Piaggio MP3 500
Discussion
So - update. I spoke to a colleague who rides his GS into work, and also lives in Streatham. Filtering on the GS (similar width to this Piaggio) means that, depending on light sequences, it can be anything from 18-25 minutes.
On my bicycle, it is 40-45.
Train (including walking to station etc) 45-1hr.
This is a no brainer for time.
So, cost. And this is where I got a bit of a shock. Insurance for one of these things in London? quotes from £900-1100!!! About twice what my Aston Martin costs! This almost killed it for me.
Annual Zone 3 Travelcard is £1500 odd. A Scooter would have to be cheaper to run than this, over say a 3 year period, to make it worth the time saving and fact that I no longer get to read my book on the way to and from work.
I managed to get an insurance quote for third party only, for a cheaper, older scooter, at £400. This estimates a £4k value for the trike. I am not overly concerned about theft as it is in my locked and alarmed garage at night, and secure underground car park during the day.
If I can find an MP3 300 Yourban for around £4k, it should break even with the insurance over 3 years (assuming it has a residual value that I could sell it for), and after that be a lot cheaper than taking the tube. Also, the bike will have some sort of residual value after 3 years.
So time to start looking. New ones are insanely expensive to buy and, apparently, insure - and this held true even for third party only, for some unfathomable reason.
So, anyone know how reliable these things are? Looking at something from 2012-13 with 10-20k miles on in the £3-4k price range, I think.
On my bicycle, it is 40-45.
Train (including walking to station etc) 45-1hr.
This is a no brainer for time.
So, cost. And this is where I got a bit of a shock. Insurance for one of these things in London? quotes from £900-1100!!! About twice what my Aston Martin costs! This almost killed it for me.
Annual Zone 3 Travelcard is £1500 odd. A Scooter would have to be cheaper to run than this, over say a 3 year period, to make it worth the time saving and fact that I no longer get to read my book on the way to and from work.
I managed to get an insurance quote for third party only, for a cheaper, older scooter, at £400. This estimates a £4k value for the trike. I am not overly concerned about theft as it is in my locked and alarmed garage at night, and secure underground car park during the day.
If I can find an MP3 300 Yourban for around £4k, it should break even with the insurance over 3 years (assuming it has a residual value that I could sell it for), and after that be a lot cheaper than taking the tube. Also, the bike will have some sort of residual value after 3 years.
So time to start looking. New ones are insanely expensive to buy and, apparently, insure - and this held true even for third party only, for some unfathomable reason.
So, anyone know how reliable these things are? Looking at something from 2012-13 with 10-20k miles on in the £3-4k price range, I think.
I have a Gilera Fuoco (careful how you say it!) which is basically the same as an MP3 500, mine was modified from being classified as a motorcycle to a trike so it can be ridden on a car licence which is how I use it. Insurance was tough to get initially as it falls between the gaps for most bike insurers. However Piaggio themselves said to speak to Lexham which I did and have been insured with them for the past 4 years,first year was about £240 without any NCD and I use it for commuting to the office.
I don't have a bike licence though have ridden bikes since I was a kid and never got around to do doing my test before they made all the changes a couple of years ago to the test format.
I have no desire to ride anything on the road quicker or more powerful than the 500cc Gilera so it suits me fine, you can still lose your licence! Unlike a lot of models mine does not have the footbrake on the footboards, that put me off the Piaggio Mp3 version, I have size 12 feet and it gets uncomfortable quickly otherwise.
As a machine they are fun and easy to ride, both on motorways and through town. They are heavy to push around on the floor and the seat is crap (numb bum strikes quickly)
Reliability has been pretty good, though I did have to get the front bearings replaced which was not a cheap job. I have had a couple of things go wrong but can't put them down to the bike, they are really an age/corrosion issue, the exhaust down pipe rotted through and that was expensive to replace and fit, I broke down the other week when the voltage regulator failed, A short was found in the loom and I also needed a new starter relay at the same time. The previous owner lives on the Isle of Skye so I suspect salty sea air has not helped.
I am quite happy with spanners on my cars and land rover but everything is so damn small and access is tight so other than minor servicing I tend to get the local motorbike place to do anything as and when required.
Would I be without it, no not really and it fast enough to enjoy without scaring myself stupid.
sc0tt said:
Harry, do your CBT and get a 125.
Immensely cheaper although a little slower.
I had a piaggio 125 something or other for commuting 16 miles and it would top 72mph.
I've ridden a 125 in London before, when I had a CBT. Frankly, I really like the stability of the 3 wheeler, and the lack of need to put a foot down when stopping. Small things, but in all weathers, night and day, every day, in London traffic, they matter!Immensely cheaper although a little slower.
I had a piaggio 125 something or other for commuting 16 miles and it would top 72mph.
casbar said:
Peugeot have brought a 3 wheeler out as well, it was tested in Motorcycle Sport and Leisure April edition, they also have a MP3 on long term test, so worth a read
TFL have said that most of the bigger ones are not Congestion Charge exempt, due to being too long. So basically, there is a sweet spot where the front track needs to be wide enough for it to be classed a trike and rideable on a car licence, which excludes most 125cc versions, and small enough to be CC exempt in London, which excludes pretty much everything except the Piaggio 300 Yourban (their own 300 LT is, again, too long).So my circumstances limit choice somewhat...
That's what I heard too. Frankly, I'd rather play it safe and avoid getting a backdated bill from TFL (who have specifically stated that these bigger trikes are not exempt) for a load of CC charges, and then have to go through the hassle of selling the 500 to get a 300 etc etc. This is meant to be about convenience. I don't need the 500 anyway, for a 12 mile daily commute in traffic. The smaller size and running costs of the 300 are better.
OK, chaps, so update - I bought a Piaggio 300 LT Yourban, as it is Congestion Charge exempt, unlike the 500.
I started riding it in and am still doing so, but with my knee in a brace after a skiing accident, I won't be able to bend my leg, sothe trike will go back in the garage for a few months, and I'll be back on the train! Life loves a joke, eh?
I wanted a snotter, so found a dirt cheap Cat D one that I had checked out, and then did a full service on. Cost about £2k - so expensive for a scooter, but cheap for a trike.
Anyway, for the moment, I am riding it in.
It is utterly brilliant. Journey time, rain or sun, is about 30 minutes door to underground garage. Performance is great for London, allowing easy overtaking and getting away from the lights. It's a surreal thing to ride as it has a balance and grip that a 2 wheeler just does not. I have managed to (deliberately) slide it on a roundabout in the wet, which was hilarious. Not one to try in traffic, obviously. But honestly, it's slightly indecent the angles you can lean the thing over to!
It looks utterly stupid, but wearing a helmet makes you anonymous so who cares? As a stress free commuter, it's a real winner.
As one of you said, the main problem is seeing the lovely bikes trickling their way into London every day. I have seen everything from numerous Ducati Monsters and Harley Sportsters, through a lovely Bonneville T100 Black, a lovely 996, and a Norton Commando. The latter has made me rethink getting a bike licence, at which point my wife will leave me.
I should have bloody done this years ago, instead of paying Southern Rail for the privilege of stressing me out every day.
I started riding it in and am still doing so, but with my knee in a brace after a skiing accident, I won't be able to bend my leg, sothe trike will go back in the garage for a few months, and I'll be back on the train! Life loves a joke, eh?
I wanted a snotter, so found a dirt cheap Cat D one that I had checked out, and then did a full service on. Cost about £2k - so expensive for a scooter, but cheap for a trike.
Anyway, for the moment, I am riding it in.
It is utterly brilliant. Journey time, rain or sun, is about 30 minutes door to underground garage. Performance is great for London, allowing easy overtaking and getting away from the lights. It's a surreal thing to ride as it has a balance and grip that a 2 wheeler just does not. I have managed to (deliberately) slide it on a roundabout in the wet, which was hilarious. Not one to try in traffic, obviously. But honestly, it's slightly indecent the angles you can lean the thing over to!
It looks utterly stupid, but wearing a helmet makes you anonymous so who cares? As a stress free commuter, it's a real winner.
As one of you said, the main problem is seeing the lovely bikes trickling their way into London every day. I have seen everything from numerous Ducati Monsters and Harley Sportsters, through a lovely Bonneville T100 Black, a lovely 996, and a Norton Commando. The latter has made me rethink getting a bike licence, at which point my wife will leave me.
I should have bloody done this years ago, instead of paying Southern Rail for the privilege of stressing me out every day.
Harry Flashman said:
OK, chaps, so update - I bought a Piaggio 300 LT Yourban, as it is Congestion Charge exempt, unlike the 500.
I started riding it in and am still doing so, but with my knee in a brace after a skiing accident, I won't be able to bend my leg, sothe trike will go back in the garage for a few months, and I'll be back on the train! Life loves a joke, eh?
I wanted a snotter, so found a dirt cheap Cat D one that I had checked out, and then did a full service on. Cost about £2k - so expensive for a scooter, but cheap for a trike.
Anyway, for the moment, I am riding it in.
It is utterly brilliant. Journey time, rain or sun, is about 30 minutes door to underground garage. Performance is great for London, allowing easy overtaking and getting away from the lights. It's a surreal thing to ride as it has a balance and grip that a 2 wheeler just does not. I have managed to (deliberately) slide it on a roundabout in the wet, which was hilarious. Not one to try in traffic, obviously. But honestly, it's slightly indecent the angles you can lean the thing over to!
It looks utterly stupid, but wearing a helmet makes you anonymous so who cares? As a stress free commuter, it's a real winner.
As one of you said, the main problem is seeing the lovely bikes trickling their way into London every day. I have seen everything from numerous Ducati Monsters and Harley Sportsters, through a lovely Bonneville T100 Black, a lovely 996, and a Norton Commando. The latter has made me rethink getting a bike licence, at which point my wife will leave me.
I should have bloody done this years ago, instead of paying Southern Rail for the privilege of stressing me out every day.
Glad you're enjoying it. Bummer about the skiing accident! You should still get your full licence though. Fun as an MP3 is, it is more fun riding a proper bike on an open road.I started riding it in and am still doing so, but with my knee in a brace after a skiing accident, I won't be able to bend my leg, sothe trike will go back in the garage for a few months, and I'll be back on the train! Life loves a joke, eh?
I wanted a snotter, so found a dirt cheap Cat D one that I had checked out, and then did a full service on. Cost about £2k - so expensive for a scooter, but cheap for a trike.
Anyway, for the moment, I am riding it in.
It is utterly brilliant. Journey time, rain or sun, is about 30 minutes door to underground garage. Performance is great for London, allowing easy overtaking and getting away from the lights. It's a surreal thing to ride as it has a balance and grip that a 2 wheeler just does not. I have managed to (deliberately) slide it on a roundabout in the wet, which was hilarious. Not one to try in traffic, obviously. But honestly, it's slightly indecent the angles you can lean the thing over to!
It looks utterly stupid, but wearing a helmet makes you anonymous so who cares? As a stress free commuter, it's a real winner.
As one of you said, the main problem is seeing the lovely bikes trickling their way into London every day. I have seen everything from numerous Ducati Monsters and Harley Sportsters, through a lovely Bonneville T100 Black, a lovely 996, and a Norton Commando. The latter has made me rethink getting a bike licence, at which point my wife will leave me.
I should have bloody done this years ago, instead of paying Southern Rail for the privilege of stressing me out every day.
I sometimes think I should just sell my MP3 and commute in on my GS (which is surprisingly easy to filter on) but the sheer practicality of the MP3, and fun too, means it's definitely staying.
Have you checked to see if these vehicles are allowed to use dedicated motorcycle only parking bays?
They are technically a tricycle not a motorcycle so I would guess they aren't allowed in motorcycle bays.
I know that if I regularly commuted into the City of London by motorcycle and was prevented from getting a parking space by one of these things I would be not best pleased about it.
They are technically a tricycle not a motorcycle so I would guess they aren't allowed in motorcycle bays.
I know that if I regularly commuted into the City of London by motorcycle and was prevented from getting a parking space by one of these things I would be not best pleased about it.
wildone63 said:
Have you checked to see if these vehicles are allowed to use dedicated motorcycle only parking bays?
They are technically a tricycle not a motorcycle so I would guess they aren't allowed in motorcycle bays.
I know that if I regularly commuted into the City of London by motorcycle and was prevented from getting a parking space by one of these things I would be not best pleased about it.
Fair point, although the OP is commuting to his office's underground car park; not leaving it in the theft park; your point doesn't apply to him. They are technically a tricycle not a motorcycle so I would guess they aren't allowed in motorcycle bays.
I know that if I regularly commuted into the City of London by motorcycle and was prevented from getting a parking space by one of these things I would be not best pleased about it.
CAPP0 said:
Fleegle said:
CAPP0 said:
Got to be narrower than our steeds. I'm sure I once read somewhere that the bodywork is no wider than a regular 2-wheeled Piaggio, and the wheels are inside that dimension?
Maybe its just the way the riders make them wobble about that give the impression of them being wideWhat has been seen.....
Edited by CAPP0 on Tuesday 17th January 14:52
I know this post is old but just to update everyone re car licences.
In 2013 those lovely people at the EU decided that all trikes should be in the motorcycle category so anyone taking a car test after 2013 was no longer eligible to ride a trike or even drive a Reliant/Morgan etc.
If you wanted to drive a car derived 3 wheeler you would have had to do the bike CBT and passed the test on a bike.
Those holding the licence before 2013 still had the trike entitlement.
Needless to say this did not go down well in the UK so unbeknown to most people in 2014 a dispensation was given on the new car licences to enable UK car drivers to ride/drive trikes again BUT NOTE you are only eligible to use the dispensation in the UK so you can't take your Reliant to the continent as you'll be illegal over there (not sure about Ireland)
Re MP3 scooter type trikes you need to look for the letters "LT" after the model. This denotes it is a trike.
An easy way to spot in pics is that they had bike type indicators on stalks(not built in to the wheel arches) and they also had a footbrake.
The bike versions had built in indicators and no footbrake.
The track on the trikes is slightly wider as well but unless you have a tape measure the difference is very slight.
There was a conversion kit for early MP3's but it was very expensive so not many are around.
For those who think they are wide they are no wider than the average maxi scooter. In inches the handlebars are app 31" which is about the width of trailbikes so if the bars will go through the rest of it will as well.
Legally you don't need a helmet but as it tilts like a bike it's best to wear one.
Hope that helps.
In 2013 those lovely people at the EU decided that all trikes should be in the motorcycle category so anyone taking a car test after 2013 was no longer eligible to ride a trike or even drive a Reliant/Morgan etc.
If you wanted to drive a car derived 3 wheeler you would have had to do the bike CBT and passed the test on a bike.
Those holding the licence before 2013 still had the trike entitlement.
Needless to say this did not go down well in the UK so unbeknown to most people in 2014 a dispensation was given on the new car licences to enable UK car drivers to ride/drive trikes again BUT NOTE you are only eligible to use the dispensation in the UK so you can't take your Reliant to the continent as you'll be illegal over there (not sure about Ireland)
Re MP3 scooter type trikes you need to look for the letters "LT" after the model. This denotes it is a trike.
An easy way to spot in pics is that they had bike type indicators on stalks(not built in to the wheel arches) and they also had a footbrake.
The bike versions had built in indicators and no footbrake.
The track on the trikes is slightly wider as well but unless you have a tape measure the difference is very slight.
There was a conversion kit for early MP3's but it was very expensive so not many are around.
For those who think they are wide they are no wider than the average maxi scooter. In inches the handlebars are app 31" which is about the width of trailbikes so if the bars will go through the rest of it will as well.
Legally you don't need a helmet but as it tilts like a bike it's best to wear one.
Hope that helps.
Edited by gilburton on Tuesday 31st July 23:55
Edited by gilburton on Tuesday 31st July 23:56
Useful post.
My trike continues to do sterling service. I have been back on a mountain bike but the Piaggio still takes me in when it is too hot to cycle (those 30 degree+ days).
It has had a new clutch (big props to the mobile workshop My Scooter Guys - far better than a certain rip-off scooter shop based in Farringdon who twice gave it back having failed to get the work done to a decent standard).
The only gripe is insurance. Scooters are incredibly expensive to insure in London, it seems, due to theft. Yet no-one seems to steal the three wheelers, according to our local police folk. Too heavy, too uncool, not fast enough through London traffic for the scooter crime gangs, apparently.
Apart from insurance, running costs are good. Far cheaper than a travelcard, excluding purchase price, of course. Fuel on a 16 mile return commuting journey is about £7 a week.
The big advantage of this thing is the lock button. No need to use a stand - just hit the button and it locks upright and sits there with the handbrake on. Very easy to wheel around in this configuration too. When I had a bad knee, this was invaluable. Even now, it's very convenient.
My trike continues to do sterling service. I have been back on a mountain bike but the Piaggio still takes me in when it is too hot to cycle (those 30 degree+ days).
It has had a new clutch (big props to the mobile workshop My Scooter Guys - far better than a certain rip-off scooter shop based in Farringdon who twice gave it back having failed to get the work done to a decent standard).
The only gripe is insurance. Scooters are incredibly expensive to insure in London, it seems, due to theft. Yet no-one seems to steal the three wheelers, according to our local police folk. Too heavy, too uncool, not fast enough through London traffic for the scooter crime gangs, apparently.
Apart from insurance, running costs are good. Far cheaper than a travelcard, excluding purchase price, of course. Fuel on a 16 mile return commuting journey is about £7 a week.
The big advantage of this thing is the lock button. No need to use a stand - just hit the button and it locks upright and sits there with the handbrake on. Very easy to wheel around in this configuration too. When I had a bad knee, this was invaluable. Even now, it's very convenient.
Harry, are you still commuting by trike?
Having had my second major cycling accident while commuting in the last ten years (both non fault). I’m going to hang up my cleats. Spending last wed in HDU tends to focus the mind somewhat.
I had looked at these 5 years previously but ended up back cycling.
Are you still enjoying it?
I only need to get from Norbury to Kings Cross but parking/theft could be an issue.
Having had my second major cycling accident while commuting in the last ten years (both non fault). I’m going to hang up my cleats. Spending last wed in HDU tends to focus the mind somewhat.
I had looked at these 5 years previously but ended up back cycling.
Are you still enjoying it?
I only need to get from Norbury to Kings Cross but parking/theft could be an issue.
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