2009 Other Makes Piaggio MP3 250

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2009 Piaggio MSRP: $ 7199 *MSRP EXCLUDES DESTINATION & VEHICLE PREPARATION CHARGESThe first of the revolutionary Piaggio MP3 three-wheel scooters, providing safety, road grip and stability levels that no two-wheeler can match. Its power, performance and ease of use make for a very entertaining ride.MP3 250MSRP $7,199 BOUGHT BRAND NEW,FOR HEALTH REASONS,I COULD NOT DRIVE IT.IT WAS GARAGED ALL THE TIME>4.9 MILES OR 8 KM ENGINE TYPESingle-cylinder QUASAR, 4-stroke, 4-valveCYLINDER CAPACITY244.3 ccBORE X STROKE2.8" / 3.1"MAX POWER AT SHAFT22.5 bhpMAX TORQUE21 Nm at 6,750 rpmMAX SPEED77 mphFUEL TANK CAPACITY3.2GAS MILEAGE60-65 mpgDISTRIBUTIONElectronic injection systemCOOLING SYSTEMLiquidLUBRICATIONWet sump, 1000 cc capacityIGNITIONPort injected Alfa/n type with closed loop systemGEARS'Twist 'n go' automatic CVTCLUTCHn/aCHASSISTwin cradle made of high-strength steel tubesFRONT SUSPENSIONParallelogram supporting two steering tubesREAR SUSPENSIONTwo dual effect hydraulic shocksFRONT BRAKE240 mm stainless steel discsREAR BRAKE240 mm stainless steel discsFRONT TIRE120/70, 12"REAR TIRE130/70, 14"LENGTH84"WIDTH29.3"WHEELBASE58.6"SEAT HEIGHT30.7"DRY WEIGHT493TYPE APPROVALEPA and CARBCOLORSGray, Graphite Black The MP3 250 is a three-wheeled scooter but not with the traditional layout as you may have expected, this scooter has two front wheels and one on the rear. So how does that work? Well, unlike a trike where the suspension is rigid, Piaggio have designed an electro-hydraulic tilt system which allows each of the front wheels to act independently based on how much the scooter leans, which should result in higher levels of grip (and confidence) and a decreased braking distance. It’s a little confusing to understand exactly what happens so think of it like this. Imagine back-in-the-day, cruising around the roller-disco and trying to turn without bending your knees, your going to keep heading straight for that wall. But, by bending your knees and tilting your body, turning is a cinch and the same applies to the MP3 and it’s electro-hydraulic knees. Where most scooters start to get out of their depth once the speedo gets over 50km/h, the MP3 is still right at home and handles just like a motorcycle; it feels completely solid and planted on the road. The three-disc braking system helps to reduce the braking distance by up to 20% compared to other scooters, the suspension soaks up those pot holes and bumps nicely and worrying about slippery tram tracks is a thing of the past (if you live in Melbourne). But all of this culminates and takes scootering (if that’s even a real word) to a new level when it rains. Never before has a scooter offered so much confidence to a rider on wet roads. The MP3 makes light work of acceleration, steering and braking no matter what mother nature has to throw at you and its no wonder, because two front wheels means two times the surface area kissing the road. On top of all this, the MP3 also offers some quirky features; most notable is the tilt-lock. Normally, as you roll to a halt at the traffic lights, you prepare to put your feet down to balance the scooter. But not on the MP3, you have the option of flicking the tilt-lock switch so that the electro-hydraulic system locks-up and stops the scooter from falling over; your feet never need to touch the ground. It takes a little practice to perfect, but once you get it, you won’t believe how many people are amazed by this feature. Just cruising through the streets of Melbourne, we hear people in cars saying “how do you balance like that!?” As soon as you alert them to the fact there are two front wheels, their immediate response is “wicked!” or something of that vernacular. In general, this just seems to be a bit of a head-turner. Everywhere you go, there are always people that can’t help but notice the MP3’s unique styling and character. Practicality has also been considered during the design of this Piaggio. There is a considerable amount of storage space under the seat as well as a chute in the rear which connects to the under seat storage and can even fit my helmet. It’s definitely not a replacement for a small car boot, but it is quite impressive. The Piaggio is also very comfortable and you’d have no problem cruising on a long journey. It has ample space for a passenger on the back, try fitting a pillion on a competing 250cc scooter, aint gonna happen.