Scooter Review Piaggio Mp3 250 Long Termer The Piaggio MP3 will change your perception of what’s possible from a scooter.
Words by TRENT NIKOLIC, photography by LOU MARTIN Until I settle into the MP3’s saddle and take my first, tentative journey into three-wheeled scootering, I’m still a little sceptical as to how well it’s all going to work. Our Editor has assured me that my perceptions will forever be altered. It can’t be that good though, can it? Surely not?
Infact, the MP3 goes so far as to completely redefine the very idea of ride stability, delivering a level of tarmac grip, stability and general safety that no two-wheeler can match. The full effect of this incredible front end is perhaps most evident on wet roads, where a conventional scooter quickly becomes unsettled and skittish. You find yourself almost praying for just enough rain to dampen the roads and provide you with a more exciting passage through the daily grind.
Speaking of the daily grind, the MP3 will have you negotiating city traffic more safely than any other scooter too. It eats up rutted roads, nasty potholes and patchy concrete with ridiculous ease. The beauty of the MP3 is its size. Comparable to most super scooters or maxis on the market and blessed with exceptional manoeuvrability and balance, the MP3 is just as capable of slicing through the CBD as it is carving up a mountain pass. Parking couldn’t be any simpler either, as the electro-hydraulic suspension locking system means there’s no need to bother with the centrestand.
Another factor that comes to the fore in a cramped city like Sydney is the MP3’s truly excellent braking. Thanks to it’s three-disc braking system and superior front-end grip, the MP3 pulls up more rapidly than you might expect. And the rear brake is just as decisive in delivering arrow-straight stopping as the twin fronts.
Three 12-inch wheels with wide rubber front and rear, and the MP3’s independent front suspension ensures increased balance and stability at highway speeds.
Out back, there are two hydraulic shock absorbers, with fourposition preload.
The MP3’s overall proportions are similar to those of a normal compact maxi scooter and overall front-end width is only 420mm, you won’t feel like you’re riding a barge through traffic every day. There’s ample leg protection from the elements and you won’t be buffeted around behind the effective and well positioned screen.
Splashguards on either side of the front legshield provide extra protection from the elements. The rear pillion seat is comfortable and functional, and the load section has been designed to offer maximum storage capacity. The body-coloured boot lid and the seat provide easy access to the 65-litre storage area, which will comfortably swallow two full-face helmets and a small bag. The underseat storage area also has a light that makes loading and unloading in the dark a whole lot easier, and both the underseat storage area and the rear boot hatch can be opened via remote on the key fob. The rear grabrails are well positioned and comfortable for passengers to use, even on longer rides.
The instrument display provides a comprehensive spread of information as well as being attractively styled. Along with the speedo and fuel gauge, there’s also a range of other gauges, including engine temperature, clock, tripmeter and fuel reserve indicator.
The MP3 will definitely change your perception of what’s possible from a scooter. The traditionalists might say they prefer the standard two-wheeled scooter for its heritage and tradition. But that’s only because they haven’t ridden an MP3. ✽
As published in TW SCOOTER MAGAZINE - 25/08/2008
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