Hi everyone,I’m thinking of getting one for my daily commute from Mitcham to London as my 1200 Cruiser isn’t the best bike for the job.I did a test ride on a MP3 250 which I found painfuly slow,even though I’m not the fastest rider.The thing simply couldn’t overtake anything going more than 10MPH…I guess the 500 will be quicker,anyone here rides one around London?
At least two people on here have them, including JimC. I am sure Jim is happy to talk about his bike. Make sure you ask about steering bearings! 
Early adopters live on the bleeding edge.
Hi there, I ride one and I love it. I don’t commute on it, I just use it for fun. I’m taking it on a trip up to the arctic circle next month so I have faith in its abilities. Some people complain that the steering feels a bit heavy initially but I’ve never noticed this. I also own a cruiser and the Fuoco handles much better than the cruiser. Speed is good, it’s not a sports bike but it shifts faster than most cars on the road. It’s got oomph where you want it and will still pull away at 65mph+. The grip from the two front wheels is astonishing and the breaking is 2nd to none, even in the wet. At 70mph on a motorway it drives like it’s on rails. Cross winds and wind blast from other vehicles will rock you but not the bike. You will need a screen for 50mph+ speeds as it’s a fairly upright riding position, but you’ll be used to this with your cruiser.
The only disadvantages I’ve found are that 13 year old boys snigger and most adults stop and stare with their mouths open. I’m too old to care what others think. I like its eccentric value.
The main advantage is waking up in the morning and thinging ‘oh, good, it’s raining’.
Check out the following forum for advice. www.mp3scooterclub.co.uk They are a friendly bunch, like this forum.
MCN’s mole reckons there’s an MP4 in development…
Yup, the first mass produced 4 wheeled motorcycle/scooter - MAD!
"My order is in, now all I have to do is wait… " :w00t:
Thanks for the replies guys.DrTea,how long you had it for,any problems?
I went to Metropolis Vauxhall yesterday,they said i could grab one for £5200,but not entirely convinced yet,hopefully i can get it for a bit less.
As about an MP4 there’s a photo here:D:
http://www.motoblog.it/post/12278/foto-del-giorno-piaggio-mp4
I’ve only had it for 3 months, I bought it 2nd hand with 2k miles on the clock. No problems so far.
I’ve been reading a lot of good things about a dealer in St Albans called Thompsons (google them). People seem to travel from all over the country just to buy from them. I’ve no experience of them as yet, but will be taking the Fuoco to them for servicing as it was bought from there originally. They seem to have amazing customer loyalty and are genuine enthusiasts. (I hope this isn’t seen as plugging them - I’m only reporting what people have said).
There are a few out there 2nd hand - one guy sold his after 6 months because it was detrimentally effecting his wet riding on other bikes!
I did call them earlier today and they said I should call back after I get several price quotes,they intend to offer a better deal.So far Metropolis Vauxhall offered me one for £5200,I hope to round the price down;)
I only know of Jimc who has a fugly.
Hehe, actually this is what I’ll be picking up in 9 days:
Seems like some got there first with the 4 wheel idea…
If I was buying a Fuocco I would definitely get it from Thompsons. Jim has gone through multiple steering bearings in the year he has had his bike and only a dedicated dealer like Thompsons would put the effort into resolving the issues and take on Piaggio over the multiple warranty claims. This doesn’t mean the Fuocco isn’t a good bike, but being new technology there clearly has been some issues which Jim and Thompson’s have helped Piaggio develop solutions for!
Congrats Giuliano,the 800GS is a lovely bike.A few days ago I took my 1200C at BMW Battersea and had a quick chat with an owner,he sounded realy pleased with his bike.Not sure about the colours in your pic though,I find the orangey-black a lot nicer.
Nah, the gray one’s faster, honest!
If you rode an MP3 250 and it was slow…I might try to ride another one. A 250 should be easily enough for the short commute you describe, and if it’s working properly it shouldn’t be rubbish at overtaking as you describe. I ride a (2 wheeled) Piaggio 250cc and it’s plenty good enough for brisk town riding (and some). The extra wheel on the MP3 will give extra braking, but also extra weight and extra cost in servicing and consumables. But it seems that you’re definitely looking for a 3-wheeler.
There’s also the MP3 400cc that might be interesting to try. I’ve ridden one, and it’s definitely more powerful than my 250, even with the 3rd wheel.
As well as JimC, I also know someone who’s just coming to the end of a round-Britain ride for charity on his MP3 http://www.fuocorider.co.uk/ , so it’s definitely built for more than a little light commuting…
Problem with the lesser three wheelers is the weight: the MP3-250 comes out at 204kgs, whereas equivalent 2-wheeled maxi scoots are usually around 160-170kg mark. This is why it felt slow - it probably is!The 400 is still a bit lardy but at least it has a heap more power to cope. The Fuoco is probably your best bet, but don’t go expecting too much maxi-scoot practicality as standard (weather protection, boot space & leg-stretching room in particular). Horses for courses, though and if it floats your boat go for it…
The three wheelers are bound to take a big performance hit. MP3 250 weights 20% more than the equivalent X9 Evo and have engines producing the same power and torque so a 250 MP3 is unlikely to overtake anywhere near as well as an X9 250. On top of that the MP3 is nowhere near as well streamlined.
The Fuocco has a better rated engine than the X9 500 but the X9 is a lot faster mainly due to weight and streamlining issues.
I agree that the MP3 400 would perform much better than the 250 as it has 50% more power and nearly twice as much torque. The Piaggio 400s are meant to be good reliable and cheap to run bikes. I just wish they were not all so ugly!
Yes. They don’t really do it for me either. Mrs BB is quite a fan of them though. The Fuocos look meaner (and I reckon a fair few people will have them because of that, even if they don’t really need a 500cc scoot)
No, they’re just fun.
Horses for courses, as they say. I like to think about them as a great leap forward in engineering, rather than a bike with stabilisers. Both myself and most riders I know have been offed by road conditions, rather that a 3rd party (diesel and rain anyone?). I like to think that I’m too old to fall off again, but in reality, I just enjoy riding without buttock clenching crappy road condition moments. If a quad bike was practical, taxed as a motorbike, leaned into corners and was free to park I’d probably have one of them too. It’s all about one’s riding experience and the extra grip at the front adds massive amounts of fun to the ride. Don’t get me wrong, I love two wheels, bot I love three wheels too.
I’m sorry, but the performance between a Fuoco and an X9 500 on a journey isn’t that different (I’ve ridden both). Given that it seems to rain for 50% of the time in this country, I’d also argue that the Fuoco/MP3 is quicker on average than most bikes used for commuting over the course of a year.
Most of all, they’re a bit odd and great fun to drive - In my opinion, two great qualities.
The natural thing in traffic as a motorcycle rider is to overtake the car in front and go.My biggest problem with the 250 at the test ride was the slow accelaration,just couldn’t overtake anything…Shouldn’t expect much after jumping from a 1200cc bike on a (very heavy) 250 scooter,so I guess the 500 Fuoco will be more suitable for me.
I have decided to go for a 3 wheeler for the superior safety it will give to my daily commute,but I’m prepared to sacrifice only some of the motorcycle performance I’m used to:cool:
PS What’s the Quad under the 800GS photo Giuliano?The badge on the tank looks like Yamaha,but with a BMW boxer:w00t:,what is it?
Just spotted this thread…
The Fuoco would be great for commuting - I generally only play in London traffic about twice a week, but it more than holds its own. With a J Costa variator added it has all the low-medium (up to 60mph) acceleration you need for swift overtakes.
The weather protection is good, but you must get a screen - without it there is too much wind over the tops of the legs and you become a parachute-brake over 60 mph. A top-box is essential if you want to take a lap-top or briefcase - there’s enough storage volume under the seat but it’s shaped for a helmet plus odds and sods, not anything rectangular.
The two front wheels remove all worries about London pot-holes, diesel, white lines, manhole covers etc, especiually in the wet. The fantastic brakes can also keep you out of a lot of trouble.
It’s also good for long distance touring - 75-80 mph is a very comfy cruising speed, and it tops out at 85ish on the flat, 92 downhill. I’ve done 14,500 miles now since the end of last July, all sorts of riding in all sorts of weathers - the bike hasn’t missed a beat.
I too would recommend buying from Thompsons - you’ll get the best deal and they seem to be the only dealers around who will get to the bottom of any inherent problems - steering bearings having been one such!
Filtering is as easy as on any other bike of its width - surprisingly it’s no wider than a Gilera Runner, but has far more road presence.
The only downside is when squeezing between cars and keep-left bollards - if the kerb around the bollard is higher than 4" you’ll be scaping bits on it if you let the right wheel mount it (which it will do quite happily).
Read a fuller review in this month’s issue of MAG’s magazine ‘The Road’. 