Modern Vespa

Is there a lockable brake for the MP3 500? The parking brake is great but has anyone done some type of mod for it that you can lock it in place?

Not only would this help deter thieves (as it's heavy to lift away) but it would also deter kids who have nothing better to do than to unlock the parking brake and watch your scooter roll down a hill or into another parked car.

Are you kidding? It IS lockable.

Lock handbrake+twist steering wheel+ key in 'lock position'

Thats it now no one can twist or push it

Okay, you have my attention! I just went out to the garage and looked at my mp3 500. Yes there is a LOCK position, but how do I get to it? I tried pushing down on the key, but I can't get there ;(

youhave to twist your rightsteer handle al the way to your screen first

Stand on the left of your bike and turn the front wheel towards you as far as it will go - then lock the bike in that position with the key. Your brake will now be locked in position and so will your wheels.

Do not push in the key to get to lock position. If handlle bars are turned to the right spot the key will not be hard to turn to lock position.

Does anyone even open the owners manual?

Wayne B

dam I was going to say the same thing but thought no I won't I'll just let it go. but glad you brought it up .

I did on my 250, but pretty much have assumed my 400 was the same. I wondered why my trunk kept opening when I pushed the button for the seat release then noticed there are two buttons on the key.

There's a parking break?!

In fairness, the mp3 owners manual reads like it was put together by an unremarkable high-school student to pass a class he doesn't like.

There's a manual, I thought it was an automatic!

You mean I can quit carrying the bricks with me to block the wheels?

Sorry, but I thought the dealers told everyone about the brake before letting them go with the bike.

I guess the mechanism didn't lock when my scooter was found sitting against another parked car.

And yes, it was definitely locked.

And remind me to never post another question here again.

Definitely locked? With the handle-bars locked fully to the left? It wouldn't roll more than a few feet with the hand-brake off on an incline, as it would start pointing uphill again...

Don't confuse the tilt-lock with the steering-lock. With the steering lock on, the handbrake can't be taken off (without a spanner that is). They do need adjusting now and again though - has your handbrake been adjusted?

Don't get the wrong idea about us here, we like to kid around once and a while.

Sorry,
This is the procedure:
1) Turn handle bars fully left while key is in the ignition.
2) Pull up on emergency brake (parking brake)
3) While your left hand squeezes the rear brake, turn the key counter clockwise to the lock position with your right hand.
4) Pull out key or someone may steal your scoot.

Did not mean to perturb you.

Mike

Thanks for the help guys. My dealer explained very little the evening I picked up my scooter. I have gone over the owners manual several times, but that thing reads worst than a military tech manual. I am picking up things bit-by-bit, so please forgive me if I ask questions about items I never knew existed or did not pick out from reading the manual.

Asking questions is what this place is all about. So please continue in the fashion you have started.

Some would prefer you RTFM first and use the search feature on Modern Vespa, but I think keeping the questions coming is a vital part of keeping this place alive and kicking.

Ask away!

chris

+1

I haven't reached 500 miles yet so I haven't had it serviced.

I do remember being able to push the brake down once, it made a cracking sound but i have steering locked it and placed the parking brake on and tried to duplicate and I haven't been able to get it down (although I have not pushed real hard b/c I don't want to break it).

The scoot didn't need to roll far to hit the other car, it was parked beside me.

I have since not parked anywhere near another car or just parked on the sidewalk (no tickets yet).

Thanks!

Wait, just so I understand. You had the parking brake engaged and the steering locked and your scooter still rolled into a car? If that is true then your parking brake needs adjustment, but wouldn't it be hard to get off and not notice it rolling? Maybe I just misunderstood you.

I shouldn't have made light of your plight -- just got caught up in the sarcasm. If you locked it and it rolled there is a definite problem. If you locked the steering and THEN applied the parking brake it can be still moved. The brake must be set before locking the handle bars. My dealer had the lead mechanic come out and go over the bike with me before I could leave the dealership. Everyone should be so lucky.

This is the place to ask. It is also the place to search and just read. You will come across stuff you haven't even thought of that will be useful.

Sorry for my comment.

Only time I don't use the centerstand is when I run into the post office to pick up mail. Force of habit I guess, and some odd, niggling, back of the head subconcious fear (enough disclaimers??) that the tilt lock might fail when I least expect it. Never had a parking brake failure. However, I got 'lightly loved' Loretta second hand and not from a dealer. so I never had her nuances and foibles explained in detail. I was unaware that the parking brake had to be set before the steering lock - seems odd, but she is a bit of an 'unusual' creature anyway. I would never have noticed since I use the centerstand... Thanks for writing that out, Jerry.

Not true. If the steering is locked and the handbrake is then applied, the handbrake becomes locked too.

Just try it and see.

I agree with JimC

Wayne B

Don't give up asking questions like you just did. I did not know how it really worked until Jim C.'s last post. This website is a great one, but a few make jokes out of the questions some people have. It's a shame, but just ignore them.

I for one am glad you did ask the question. I can start properly locking my Piaggio because of your question. Thanks.

I think a group hug is in order - c'mon everyone, some, me included, were just joshin' a bit. No hard feelings. I don't think anyone here would want anyone else to not ask any questions. So, let's commence with the questions and the fun, all at the same time!

I'm thinking I haven't explained things very well.

The parking brake was up. When I came back out of the store the parking brake was down and my scoot was resting against a car.

No damage, nothing big, steering lock was engaged.

I am thinking that I didn't do something right because I have gone out and set my bike on lock and parking brake on a semi steep hill and pushed and pulled and whatever I could do to get it to move... and no movement.

I did not push down really hard on the parking brake as I am afraid to break something in it.

I'm probably a hundred miles away from the first tune up so I'll have them look into it.

Thanks!

If you did not have the steering locked at the same time it's possible some miscreant unlocked the parking brake. I would say that's more likely than a faulty parking brake if your manual tests have not shown any sign of a problem. Either that or you did not have the parking brake fully engaged. Now that you know how to lock the steering I would not worry about it. The ability to lock the steering and the brake is one of my favorite things about the MP3.

Perhaps the best overall solution is what I use a "U" shaped lock that I put on the front wheel. My scoot can then only roll so far

I would gladly exchange the parking brake for a reverse gear any day

I am confused here. SO I am going to repeat what I read and see if it makes any sense.

At one point, the break was in the up (applied position) and the owner pressed down on it and it made a cracking sound?

The owner says the steering lock was engaged yet the break handle was down (not applied)?

Two things I am pondering.....

As another poster state....is the tilting mechanism locked being confused with the steering mechanism being locked?

Cracking Sounds are never good. I dont know the build of the locking mechanism for the steering but is it possible the sound is indicative of something no longer being as designed? IE, a part was somehow compromised during the cracking and now the owner has an intermittent problem?

It is a parking brake, not a parking break. That is of course it doesn't engage, and does indeed cause something to break.

Sorry it is the English Professor in me.

hmmm, i think you must have not done something right too. if your brake lever was in the up position (engaged) and your steering lock was engaged there is no way (unless you have a major failure with your brake lever) that the lever pushed itself back down and no way someone walked by and did it...

Sorry thats what happens when you can't sleep and type a response at 430 am. lol

I think it is now parking broke.

Or is it broek???

broked

Borked.