Modern Vespa

The good news is one of my 500s (cross my fingers) has been great, no real problems, but the bad news is the other one is having issue after issue.
I had it in the shop for them to get problem codes for the most recent issue,
( would not move, though it would start and run rough) and when I went in, it was fine. When I went to pick it up, the front lock mechanism when turned on emits a high pitched tone and the front will not lock. So, I left it there for them to figure out. Its their problem.
Any clues on this?? The tech does not know at this point. It would be fun to have the answer from the forums he belittles so often.

It's evident the 'tech' is none such. You have a hydraulic leak (pressure loss recorded at least) in the front suspension lock (married to the tilt-lock, but not the same thing).

So it could be a real pressure loss, or a duff sensor. Effin' easy to check. Sheesh.

These guys do try, but they have little experience on the MP3s, and they are what I have in the way of techs. They did the Piaggio course, for what that might have been worth, but seem to have a lot of troubles with these bikes.
Thanks tons for the reply Jim! I hope we can get this all sorted out, and I can get to trusting this bike again.

So, Bike #2 is still in the shop. Gave the tech JimC's diagnosis. Not sure what was done with the info.
So far the bike has stopped the high pitched whine and will lock now ( not privy to how exactly this was accomplished) but it will not stop honking.
The tech bled the hydraulic system, but that didn't help. Piaggio seems baffled and so far has been little help.
I love the convenience provided by the locking system, ( rolling the bike about like a shopping cart, and it's great when riding two up when you can lock it while waiting at stoplights and not need to balance), but I am beginning to think I could live without it too and the bike would have way less problems.
Just disconnect the whole locking biz. I am assuming nothing would be wrong about doing that, if it comes down to it. But that is about half of what I love about the bike.
I am currently on the shops extended warrantee. If I weren't, I would be bleeding money. Good decision to get it.

Have found out that the desire and persistence of a dealer and mechanic is the key to having a successful experience with the MP3. My water pump problem would not have been solved without the continued push from the dealer and mechanic to get after Piaggio to help understand the fixes. It is intimidating for some to get on a phone with someone in Italy trying to get information. Sometimes our lack of language skills and our lack of patience makes some of these dealers just give up. I was lucky....but not until I pushed for answers myself. It became a challenge for the dealer and myself. Now I am certain that my dealer will have no hesitancy to get on the phone with Italy in a flash to get answers.

The MP3 is a fine machine. It is new to this country however. Every time I go back to Europe to visit family in France and Belgium I am amazed how many more of these I see. The USA has just begun to recognize what the MP3 can do. My dealer at this point cannot keep them in stock.

I have no doubt that we will see more of these machines on the roads all over the USA.

I too have seen many more of them in Europe, and hope to see more here.
Sales seem flat in these parts, as if the people, like me, who wanted one from the first time they saw one on the internet, have gotten them and few others are getting on board.
Lacking numbers of them on the road will always make repairs a challenge. I hope you have yours sorted out, and I hope to get this one sorted out as well.
Its a great bike, IF you can keep it running.

I like that - very perceptive.

Just an update: Piaggio and my mechanics never really figured why the bike won't quit honking, so we have agreed to just disable the alarm. ( Will keep the horn for my own honking pleasure however).
Since we make limited use of the locking mechanism ( we never, ever leave it standing with the lock on) we figure we can keep an eye on it when we do use it ( usually to move it from the garage, or when stopping, just before putting it on the stand)It may not be an ideal solution, but at least the bike will be back and rideable. I hope!
I would have even been willing to disable the locking mechanism altogether to get it back and running, but this will be a better solution.

Sheesh. If Piaggio can't figure out what's wrong, IMO they should give you a new bike.

Ramblerdan I like the way you think but I am out of warrantee, and hopefully this is a small issue we can live with.
It WAS funny in a way, my mechanic is waiting for info from Piaggio, and Piaggio calls him to see if he has figured anything out since they don't know. Both had no idea.