Modern Vespa

Anyone read this months AMA. The smurfmobile made a small paragraph right under the picture of the T-Rex. The article was talking about the difficulties in classification of a motorcycle, everything from the 3 wheeled T-Rex to the 3 wheeled scooter with add on kit which gives it 5 wheels which difies all classification.
Yay Smurfmobile !!!

American Motorcyclist August 2010?? What page? I can't find it.

It came in the mail last night, September issue?
I will get back to you when I get home.
The article with the large picture of the T-Rex in the header...

Oh. That would make sense. I haven't gotten September yet.

I love occasionally seeing scooters in my copy of AMA.

To express a likely not ao popular opinion on this forum, it doesn't make me happy to hear that "bike" made it.

Not a flame war, and I know of the supposed rationale for the genesis of the bike. That doesn't need to be rehashed.

Just saying. In a world where we are already taken less than seriously, that five wheeler does little help.

Let's not make this personal, I'm allowed to have an opinion on the matter

The mag acurately said 3 wheel scooter.
I was just impressed that someone we 'Know' was made refrence to...

You just stepped in it, Bub.
[SNIKT]

{Cue Kirk v. Spock battle music}

Ah. Fair enough.

That said, two in the front, stock rear, plus tow-pac = 5 wheels.

That's one more than a comparably sized 2002 Mazda Miata

Yeah well, IIRC, you were too chicken to ride it Oz...

But I rode it... and I have to say that it felt much like having a sidecar on both sides, which was unnerving as all hell. In fact, think a scooter with a sidecar on both sides would have been preferable, that would add extra width to provide more stability than the Tow-Pac.

Just my $0.02...

You do not RC, bagel. I just didn't want to have to slough off several layers of skin and icky feelings afterward.

I know why SMRF ended up this way but I think I would have preferred a Can-An Spyder.

That being said, she is enjoying her scoot and she's not riding cupcake.

Thanks for the post y'all. I'll have to go find a copy of the AMA mag and see for myself.

BTW, there is more than just my rig out there with the Tow-Pac setup on a MP3.

That is fantastic!

That is the second MV member I'm aware of that has been in the AMA magazine- and I think even in the past year.

Sometimes you have to go to extremes to make a point. I didn't just let my secret out did I?

Occasionally, I'm slightly jealous of the Smurfmobile.

If it would be possible to add a Tow-Pac to the GTV, I'd be able to double my riding time in the winter. Seriously.

I'm surprised you'd think you or scootering would be in any way defined by what someone else chooses to ride...

A lady in the Ft. Myers, Fl area has an MP3 with the Tow Pak wheels. She has mounted two small pet carriers between the wheels and the body on each side and carries her dogs with her.

+1

Nothing personal TheO.Z. but I don't think you are being honest about your prejudice against the smurfmobile. Are you really worried about the impression it makes to the world? Really???

PS wtg smrf!

Feel free to believe what you want, how, and why Like I said, not starting a flame war.

No need to go into it further than that... I've expressed my opinion, and yours may or may not match it. I'm neither interested in further justifying my opinion, nor trying to change yours

I have to confess that I'm deeply conflicted on this one as well. I think the pentacycle looks ridiculous, and loading pets on it just adds insult to injury. However - and this is a big however - if it gets someone out of a car, and puts a smile on their face, and if putting a picture of it in a magazine encourages others to do the same ... then I'm all for it. Still wouldn't ride it tho

Fair enough.

I'm in the same place. What I still don't understand is why the use of the MP3 as the basis for a trike? The conversion defeats the only reason for the MP3's existence - the front end. In the meantime one could save thousands of dollars picking an equivalent-engined BV.

I suspect that many people with balance problems or who just can't reach the ground have been suckered in by the MP3 and its supposed locking mechanism. I don't know how many times I've had to guide people away from the MP3 who were looking at it as a miracle cure for their inability to handle a regular motorcycle or scooter.

For all the people who bought one without the benefit of good counsel who eventually realize they can't handle the MP3 either, they have to either face reality and sell it or make the best of it with a tow-pac. It's a classic trap that results in five-wheel scooters that are much heavier and much more complex than they need to be. And expensive, too.

Almost any other scooter would be a better choice, but the MP3 is what they have because they didn't do their research, didn't listen to the advice given them, or were given poor advice by a salesman.

Many have wondered "Why add a trike kit to a 3 wheeled cycle?"

While the MP3 does have 3 wheels, it is not a trike in the traditional sense. The wheels do not support the bike, they enhance stability while leaning. A more traditional Harley trike or a Can-Am do not lean. The trike kits make a a bike STABLE by eliminating lean and providing extra support to keep the bike upright. These triked bikes do not lean.

This is what Francis, the gal in Florida with the dogs, and several others rider have done by adding a trike kit to their MP3. Sometimes replacing the MP3 with another bike is not financially feasible, sometimes the MP3 with trike kits is what they wanted all along.

We chose the bike we have. It's a personal decision that they chose to make, just like your's was when you bought the ride(s) you have in your garage.

Let's all ride our own ride.

Of note is that the Smurfmobile suffered a major mechanical failure this weekend at the RBSC rally.

From the sound of it, the engine is now a brick, but I did not talk to the owner directly.

It makes one wonder if major engineering change to the bike, such as adding the extra weight, has on the mechanical integrity of the bike.

I am all for people doing what they want to their bikes, but some times you run the risk of tearing the edge of the envelope.

The Smrfmobile is in the shop, and no I don't have a diagnosis yet.

As for those who can't understand why one would fike it out or not and just get another scoot. Remember, not everyone bought the MP3 with the intent of adding a kit to it but at some point in their lives it's something that has to do be done or don't ride...so you do what you can with what you have. Not everyone has a bottomless checkbook to buy and sell their vehicles on a whim. As for a MP3 it is still a good choice to add the kit to because of the tilt lock the scoot is held up while the kit is added/removed. Not everyone has a second person around who can hold the scoot up everytime the kit needs to be put on/off, so another traditionally wheeled 2 wheel scoot with a Tow-Pac kit added may not be ideal for all.

I'll be the first to admit a 250 engine is not ideal for the Tow-Pac especially considering the 20,000 miles I've put on mine but perhaps for those who only ride on weekends and around town on local roads it may be acceptable though I wouldn't recommend it. AGAIN, I say you do what you can with what you've got. I'm happy to accept financial contributions to buy a 400.

Oh sorry to hear about the smrfmobile. Hope it is fixable.

20,000 miles of happy riding on it; what a great way to turn lemons into lemonade.

Considering the extra strain, if you got 20K without a major breakdown, you did good!

I am not judging your choice to put it on anything you want, I just look at from an engineering standpoint and the mechanical potential issues.

I'll give SMRF the wave!

Honestly... how many people would be happy if their scooter...ANY scooter.. had 20,000 miles on it before having a major malfunction.

I hope you are back in the saddle soon in whatever scooter your checkbook can handle.

I know my checkbook expects me to fix my scoot by myself.

Or suffer a debilitating injury or ravages of age after buying an MP3 using guidance from a young sage.

The world is not easily categorized into generalizations.