Hey guys, im collecting my new Piaggio MP3 3 wheel scooter on Wednesday!! Its the launch day for the new bike!!, ive gotta say im very excited, i think its a very bold step in piaggios eyes, and i can honestly say i think we are gonna sell loads of em!!!. But i wont be trading the fazer in, no way, i love my bike too much!!!
i will post some pics soon and let you know how i get on with my 250cc one!!
I’ll definitely be buying either the 400 or the 500 when they come out - but all depends on the comfort for feet-forward riding.
I think they are a HUGE step forward in safety for PTWs - and maybe a huge step forward in the fun to be had as well. 
Is this the three wheeler? Write some notes up for us
Not my cup of tea, but i would love a test ride. I`m waiting for the Gilera GP800 to come out.
Very cool! You need to write us an article mate! … have you got a camera?
dont worry i shall be taking lots of pics and writing my report very soon!!! yes jay its the new 3 wheeler, and john, the gp800 will be coming out hopefully by next Autumn. The mp3 is coming in 3 engine sizes, the leader 125, quaser 250 and master 400cc (400 not until next year).
Just ‘booked’ my Test ride for Thursday morning!
Should be good.
good stuff! im sooo excited!!
I understand the one I’m trying is a 125 - probably just as well or I’d be tempted to thrash it down the M1.
Are you getting a job with Yo as part of the deal 
Moi?
No, I’m getting my ride at my dealer’s in Brickett Wood.
It’s good to know there’s another good Piaggio dealer in London, though.
hehe, ooh the 250! cant wait! i never thought id get this excited about a scooter!!!.
Well, well, well! What an amazing machine!
I managed to restrain myself from arriving at my Dealer’s in St.Alban’s too early but was there this morning at about 9.30.
The MP3 - a fetching shade of blue - was parked on the pavement outside and it certainly looks even better in the flesh.
After a coffee and a briefing for the ‘tilt’ controls I rode the beast on a fifteen minute trip along the highways and by-ways.
Having only once ridden a 125 I’m not able to comment on the speed/performance aspects of the bike but the handling!!!
The roads were very damp and in places covered with leaves but I was able to corner and brake as if they’d been bone dry.
Having suspected I’d not be able to counter-steer I was pleasantly surprised to find the MP3 is no different from any other scooter although a tiny bit of positve steering was needed at first.
The best part for me was pulling up in a queue of cars and keeping my feet on the footboards.
It’s an extraordinary feeling. I sat doing impressions of Harry Worth on both sides of the scooter!
The ‘tilt’ control is very straight-forward although requires complete faith and a bit of practice.
Roll up to the stop and flick the switch (sited where the light switch on the X9 was) as soon as the yellow dash-light comes on.
Suspension locked, brake to a halt.
Perform gymnastics.
Twist throttle to move off, automatically disabling the mechanism.
Not a good idea to blip the throttle whilst feet up, though!
It turns heads, that’s for sure. 
IIRC, doing so whilst not sitting on the bike doesn’t have the same effect - there’s a sensor in the seat.
Underseat storage is vast and the overall finish very good.
The only downside for me is the lack of feet-forward seating - the ‘****pit’ area’s too short for me if contemplating a longer ride. I just hope the 400 or Gilera are bigger.
Thanks for the ride, Mr.Thompson. It’s a super piece of kit. 
Others will give better descriptions, I’m sure, but there you have it.
Tut Tut, cross posting Mike?
copy and paste what a wonferful thing it is.
I would love to have a go will have to pop up to see JT with John this weekend to have a butchers at it.
Arrrrrrgggggh! Spotted!
Done the same on several others too, Rich.
I just wanted to be the first.
P.S. Taken a leaf out of JP’s book.
I can’t wait to see it Westie… Should be a laugh eh…
I don`t know what you mean Mike 
Not my cup of tea the MP3, but i would love to test ride it.
Well here we are, after days of talk i can finally reveal how i got on with the introduction to the new Piaggio MP3.
I arrived at Piaggio location at the Round House in Camden, at 1pm for a prompt show around the bikes while we waited for the rest of the team to prepare the presentation. As soon as i saw the MP3 i fell in love with the design and beauty of this new maxi breed of scooter. This is no doubt a turning point in the eye of Piaggio, and means a whole new wave of things to come over the next few years.
Whilst at the presentation i met Kahl Harris from Bike magazine who was very informative as to what we could expect from this bike and how different and “bike like” it is to ride, thanks again Mate!
Before we knew it we were taking delivery of our three MP3s 2, 250s and 1 125. My long term demo is in Silver and is one of the 250`s. As i stepped aboard and clicked the ignition on a whole array of lights powered up and with the twist of the throttle we were away.
The amazing thing with this vehicle is the way it goes and stops, when you are slowing down to 10mph the braking light comes on allowing the use of the manual self levelling mode, which basically means when you are coming to a stop you can remain upright without the need to put your feet down. However this can be a bit tricky if you are on a slight camber as the bike will lock into the position that you are leaning, so hence when pulling away you have to be a bit careful not to lean her over!!!. The bike will also not pull away with your feet on the ground, its part of a safety feature designed by Piaggio to stop people accidentaly twisting the throttle and going head first into a car or so forth!.
There are sensors on the seat and floorboard so you really do have to put your feet on the boards to pull away. As you hit the throttle there is no need to fllick the switch as it does it automatically, and if you do decide to stop without flicking the switch its no problem as you can put your feet down like you would on a 2 wheel bike.
As for the ride, it was so fantastic for a scooter, you can really lean the thing over and it remains stable, i had no shuddering no skidding it was planted, and comfort was great, as was the stopping power, so powerful with the twin discs at front and rear. There is also a manual handbrake for hills and parking, which is located between the riders legs.
I threw her into the corners and hard over speed bumps and the ride was so immense, i came back to the showroom with a big smile on my face, this is one very impresive tool.
Now the actual design was taken partly from the Piaggio X8 Range, so the bike comes with the boot at the rear, and also underseat storage via remote on the key. Powerful twin headlights light the road up at night, and you also have the twin rear lamps. Hazard warnings come as standard as do 2 trip meters, fuel countdown display and clock. odometer is in LCD.
Colours are Sky Blue, Cherry Red, Graphite Nero, and Excaliber silver.
Prices are £4000 125, £4299 for 250 ie, and next year the 400 cc will be launched.
So my overall conclusion is a fantastic new bike, that can handle, commute, and maybe even tour, but that bit is yet to come…
westie!
oh my god this is an ugly step sister of some sort…
it isnt all about looks or have you not been told? ha ha.
