Modern Vespa

Mother's day weekend of 2008 I picked up a copy of Popular Science for casual reading. It had an article on the MP3 which mentioned improved safety. It also tweaked my engineering curiosity. I got the bug, started doing research on line and on May 17 found myself in the Atlanta Midtown Scooter Superstore looking at MP3s. Even though I had never touched the throttle on any motorized vehicle with less than 4 wheels they let me test one in a parking lot and gave me a ride on the street riding pillion. I wrote a check and carried a silver MP3 250 home in the back of my pickup. I chose the 250 over the 400 because with no experience felt I would get myself in less trouble with the smaller engine.

I live at the end of a dead end 2 mile rural street. Over the next week I put 100 miles on the bike up and down the street. At the same time I read Proficient Motorcycling. With the MP3 I was given a ¾ helmet with no face shield. Riding home I kept looking at the star in my truck's windshield caused by a rock. I couldn't help but think how my new helmet would not protect me from that. The next weekend I was back in the Atlanta suburbs to find a full face helmet and an armored jacket. I bought an HJC Simax II flip up and a Joe Rocket mesh jacket with CE armor. The next week I went back and bought the armored pants to go with the jacket. I also was wearing leather steel toed work boots. I signed up for the first available MSF course in August.

After the first week I ventured out onto the rural 2 lane highway at the end of my street. I went less than a mile and turned on to another street like mine. Back and forth a bit then 8 miles down the road to a school parking lot to practice what I had read in Proficient Motorcycling. On that Monday I caused a stir riding it to work. I couldn't work late because the learners permit did not allow riding after dark. Another week and I was back at DMV to take my riding test for my full license. I passed and looking back the test was too easy as I was far from proficient. Luckily I knew my limitations and took it easy and stayed away from traffic areas.

The next week with 400+ miles on the MP3 I was leaving the parking lot for lunch when someone pulled out in front of me. Hitting the breaks I went down in the gravel parking lot and the bike came down on my ankle. I learned the hard way that steel toed work boots provide toe protection but limited ankle protection. I could hardly walk for a few days. I then went in search of proper motorcycle boots and found many of them do not provide much protection from impact on the ankle. I finally found some Joe Rocket Meteor boots which are comfortable and have hard protection around the ankle bone.

Sometimes previous knowledge is a dangerous thing. I read and thought I understood the concepts of counter-steering but really didn't. I was fighting the bike through turns and controlling my lean with the throttle. (I do not recommend this technique) Finally one evening coming home from work I got it. Riding on the highway at 55 miles per hour I realized I could push on the right handlebar and go right or left handle bar and go left. I started practicing and turns quickly became routine. I then did a few 200 mile rides.

On one of these rides came a strong lesson but fortunately without injury. I was doing over 60 mph and my rear tire blew out. This started my education and research into rear tires which still continues. I had 2037 miles on the bike and was not paying close attention to the tire. It literally wore through. I heard a loud pop and felt a bump making me feel I ran over something or something fell off. I felt nothing in the handling of the bike. Only when I stopped and pulled over to see what happened did I realize the tire was blown. This was personal proof of the improved safety of the two front wheels. This is also the one week point of the 250, it eats rear tires. I have my 10th rear tire on it now. Others have achieved more mileage than I do and the best I can determine they do less highway miles at high speed than me. Most of my miles are on 2 lane roads at 60 to 65 mph.

It was my intention to make it my primary daily transportation and minimize the use of my Honda Ridgeline truck. Commitment to this has resulted in high mileage, >20,000 in 54 weeks. Achieving it has been 10% proving to myself and others that I can do it riding in heat, cold, rain and such and 90% that it is just plain fun. I've taken a 50 mile detour on the way home in the rain because I felt like riding and had the appropriate gear to keep me dry. It was a nice ride. When I am in my truck I miss my MP3 and literally catch myself starting to bump my left hand into the window waving to bikers going the other way. I wear all the gear all the time even when it is 100 degrees out.

I began to wish for more power. The 250 had trouble holding speed on hills and on Mountain slopes would top out at 45 mph. I frequently wanted to pass someone on a 2 lane road but needed a long, clear passing zone to do it. I felt like I could carry on a conversation on the way by. I started shopping for a bargain buy on a used 400 and found one I could afford in early June.

After 22 days I now have over 3,000 miles on the 400. It is pretty much all I was looking for. Plenty of power to pass. Climbs steepest hills above the speed limit. Plenty of acceleration coming out of a curve. Poor acceleration below 25 mph.

I have no regrets on starting with the 250. It has provided over 20,000 miles of pleasure in 9 states. It took me to Bike Week, the Dragon, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Ozarks. If most of my riding was urban rather than highway I might still prefer the 250 for the low speed acceleration and handling. As my time is mostly on rural highways with lots of travel away from home now the 400 is the right bike for me. I understand RenoBob's preferring the 250 close to home and the 400 for distance, but for me there is not much close to home. Just going to a convenience store/gas station is 4 miles down a 55 mph highway.

As for mods.
- A stebel horn for safety is a must.
- A taller windscreen for comfort is highly desirable.
- A dash mounted 12V outlet is convenient.
- LED lights added to rear help visibility / safety
- A Leo Vince exhaust just sounds good without being excessively loud.
- J-Costa improves the ride. (not on 400 yet.)

As for information and riding friends, nothing can come close to the MV MP3 forum.!!!!

As for pure fun, nothing can top a MP3 of any engine size.

Great write-up.

Although I dont have nearly the mileage you do in a year, I think the last 12 months has been a very educational and rewarding year...

Glad you enjoy the 400, its has been a great compromise for me in terms of acceleration, handling and storage...

I am looking forward to our next ride together, lets just do it when its not 100+ degF...

Take care,

Jamie[/code]

BTW
I think I sweat 10lbs that weekend riding...


But I still had a great time...

I'd just like to add that my mp3 has brought me the same kind of joy that Fuzzy has. In addition to the awesome riding that I expected when I put down a sizeable check for an 'unknown' scooter, it has welcomed me into a great community where I've met people that I surely would've never met before. Fuzzy and I met on the forums, and went riding the Dragon together last year. Since then, I've met a few others and it still amazes me how this wonderful lil piece of machinery can cause such a stir and bring together people from all walks of life(although it does seem to have a penchant for attracting engineers...me, Fuzzy, bdog, kevink...hmmm).

From observing your riding a couple of weeks ago, you appear very comfortable on the MP3. I have a little over 3 months experience riding, much less on an MP3, and find that I learn more each day.

I was just thinking how the enjoyment grows as I ride more an more. While I'm not hooked on mods (yet), I do look to ride every chance I can.

Luthorhuss said it best - the MP3 comes with a whole lot of new people to meet and a great community.

I hope we can ride again soon.

I think you are officially by any measure converted to the dark side of the force. Enjoy your ride, I know you will!

I didn't realize you got a 400. Congrats. Shall you be selling your 250 now?

Thanks for the nice read, Fuzzy! Sounds like you are ready to go back to the mountains.

Nice post, Fuzzy! Captures a lot of what for me is still kinda new, but clearly all feel here on MV and with the MP3. Every day brings another opportunity to ride, and I like it!

Fuzzy is an excellent rider. When he told me how he put the 20k miles on the 250, often riding 30 miles at lunch, I was blown away. He has developed his skills in short order and made a good roommate in Chattanooga.

+1

20000 miIes svveet

Nice story, and it's amazing on how many miles I've put on the scooter. My car is a standard, so driving in the city can be a pain, and sometimes all you seem to do is ride the clutch. So for city driving the scooter wins most of the time. The Costa makes driving in the city a little easier, with better throttle control. Keep riding and have lot's of fun.

Cheers,
Tross

Necropost alert!!! Original post: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:10 pm

Still a good read though.