Piaggio MP3 500
Discussion
Chaps, hope you don't mind me asking a question about this hybrid.
Background - Southern's rail strikes are getting a bit annoying. I live in South London and work in The City, and the lack of train is proving galling. This morning is a case in point, with trains cancelled. I have a parking place at work, but a car in London at rush hour is a pointless and expensive mode of transportation.
I thought about a scooter, and then I discovered that these 3-wheelers are rideable on a car licence, and also legal on motorways. The latter is not a big draw, but does mean I could use the thing to get to my mother's place in Surrey on occasion, just outside the M25.
Anyone have any experience of these? And any finance packages? Rather than buying outright, it would make sense to simply use my monthly Travelcard cost as a contribution to buying one.
I know I should just get back on my mountain bike, but I can't really be bothered with the faff of showering and changing at work, and I am also too lazy these days!
Background - Southern's rail strikes are getting a bit annoying. I live in South London and work in The City, and the lack of train is proving galling. This morning is a case in point, with trains cancelled. I have a parking place at work, but a car in London at rush hour is a pointless and expensive mode of transportation.
I thought about a scooter, and then I discovered that these 3-wheelers are rideable on a car licence, and also legal on motorways. The latter is not a big draw, but does mean I could use the thing to get to my mother's place in Surrey on occasion, just outside the M25.
Anyone have any experience of these? And any finance packages? Rather than buying outright, it would make sense to simply use my monthly Travelcard cost as a contribution to buying one.
I know I should just get back on my mountain bike, but I can't really be bothered with the faff of showering and changing at work, and I am also too lazy these days!
True, but to ride a 500cc machine I'll have to do the bike licence. And I really do not have the time right now, nor the inclination...
Did CBT years ago, rode 2 wheelers for a while. Did full bike training, never got round to passing my test as I lost interest. I'm looking for an easy solution, rather than being a bike enthusiast!
I see your point though. The whole point of riding one of these things in London is easy filtering and being allowed to use the bus lanes. Can 3 wheelers do the latter? If not, pointless!
Did CBT years ago, rode 2 wheelers for a while. Did full bike training, never got round to passing my test as I lost interest. I'm looking for an easy solution, rather than being a bike enthusiast!
I see your point though. The whole point of riding one of these things in London is easy filtering and being allowed to use the bus lanes. Can 3 wheelers do the latter? If not, pointless!
Thanks for the replies folks. In a fit of generosity I allowed my (car) parking space to be used by bikers/cyclists. Just e-mailed our building services people to see if they can squeeze me back in...
Have a garage at my home, so hoping that one of these machines could be securely dry stored at both ends, meaning easier maintenance etc.
I would love a proper motorbike, and hanker after exotic two-wheeled machinery. But the reality of an all-season morning and evening commute through central London means that I value comfort, safety and low-stress over being a proper biker...and that's without the hassle/time I would need to do the full motorcycle test.
Have a garage at my home, so hoping that one of these machines could be securely dry stored at both ends, meaning easier maintenance etc.
I would love a proper motorbike, and hanker after exotic two-wheeled machinery. But the reality of an all-season morning and evening commute through central London means that I value comfort, safety and low-stress over being a proper biker...and that's without the hassle/time I would need to do the full motorcycle test.
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.
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.
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.
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