Modern Vespa

Thanks Fuzzy, can I presume that the caption for your picture is supposed to say "Note relaxed..." rather than "Not relaxed..."?

That may change soon: a German member is fitting a UFP1 onto a /400LT and early results seem promising.

My hope is that the next revision will be able to fit both U.S. and European MP3s without modification

My heart jumped into my throat when I started reading, but then I remembered you installed those nice folding pegs. Good call on that!

So I just left a print with my jobber for a new design: satin finish, narrower on the inboard side to accomodate an MP3/LT without affecting twist, and above all 0.200 stainless instead of 0.12". I've been riding with a 0.200" thick prototype for several weeks now, zero flex even going over bumps, very nice ride. On the can't beat 'em, join 'em theory, this one is designed with rubber bumpers in mind.

This should truly be the "Ultimate" MP3 footpeg bracket, with a year's worth of experience and other member's feedback folded in, but the cost remains to be seen. I am hoping to keep the price the same as last year's version and I will post an update as soon as I hear back.

If you have ordered a set of brackets, check the second post in the thread for order status and other news.
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hi.... do u have any used or demo ones for the 500...thank ste ve nyc 917 301 1130
I am offering the "Ultimate Footpeg Project" brackets, model UFP3, which put your feet lower, wider, and further forward than the stock Piaggio MP3 floorboard, for $100 a set. This includes shipping and the longer rear screw needed. These are plug-n-play for an MP3/500, or an MP3/400 (and, although not actually tested, presumably a /250) that has had a diamondplate floorboard installed. Simply remove the two front screws from the floorboard, place the bracket over the floorboard, reattach the front screw, and use the included longer screw to attach the back. They will also fit an unmodified /400 (and again, presumably a /250) with a minor modification described by users in this thread, which will add a couple of minutes to installation.

These brackets are solid Type 304 Stainless Steel, pre-drilled to mate with a footpeg accepting a 3/8" diameter screw (or by using a tap, 10mm diameter screw or shaft). I personally use the Dixie 3518-9, available from RustyRiders (their part number fp-mc-5c). Pegs are not included for liability reasons: if you choose to use the Dixie peg, you should be aware that they do not automatically fold by themselves and do not have an integral feeler to alert you to scraping in a tight turn. In normal use any reasonably sized pegs should not contact ground in a turn, but it is your responsibility to ensure that your pegs are in the upright position whenever performing aggressive manuvers. The MP3 can theoretically be pushed to extreme banks at high speed, and such manuvers should NOT be attempted with these brackets attached, with or without pegs. There are a huge variety of pegs available ranging from under $10 to over $100 a pair; some other pegs are discussed later in this thread.

As can be seen below, the footpegs may be mounted at three different distances, which should be suitable for anyone from 5'4" to 6'4" or more. If you are on the shorter side you will probably be using the top mounting hole, and you should avoid pegs with a threaded shaft and instead order pegs that have a 3/8" (or if necessary, 10mm) threaded hole because of the limited clearance between the top hole and the MP3 body.

These brackets are NOT intended to support your full weight; while their location will make it essentially impossible to stand up on them (you can always move your feet back to the floorboard to stand up e.g. going over speed bumps and big potholes), I know from experience that it is entirely possible to "push back" on them (e.g. to adjust yourself in the saddle) and neither they, nor the floorboard screws that hold them, are designed for that kind of load. If you cannot discipline yourself to using them only for resting your feet on, don't buy them!

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Okay! So how do you get them?

$100, checks only; PM me with your name and address and I'll respond with mailing info. Send checks in an ordinary envelope so they don't accidentally get tossed as junk mail! I'll update the second post in this thread with order and delivery information. Don't purchase any pegs until I have confirmed I have brackets in stock or have placed an order with my fabricator.

IMPORTANT INSTALLATION NOTES:

1. The MP3 makes extensive use of "speedclips" and (in this case) "speednuts." If when mounting the brackets you find that you have to force the screws, STOP - you are misthreading and you will probably cause the speednut to dislodge. Back it out and try again. Screws should thread in EASILY with an allen wrench under minimal finger force.

2. The screws mount through slots, not holes. Here's why: when you mount the brackets, they will not conform exactly to the floorboard as they are at a slightly wider angle. Thread in the screws until they are almost all the way in. Now, push the bracket forward as far as it will go (hence the slot) and tighten the screws down. The brackets will now conform to the curve in the floorboard perfectly; this keeps the brackets under a slight tension and makes them stronger. If when you're done you see a gap between the arc in the bracket and the curve of the floorboard, you didn't push the bracket forward before tightening - loosen the screws and repeat.

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DISCLAIMERS

These brackets are sold AS IS without warranty.

These brackets will fit an MP3/500, and a /400 that has had the diamondplate flooring for the /500 installed. Mounting to an unmodified stock /250 or /400 will require a slight but cosmetically destructive modification (punching two small holes in the rubber floorboard for the screws to fit through), and you're on your own in that regard.

These brackets are sold WITHOUT footpegs. They will accomodate any peg that accepts a 3/8" screw; the screw should be self-locking or use an appropriate lock washer. The use of other pegs cannot be anticipated, but you should take caution to assure that the mounting hardware used will not contact and damage body panels.

Unusually long footpegs, unusually shaped footpegs, and riding under unusually aggressive conditions of turn, speed, and terrain may result in footpegs and brackets contacting ground, resulting in death or injury. It is your responsiblity to ensure that footpegs are raised or stowed when manuvers compromise ground clearance; this is particularly true if you have made modifications to your MP3 (including, but not limited to, removing the centerstand or installing larger tires*) that increase maximum potential lean angle. Brackets should be removed completely before attempting maximum performance manuvers.

These brackets are intended to support the rider's feet, not their entire weight. Do not attempt to stand on them, as doing so will likely cause structural failure of the brackets, floorboard, or mounting screws, resulting in loss of control and death or injury. Do not use them to push yourself back or adjust yourself in the saddle. When approaching large obstacles, always move your feet back to the floorboards until the obstacle has been passed. Excessive loading of the brackets could cause immediate or gradual bending of the brackets or damage to the mounting screws or floorboard frame.

These brackets and their design are claimed as protected intellectual property. All rights reserved. No reverse engineering or reproduction is permitted without express written permission.

*Edit: see post on this subject later in this thread by Fuzzy, whose larger tire resulted in peg-ground contact during an extreme manuver. Fuzzy was smart enough to use a self-folding peg, so potential disaster averted.

My MP3 slid out sideways on wet grass. (No forward speed when it went out from under me.) Left peg bracket bent quite a bit towards the bike. I have a bumper and it appeared the bend was at least partially around the bumper point and no mark on the tupperware. Using peg for leverage bent it roughly back into position. When I got home I took it off and hammered it back flat. Not a scratch on MP3 anywhere.

Hope you are okay as well as the scoot!

Be sure to remove the board screws and inspect the threads. If they're damaged I'll send you some replacements gratis BUT if the screw threads are damaged then the nuts probably are as well, and those I don't have.

Your wish has been granted: so, do I take it you are now on the list...and can get another five or six people to sign up in the next week based on this price savings?

Special request from OAD to see the new prototypes. Not much to see but here 'tis.

Okay, we are >this< >close<. I believe I can now justify the larger order and the price, with the thicker steel, is the same as last year. In fact, it's slightly cheaper so I can throw in the bumpers for free. But...

...they want $12.50 each for the bead finish or $9.75 each for a wire wheel buff, irrespective of order quantity. I think that's a bit outrageous and have pushed back; my target is about half of that. But in any event, I can now tell you that the price will either be $100 with no finish (warning: that means it may contain the same slight tool marks as last year, so if you don't like that, get chummy with your local mechanic and his wire buffing wheel), or $105-106 with the finish if I can get it.

I'm for the bead finish. Considered paint but know of nothing that will hold up to the foot action this brackets will receive.