat is too damn high and the bike is heavy. I still have to be on tiptoes when I stop. This new scooter weighs 220 pounds less, my feet easily go flat footed to the pavement when it stops and the acceleration is nearly to same (less power but less weight). The MP3 is faster.

I will keep an MP3 but whatever I wind up with I WILL cut the seat down. I don't know why Piaggio doesn't have a lower (and maybe a higher) seat as an option. A 29" inseam doesn't work well on a 31" seat.

Incidentally, the JCL came with a windscreen, alarm and a radio with an amazingly good sound system, a connector for an ipod or gps input and ABS brakes. It handles very easily and cost only $2,200.

I go back and forth all week long depending on weather and road conditions. I love all my scoots, each one serves its purpose... I just need to make more room in the garage!

i split time between my fuoco and my stella (px 150 clone)...

the stella is just a great city bike...and light as hell...i really still love riding it...

the fuoco is great too, but it is soooo easy to ride you almost forget you're on a motorcycle...

i will be adding a honda cub clone this spring...(sym wowow...why honda doesn't have the cub in the states is beyond me..it would sell tons)

i will use all three for commuting, but i mostly see the fuoco being my touring and twisties and bad weather ride, my smaller bikes for inner city travel...

this is one of the reason why i might end up with a 800cc fuoco when they come out, as i see my fuoco being mostly for high speed and bad weather...and for carving the twisties at high speed...

but for now, the fuoco and stella make a nice tandem

g

Jerry....can we see a pic of that NEW scoot of yours? Sounds like you got alot for the $$$..good 4 you! A radio and ipod/gps input....hmmm....how the sound of that radio? And is the volume loud enuff?

JerryW, I had a chinese scoot. Be careful. They cut corners on all sorts of parts that need to be of quality. Brake lines, gas lines, brakes, throttle cable, etc. My opinion is that many of them tend to be illusionary-scooter-like-devices. If you are a good wrench they can be a bargain. Otherwise, they can be anything but a steady reliable form of transportation.

Oh, and I can guarantee that their ABS brakes is not the same thing as what real motorcycle or scooter manufacturers would call ABS. I say that after taking two braking related spills.

Just my opinion.

ABS probably means assured bike spillage to the chinese.