Long Term Scooter Review Piaggio MP3 400 Long Termer I've just nominated the MP3 as our first long term test. Just don't tell the supplier!
Words by Scootersales, Pics by Piaggio  Long termer. That’s the realm of the big boys- the car magazines that get to thrash Barinas and Falcons for extended periods, and never before has it been a term thrown around the ScooterSales office. Until now that is. Of course, I do have to address the small issue of telling the supplier I’ll be using his scoot long term- something we haven’t exactly discussed yet. But if he wants it back, he’s going to have a job on his hands.
But why this fondness? Why am I smitten with the MP3 400 when I have regular access to some of the most desirable scooters? Where’s the magic come from, especially when it wasn’t love at first sight- I mean the only reason people look at it is because it has a third wheel up front, not because it’s Sophia Loren on wheels. But it’s ‘me’, it fits me perfectly and I feel at home straight away. For me, getting on the MP3 400 is like slipping into a plainly coloured tailored suit- a little bit exclusive and a refreshing and surprising difference when funky, cheap, mass-produced pinstripes have been the norm for so long. There is a sense that this scooter was made just for me; stealing my heart and mind, which has really surprised me for a couple reasons.
Firstly, these long wheelbase cruiser style scooters have not been a big seller in Australia. Our environment suits these bigger scoots well, with their compliant road manners and greater rider/pillion comfort, but they just haven’t taken off. I myself am a Vespa tragic, a scooter format a long way removed from these cruising Piaggios that share the same wheelbase and back end as the Xevo 400. I recently heaped praise on the Fuoco 500, but letting it go at the end of the test period was like any other scooter. I felt the Fuoco was simply one of those big scoots that Australian’s just haven’t adopted. I loved it -especially the unwavering grip, but when it was gone, I thought nothing of it. But this MP3 400 is different- it doesn’t feel big like the Fuoco or any other big highway cruiser. I really don’t know how they achieve that, given it is the same wheelbase and weight as the Fuoco, but it really is a different machine, more what I’m used to.
And with the three wheeled format from the Fuoco, the grip is just immense. Wet or dry, the MP3 400 instils a sense of confidence that no other scooter can match, and once you’ve become accustomed to how the front end functions, you’ll agree that two wheeled machines just don’t compare any more. Roll up to a set of traffic lights and flick the locking switch, it all locks into place so putting your feet down has become a thing of the past. First twist on the throttle and it unlocks automatically. This makes the centre stand redundant for everything bar servicing the rear end of the scoot, or very long term parking (months). The MP3 chassis is a masterpiece, and a monumental shift in design that has revolutionised the scooter market, and at the risk of taking something away from the very first Vespa design, the MP3 is probably as big a leap in scooter evolution as the very first Vespa, creating a whole new direction.
 And then there’s the storage. Like most Aussies, I’m used to scoots that will accept a helmet and that’s about it. Normally I expect to see a scooter with a topbox to boost the storage capacity, but again, this is because I have not normally seen the value in these longer wheelbase machines which don’t require the Givi perched on the back. My line of work will often see me carrying a tripod and camera bag, or even a couple of tripods- which can be a juggling act on many scoots. An act I learned to live with because I thought it was normal, but an act none the less. With the MP3 however, a neat boot flap opens at the rear allowing longer items to be stowed with ease. The underseat storage swallows my two tripods and camera bag with room to spare, all via this nifty rear end. I first encountered this system on the Xevo range- it impressed me then, and it continues to impress me now.
And then there’s the feel of the package. Normally, I’d say it’s the weight that makes it more manageable, but again, the MP3 is the same weight as the Fuoco. So this sense of easy and dynamic handling (which seems better than the Fuoco) must be as a result of a lower centre of gravity. A perfect combination of engine size and scooter packaging that makes highway work smooth, effortless and compliant, and city work safe, easy and dynamic. The MP3 really is two scooters in one and really shines in the city environment. The two wheels on the front make light work of any obstacle and kerb hopping, wet manhole covers and potholes really can’t unsettle this thing. This really does translate to safer riding, and two-up the sure-footedness is both inspiring and reassuring.
But out of the hustle and bustle of the urban landscape, the MP3 takes on a different demeanour. It behaves more like a true highway capable maxi  scoot. Load carrying and touring at national speed limits is easy. The comfortable seating position and easy to read digital/analogue dash make devouring big kilometres a breeze. And with a 12L fuel tank and an integrated trip meter, you know exactly how far you’ll get before empty. The only upgrade I would suggest for these bigger highway runs is to step up to the optional larger screen for better wind protection. The short screen is fantastic around town- just the right amount of protection, yet easy to see over. But on the highway this shorty screen really wants to be a little higher for more comfort.
The little-big Piaggio incorporates some great user friendly technologies too. The boot can be opened with a press of the button on the remote key, and the digital display on the dash offers temperature, trip and odometer readings, as well as the ‘distance to empty’ feature mentioned earlier. And the fuel flap is opened with a quick twist of the key in the ignition. Gone are the days of fumbling with your keys in different locks whilst trying to manage your shopping- and if it doesn’t all fit in the cavernous underseat storage, there is the added convenience of a bag hook and helmet hooks.
So if I am here, raving about the MP3, then why aren’t we seeing these things roll off dealers’ floors? I reckon this might just be the perfect scooter for me, and the perfect scooter for many other Australian’s- if they just gave it a go. Maybe many people see the styling of the MP3 as a little ‘conservative’ or ‘safe’, unlike the in-your-face Fuoco, and the colour choices across the range are certainly not what you would call vibrant or exciting. And maybe pricing is a factor as people grapple with the money v's value concept and just don’t understand what the MP3 will bring. To me, value is a bigger consideration than price alone, and the MP3 offers possibly the best value in the market today.
 The MP3 400 can’t be compared to other scooters as it is the benchmark- bringing with it a level of sure footed convenience that you just can’t relate to anything else on the road. The MP3 floats my boat and the month we’ve spent together has made me realise this, so much so that I just don’t want to give it back. For me storage, comfort, ride-ability and confidence are everything I want in a scooter and the MP3 has it all. In town, out of town, wet or dry, the MP3 masters it all. Looks and style for me are not everything (you can’t see it when you sit on it) and whilst the MP3 is no Cinderella, the sum total of the benefits and the practicality outweigh any argument against. The closest thing I have found to the perfect scooter.
published 30/10/2009 |