Modern Vespa

If you are interested in seeing how Piaggio mounts their top case on the MP3 look here http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/11/20/piaggio-mp3-winter-accessories/#more-1254.

With a 48 liter top case on top of the underseat storage you could haul home a lot of beer. Maybe I will need the 400 cc model just to handle the extra weight.

Astounding !! The MP3 gets better with every passing post....

A heated leg cover, winter tyres and a mounting kit for the Tom Tom
GPS.

Now I'm getting excited !!

You know this baby is growing on me. I may wait and see if the 500cc come out in the US. Hope so it would make one heck of a ride, Beale.

I think I'm sold.
Lieber

What they don't tell you in the winter accessories article, is that you could get a pair of skis under the seat of that thing.

You'll need a flashlight to see to the front.

I'm drooling now ...

mmmm, i am really thinking of getting an MP3...the downside is i live in New Mexico with 75 mph speed limits. i really need a scooter that can go 85 mph so i can have the speed to avoid highway problems...but i received an email from piaggiousa that there is no plans to bring the 400 to the US, only the 250...the 250 is nice, but for my highway trips i really need the 400

of course piaggiousa could be wrong...

their reply to my question of when the 400 mp3 will be available

G,

We are currently expecting the 3-wheel 250cc scooter in the first part
of 2007. There are no plans to bring in the 3-wheel 400cc at the
moment.

Customer Care
Piaggio Group Americas, Inc.




i guess the "at the moment" is open to interpetation...perhaps we should all send email to piaggio stating a desire for the 400...

CustomerCare@piaggiogroupusa.com


g

Listen the GT and GTS will do over 70 MPH comfortably. I ride mine to work and back every day and most of that is on the interstate. Occasionally I will get it up to 80 or 85 (indicated). I pass other traffic including some semi's with no problem....I am extremely happy with it.

yes, but a 250 MP3 will be heavier and have more friction (extra wheel and extra wind on the wider front end)...so you take 5 or more mph off the top end from the gts...

again that is fine to ride on highways with a 65 mph speed limit...but out here with the limit 75, and most people going 80 to 85, well you don't want a vechicle that just barely gets to 75...you need some extra speed to get away from potential accidents and such

that said, i might get a 250 MP3 and then just upgrade to the 400 when it comes to the states...i would just like to bypass that step and go right to the 400...

though i don't know what i'll do when my scooter shop people find out i bought an MP3...they are old school...the general thought is "3 wheels? just go get a car"

g

With such storage on offer the Seniors (OAPs) who will be attracted to this thing can put their walking frames in the back and spare incontinence pants in the boot (trunk).

funny to see the modern vespa people dissing the potential MP3 crowd...

just like us geared scooter riders diss the modern automatic scooter crowd


the veterns always think the noobs are wusses for any advancements...

autolube?? real men mix the oil in the gas by hand
automatic?? real men drive bikes with gears
three wheels? just go buy a car you wimp

the more things change, the more they stay the same

g

I like it. I've got a promise of a day-long loan of a demo unit as soon as they hit the states.

Now how did you swing that one, Jess?

God bless 'em, they're consistent

Great idea. People know there's a 400, but we won't sell it to them. That'll keep sales down while they wait for us to change our mind.

"Antonio, what do you know about America?"

"According to our reserch, it's a very small country. Everyone lives above their business'. The max speed limit is 40mph, gas is cheap and no one likes scooters"

"Thatsa what I think too. Someone, anyone, shoot me in the foot!"

It will be a day you'll remember for a long time.

I wonder if they will make the winter tires available for us?

According to the official specs, even though the MP3 weighs 123 lbs. more than the GTS the top speed is the same (MP3 125 km/hr, GTS 122 km/hr). I suspect the difference is aerodynamics. Not being retro, the MP3 was shaped for speed like other contemporary scooters. The GTS has the traditional tombstone-like front which is an airflow killer.

But I would guess that the GTS comes out ahead on acceleration due to the weight advantage.

They are already available!

Brilliant - I hope to be scooting on such a machine well into my 80's !!