Piaggio MP3 500ie: MD Ride Review . . .The Italians Trike Back

Page 2 of 2

Before long you find yourself using both levers to slow the bike, then switching to the left lever to free the right hand so you can flick the front undercarriage-lock switch just as the bike stops moving. That way the MP3 holds itself upright, and you don't have to put a foot down. It takes a little practice, but it's a neat trick.

When you get it exactly right you can just sit there and enjoy the puzzlement of the onlookers until the light changes. Then you simply gas it and go, because the front suspension lock releases as soon as the bike begins to move.

Other than the novelty of the double front wheel, the MP3 offers many of the usual maxi-scooter amenities. There's an anti-theft immobilizer, and a trip computer with various functions, among them a readout of ambient temperature. That's always struck us as amusing on a machine whose operator sits outside.

There's also a fairly capacious storage bin below the long and wide seat that you can stash stuff in while you go into Starbucks. This volume has apparently been compromised on the MP3 with the "big" 500 engine, since it will not take two helmets, and even one may be too tall to fit easily. Even so, the Piaggio boasts the around-town convenience conventional motorcycles do not have. It's easy to see why motorcycle-averse commuters would pick a scooter instead. They're simple to ride, and there's no tall seat to swing a leg over.

Furthermore, the MP3 steers and handles well, and the ride isn't bad at all apart from a fairly insistent freeway hop on concrete roadways. As any road engineer will tell you, the cast slabs tip like shutters in response to the assault from big rigs, and the MP3 bobs like a bunny at the end of each of them.

Better to avoid long superslab rides. The bike is much better zipping around in the urban environment it was designed for. Not that the occasional canyon road is out of reach of this city slicker; the MP3 has 40-degrees of lean angle, and it weaves through winding sections of road with confidence. You soon feel the front end will never slide, no matter how hard you corner or brake. This shouldn't be a surprise -- a doubling of the front contact patch has this effect. This is something even experienced riders can appreciate when, for example, a need to aggressively apply the front brake mid-corner can be met without disaster.

One concern we have about the machine is the forced position of the seating, which places tall riders closer to the bars than is ideal, and reduces legroom at the same time. For riders of an average height, this is not really a problem. All in all, when you combine the MP3's nimble nature with freeway-compatible performance and all-around convenience, this three-wheeler will handle a variety of real-world transport tasks. And despite our fairly high-speed trips with this vehicle (some of them two-up), the MP3 500 still returned 50 mpg.

It certainly works a lot better than its odd appearance might suggest. Unfortunately, it also costs more than its odd appearance might suggest, proving that the double-wheeled front suspension is as expensive as it looks. Priced at $8,899, the Piaggio MP3 500ie may seem destined to lure mainly committed non-motorcyclists or former motorcyclists with a serious front-wheel-slide phobia. Despite this, the MP3's doubling of front end traction is something experienced riders should sample, as well.

For more info and specs, visit Piaggio's website here.

Copyright © Motorcycle Daily, LLC