Modern Vespa

who makes the training wheels for the MP3?
Not for me, to sell at the store

Tow-Pac, Inc. MiniTrike kit

I'll never get my head around this. Doesn't this negate all the expensive and heavy tilting suspension at the front?

Smrf - I see you've had yours done - what made you come to the decision to add the kit?

If it sells more scooters I'm all for it

I'm sure people aren't spending the extra $2K just for the hell of it, it serves a purpose to them, one that doesn't require you to get your head around it. If you don't like them then don't buy them.

If you're still curious go here: https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic32003

i think it was a perfectly legitimate query

Yes, I appreciate that people are not doing it for the sake of it, but the fact that it negates the whole point of the expensive and quite complicated tilting suspension up the front begs the question as to why not just buy a 2 wheeler and convert that? It's a very specialised set up at the front - this modification to me compares with building a boat, only to tow it around on a trailer all day...

If one does not ask questions, one does not learn. Hence why I wanted to get my head around it. I wasn't actually thinking of buying it, I like leaning my MP3 until the stand scrapes, thankyouverymuch

I doubt that anyone specifically bought an MP3 with the plan to fit a tow-pack. As I recall from an earlier thread the tow-pack was used once the rider decided that an unmodified MP3 wasn't as safe or appropriate a scooter for them as they had originally thought. The resale value of a nearly brand new scooter is of course instantly lower.

smrf has the tow pac on her mp3...

to each their own....

what is good for one is not for another....despite anyone opinion, we do what we want to do.

We have a winner, thankyou for some useful information, I can see how that makes sense.

See, that wasn't too difficult, was it?

I like the Pentacycle.
Better front steering gription.

SteveO you can refer to the link posted earlier for some info from a person who 'triked' her MP3 before I did. Someone I didn't know until after I purchased mine.

As for my reasons...the short answer is for $3000 I couldn't make myself 6 inches taller... long reasons...cut n paste from Smrfmobile's webpage..link in sig file.

Why 'trike' a MP3?

I'd like to offer you some insight into what caused the creation of the Smrfmobile and his five-wheeled status.

1. Before purchasing the Smrfmobile I had no intent or knowledge of the Tow Pac MiniTrike kit. I had reservations about the purchase due to physical disabilities and my short stature (inseam of 25" vs seat height of 30.7") Upon leaning the MP3 in the showroom I had no problems holding it up while leaning it back n forth to the right n left while flatfooting it. Therefore I purchased a MP3.

2. Upon delivery and subsequent riding I found that I did not take into account the added strain of grasping brake levers with the momentum of trying to lean a moving scoot therefore scoot got dropped. In the showroom I stupidly was tilting the scoot while holding the handlebars and not grabbing at the brake levers.

3. Upon research and talking to riding friends about options I discovered and subsequently purchased a Tow Pac MiniTrike kit.

4. Upon reflection had I known I was going to 'trike' out my scoot I would of gotten the 400cc not 250cc for better freeway performance. I've asked myself would/should I have added the kit to a less expensive scooter......NO. Yes, there are plenty of other 250cc scooters for less than the MP3 BUT the MP3 still gives me added safety/stability/braking power because of the two front wheels and when the kit needs to be off the Smrfmobile I am able to do the removal/reinstall myself. If I had a traditional 2-wheeled scooter I would need another person every time to hold the scooter up as the kit was being removed/reinstalled. But, not with the MP3, I just lock it and can do the work myself.

5. Do I wish I could ride without the kit. SURE, but not everything in life can be exactly what you want. Did I lose something? Not really. So I don't lean, well my car doesn't lean but the Smrfmobile does a bunch of stuff for me my car doesn't and that is priceless. And for whatever percentage you might think I lose from having the kit on, well I've gained a lot more. I don't think anyone on a 2-wheeled scoot could say they transported a 6 foot long folding table on their scooter!? I have confidence in the stability of the Smrfmobile to transport my three dogs on him (all at the same time). I ride on the freeway everyday (rain or shine) and not even semi's passing me give me wind problems with moving my ride the wrong way. An 800 mile roundtrip to Los Angeles cost me less than $50 in gas. I get 42-58MPG and loving every mile on the Smrfmobile.

Look at a glass..half full or half empty... in my opinion it's completely full with two different substances.

Just like one scooter club's motto says "You didn't find the scooter? The scooter found you!"

Better to ride on 5 than not ride at all.

If you missed the thread about mp3s at amerivespa...some new names were created for a pentacycle...I could call the Smrfmobile a Piaggio MP5 or Fike.

Lets face it you are addicted to riding as much as I am!!! If it takes 5 wheels than so be it!!Ride on smrf ride on!!!

R.B.

Thank you R.B! Riding has been a life long dream of mine. My first solid step was getting my motorcycle endorsement over 10 years ago...so nothings stopping me now.

Any scoot, any ride...SO LONG AS you RIDE!