Modern Vespa

It will get here, its a matter of time and price.

http://scootersales.com.au/News-348-scooternews.aspx

I wonder what 0-60 times are, or actually more pertinent in city 0-30 times are for the 400? the 250 was a touch sluggish for me, but not awful. It was managable but under load with a passanger I'd expect it to basically cough and weez.

I know you didn't realize this, but I have the occasional ability to predict the future. My prediction for the day: If you get an MP3 (of any size), you're going to drive it up and down the streets of San Francisco (and, more specifically, the hills of SF) with a passenger and glaze the clutch. I'd put money on it.

I bet you're right.

Actually, interestingly, since I had my entire frickin' GT tranny swapped out, it's not glazed since. It's gotten a bit... dusty but nothing some cleaner wouldn't fix.

I'll still prolly replace most of the bell/drum & clutch with a malossi part later on tho.

I prolly woudlnt' get either bike tho Too many bikes without a home as is You'd think with how similar of an environment parts of Italy are to SF, that they'd build a bike whose clutch drums didn't glaze all the goddamned time 2 up on steep ass hills

The more I think about how much I enjoyed riding the MP3, the more I'd like to own one, BUT I need a 400cc version to fulfill my needs. I just hope that they come to America--I noticed the link was to an Austrailian website.

Hey, today's my birthday--They should announce that the 400 version is coming to the US, today, don't you think?

I'd really consider the MP3 400 if they come here. I think in England (or was it Italy?) they sell the BV in a 400 version. That would be THE perfect scooter for me. I'm really considering moving to a bigger displacement scoot and want to stay with Piaggio. I like the concept of the MP3. Please bring it here!

With the larger wheel and longer wheel base, how much of the MP3 250's agility would be lost? Or does the 250ie have very little agility to begin with, so that the loss would be minimal?

-Rick

I don't think it was that agile but it was still fairly nimble. It's definitely less twitchy than a GT because that second wheel up front prevents numerous shenanigans.

What I really meant was, do you guys think the MP3 400ie would be noticeably less agile and nimble than the MP3 250ie? With its heavier weight, bigger wheel, and longer wheel base, would it remain nimble enough around town, or would it really feel like more of a touring / maxi scooter?

-Rick

to be honest, it already kinda did feel more like a maxi-scoot to me. Not sure how much more like one it'd feel.

I guess my one question is why they would not use the same engine that is in the BV500? I mean you would get an extra 60cc of power and the thing is already a proven engine, so why develop a 400cc engine and why put a it in the MP3?

Alt

I read somewhere that the 400 is basically a re-worked 500.

Tom

What about a 1200cc.... Where will the pain stop!
I think it's butt ugly. Maybe I will grow on me. I just dont think scooters should be that big.

Seriously, it's not as big as it looks. Okay, the engine size is in maxi territory, but the MP3 is much smaller than it looks in pictures.

Then it just looks Huge? It looks like a Honda Aspencade. Maybe I'll see one in Vegas at High Rollers.

Yep. The styling cues are taken straight from VLBs (Very Large Bikes) like the BV500, but the MP3 is really almost diminutive, compared to those bikes. It's sized much closer to a GTS.

Very true. About that size, but with a big nose.

why the 400 vs 500??

i heard two different reasons...it is probably a combo of both if you ask me

1) the 500 was too big...as it is with the 400 they needed to increase the length and add a bigger back tire (the engine caused the ride to pull or drift or something like that)

2) insurance...in some places the insurance and taxes are huge on anything over 400cc. 400 cc and lower is much cheaper, so, say you are in canada, a 400cc bike is much much cheaper to own...for 60cc of power do you want to pay double in taxes and insurance?

g