OP
@wsurandy avatar
UTC

Hooked
2010 MP3 250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 126
Location: Wichita, Kansas
 
Hooked
@wsurandy avatar
2010 MP3 250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 126
Location: Wichita, Kansas
UTC quote
Be careful what you wish for.

Early last year, I was looking for a new scoot, my first. I fell in love with the MP3 -- the looks, the passion of its riders on MV and elsewhere, the whole idea. But my local dealer didn't have any MP3s and wasn't likely to get any, so I bought an LX150 and rode into scooterdom. It was a great ride.

Earlier this year, however, the dealer made a 180-degree turn, brought in the whole Vespa line, 300s, 250s, Piaggios. So I traded my 150, believing I would finally have the scoot of my dreams.

Though I had taken a test ride on a 500 and liked it, it didn't take more than three or four outings on my new 250 (a 2010 model) for me to know I'd made a mistake. I only ride in town, commute to a local university, tour the parks, etc., and the MP3 was much more of a load to handle. Backing, low speed maneuvers in parking lots, riding on campus, wrestling it around my garage -- it was not the fun 150 experience I had come to know.

I probably should have figured this out before I made the change, but I didn't. Now I have a brand new scoot to sell.

I know MP3s are wonderful for many folks, and it is a great scoot for "regular" travel, but I need an urban warrior. I may trade down to a 250 (125 pounds lighter and about eight inches shorter) or wait until spring for the new 150 efi.

Call me sadder but wiser.
@justme avatar
UTC

Enthusiast
GTV250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 80
Location: Skagit Co., WA
 
Enthusiast
@justme avatar
GTV250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 80
Location: Skagit Co., WA
UTC quote
Sorry to hear that your made a mistake on your purchase. I've been following some of the MP3 passion as well and felt sort of envious at times. I'd still like to give one a test spin, but you may have just saved me a bunch of money...
UTC

The Host with the Toast
Joined: UTC
Posts: 7199
Location: SoCal
 
The Host with the Toast
Joined: UTC
Posts: 7199
Location: SoCal
UTC quote
Good post! I have also played with the idea of getting an MP3. it seems like lots of used one for sale now on ebay.
@oultondave avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
Blue 70th anniversary Vespa GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1302
Location: Leeds, Yorkshire, England
 
Molto Verboso
@oultondave avatar
Blue 70th anniversary Vespa GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1302
Location: Leeds, Yorkshire, England
UTC quote
Reading next month's Scootering mag they have shown a new hybrid MP3 that should be on sale in the coming months. Sounds a good idea, but never having ridden one and more's to the point never really wanting one don't think I'll be trading the GTS for one.
@stickyfrog avatar
UTC

Moderatus Rana
MP3 250 and 2 MP3 500s
Joined: UTC
Posts: 22659
Location: Nashville, Indiana
 
Moderatus Rana
@stickyfrog avatar
MP3 250 and 2 MP3 500s
Joined: UTC
Posts: 22659
Location: Nashville, Indiana
UTC quote
C'mon wsurandy. Come back to the dark side. Have you ridden me in the twisties yet? I will make you very happy out in the country. You know we once had a good thing going...don't blow it now. What do you want me to be? I will be anything you need. Just don't leave me. Crying or Very sad emoticon

Signed, your ever faithful MP3
@zippy avatar
UTC

Hooked
Dragon Red LX 150 (Hillary)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 450
Location: Alpena, Michigan, USA
 
Hooked
@zippy avatar
Dragon Red LX 150 (Hillary)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 450
Location: Alpena, Michigan, USA
UTC quote
wsurandy

Trust in the good side. The LX is what you want and you know it. Deep

down inside the LX will do what you want. Style good looks and a great

scoot to ride around town with. Nothing better in my mind.

Paul
UTC

Molto Verboso
Honda Foresight 250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1263
Location: Glasgow
 
Molto Verboso
Honda Foresight 250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1263
Location: Glasgow
UTC quote
stickyfrog wrote:
C'mon wsurandy. Come back to the dark side. Have you ridden me in the twisties yet? I will make you very happy out in the country. You know we once had a good thing going...don't blow it now. What do you want me to be? I will be anything you need. Just don't leave me. Crying or Very sad emoticon

Signed, your ever faithful MP3
Wha? emoticonROFL emoticon Scary, but funny. Especially "...ridden me in the twisties..." - oo-er missus!
@bootscooter avatar
UTC

Addicted
'07 GTS 250, '09 BV 500
Joined: UTC
Posts: 646
Location: San Antonio, Texas
 
Addicted
@bootscooter avatar
'07 GTS 250, '09 BV 500
Joined: UTC
Posts: 646
Location: San Antonio, Texas
UTC quote
On the LX or the GTS, when you swerve to miss a pothole, you really miss it.
OP
@wsurandy avatar
UTC

Hooked
2010 MP3 250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 126
Location: Wichita, Kansas
 
Hooked
@wsurandy avatar
2010 MP3 250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 126
Location: Wichita, Kansas
UTC quote
I think Zippy is right, but I sure hate to wait until spring for the efi version. Then again, I want the efi version.

Starting to sound like Bret Favre in the summertime.
@stanny avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
2007 GT200L Graphite Black
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1869
Location: Fayetteville, AR
 
Molto Verboso
@stanny avatar
2007 GT200L Graphite Black
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1869
Location: Fayetteville, AR
UTC quote
What do I know, but I think you need one of each.
@stickyfrog avatar
UTC

Moderatus Rana
MP3 250 and 2 MP3 500s
Joined: UTC
Posts: 22659
Location: Nashville, Indiana
 
Moderatus Rana
@stickyfrog avatar
MP3 250 and 2 MP3 500s
Joined: UTC
Posts: 22659
Location: Nashville, Indiana
UTC quote
Stanny wrote:
What do I know, but I think you need one of each.
second that!
@fuzzy avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
. . 2008 Blue MP3 400. . di Peluria Orso .... 1993 Kawasaki Vulcan 500 ....... 2013 Honda NC700XD; 2017 Versys X300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 6252
Location: South Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@fuzzy avatar
. . 2008 Blue MP3 400. . di Peluria Orso .... 1993 Kawasaki Vulcan 500 ....... 2013 Honda NC700XD; 2017 Versys X300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 6252
Location: South Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee
UTC quote
Many of those MP3s are for sale because people like me traded up to another MP3.

The real bottom line is as much as many of us like our MP3 if it was the right ride for everyone Piagio could quit making other scooters. As much as I hate to admit it, if all your riding is city streets and college campuses then a smaller lighter bike may be the best choice. If you want to hit the road or really lean one over, then the MP3 can't be beat.
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