Modern Vespa

Do you get cramped on your MP3? I currently ride a cruiser but I am thinking about a Maxi Scooter. I have ridden a Tmax and a Silverwing. I have not ridden a Burgman but I like them a lot. I really like the looks and idea of the MP3, however when I sat on one I felt cramped. My feet felt like they were locked in one place. One of the biggest advantages (to me) of the maxi scooters is that I can move my legs and feet around. So for the taller riders out there (I am 6'1" 205 lbs.) Do you have enough room?

I could use more and I could sit higher.

Cramped, yes but way more fun than the Burgman.

It depends on your use; for long rides on the highway the Burgman lets you change position for your legs and feet.

For the city, MPS is way more agile in traffic and fun to ride. The Burgman also takes up more space for parking which is an issue for me.

Cbolling,since you're a six-footer, you can add a top box(with soft back-rest pad) and sit on the pillion seat with your feet resting up on the sides, while cushioning your back on the top box...looks funny but does the job

I'm 6'1" and 180lbs.
I don't feel cramped, but I don't ride for long distances either.
I tend to shift my feet around a bit by putting them all the way forward, sliding them back until my heels hit the passenger rests, bending my knees so that my feet are up on the passenger rests, and I've even been known to ride on the pillion with my legs stretched out.

Thank you for the replies.

No, parking space is not an issue. Like I said I am leaning toward one of the other 3 I mentioned, but I keep coming back to the MP3. It is just so cool.

Being able to move my legs around is one of the biggest reasons for considering a Maxi over another motorcycle.

The lack of leg movement is definitely one of the points to consider. I can manage an hour at a time before I have to get off and 'stretch my legs'. However pegs can be added (I haven't bothered).

I always used to ride 'feet forward' on the X9 - but after using the Fuoco soon found I preferred 'feet down' instead, even on the X9.

It might be a show-stopper for those with longer legs (33" inseam or greater), unless seat modification is done.

I probably have one of the longest inseams here - 37-38" - and I'm okay riding my 250. I ride mainly in-town and short-hop interstates around the Twin Cities metro area, so it's not a showstopper for me.

I know the seat is too low for me by ergonomic standards, and I'm considering alterations - but one thing at a time.

Damn, 37-38" inseam. That is tall!! I have a 34" inseam and felt cramped.

When I rode the Tmax and the Silverwing I had my feet on the sloped forward part most of the ride. This really eased the stress on the knees.

I think it varies by rider... I'm about 6', with a 34" inseam too, and have thus far not felt cramped.

Granted I've only had the bike for a week, but I've already put 400+mi on it, with one 118mi trip. I was ready to get off before our mid ride break, but wasn't so much the legs as it was my back.

I move my legs around constantly, I have about 4 or 5 spots I put my feet, giving me some variation... I also move on the seat too which adds to the variations.

I felt cramped from the first moment I sat on my 500. Too close to the bars and legs bent a little too much.

I had a 1/2" of extra foam added to the driver's portion of the seat and it completely solved my problem. It's remarkable how much difference it makes, and it can be done for very little money. Not only do you gain the extra height, but perhaps more importantly it allows you to move further back. On hot days I find myself so far back I disengage the seat sensor.

Anyway, rest assured if you don't adapt to it, it can adapt to you.

All ways feel a little cramped since got mine in May 07. You get used to it some also. On long rides i ride feet out helps some. Only thing thats a bother is my butt. It starts toi hurt after a wile., but you need to get off every so often anyway to rest.

I am 6'2" and 34" inseam. 25,000 miles on 2 MP3s. Sore bum is much more limiting than cramped legs. I look at a Burgman or Silverwing and think the leg position would be nice, but the MP3 has a fun factor they can't touch.

There are a couple of threads for adding pegs which help the cramped situation, but I haven't bothered to do the mod yet.

A seat mod that moves the position up and back a bit would also help, but I am not comfortable getting all the way back in the pillion position with the major lean forward.

Fuzzy, have you given it a serious try? I ask because it does seem scary and weird at first, with the noticeably higher center of gravity and the craning neck position. But I got used to it pretty quickly and now even spend part of the time up on the pillion while driving at interstate speed (even though the highway-only foot pegs allow my legs to stretch reasonably well from the front seat). Now I only sit in front when going very slow, or while using the pegs on the interstate.

My point is not that riding pillion is best, or that using the pegs is best, but that being able to switch at will gives a nice break to the legs and back. Vive la change!

Hey hey,
If was talking to my wife about this thread and Men getting cramped.She laughed and said you tell those complainers of cramps,try to be a women with much worse monthly cramps.

6'4" here. I just got my 500 and am looking to get the seat redone so I fit more comfortably. There's a local guy (Don Weber of Mr Ed's moto) that's done the seat on every bike I've owned. Once he's worked his magic, it'll be all day comfortable.

Ramblerdan, No I have not given a serious try and after your input I will. May or may not be good for me, but worth a real attempt. Thanks for pointing out to me.

Your comfort level is directly proportional to your age, prior injuries, inseam and shoe size. So here it is: I'm 63, and after riding dirt bikes & motors in the SFPD, I've had numerous injuries to my knees, neck and lower back. My inseam is 34" and my shoe size is 15.

When you combine the above stats to the fact that I love long distance riding (250-500 mile days), I have to say that, though my MP3 250 was the best handling bike I've ever owned, I was very uncomfortable after riding 200 miles. For the above reasons, I settled on a Burgman 650 Executive.

The Burgman is one of the most comfortable bikes I've ever owned. For short distances and city use, the MP3 was unbeatable, but for long distance comfort, you can't beat the Burgman.

At times, yes. I'm 5'11", 165 lbs with a 32" inseam and a size 10 shoe. There are moments when my knees feel cramped up or stuck in one position.

As a result I'm constantly shifting my weight on the seat, just trying to keep good posture. I don't care for the feeling of my back bending forward. That being said the longest I've ridden on a one day stretch is about 5 hours. I stopped every 40 to 60 miles over a 250 mile trip and that made it very tolerable for me.

My feeling is that the seat simply needs to be worked over so that one doesn't feel as if they are constantly but ever so slowly sliding forward. The result of this is a slow-but-sure ever increasing tightness in the nether regions at ones Y split in the legs.

I've currently prioritized a winter windshield ("large comfort top screen") over a $500 seat reworking by Day Long Saddles. Maybe next spring? 8)

chris