Piaggio 3 wheel trike/scooter thing - TRY ONE !!
Discussion
Over the weekend I had the most fun on the roads I have had in ages.
I know it is more bike than car - but I think they cross over to people who may not normally consider a bike, so I've posted in general gassing..
These things are awesome.
They are stable, they are fast. I tried the 400 and it was quick. You can get a 500 which is even quicker. And with 2 brakes up front, they stop well too.
I have not been into bikes for a long time, but this little thing has me really tempted.
And, get this, you can even drive it on a car license as the DVLT consider it as a trike.
I considered it to be a lot more stable and better braked than a regular 2 wheel superscooter. When you stop, it stands up on its own and you don't have to put your feet down.
Even if you are not into bikes, I heartily recommend you try these. And they have been around for a few years now, so Autotrader has plenty of them.
Any experience of owning these things in the PH collective?
I know it is more bike than car - but I think they cross over to people who may not normally consider a bike, so I've posted in general gassing..
These things are awesome.
They are stable, they are fast. I tried the 400 and it was quick. You can get a 500 which is even quicker. And with 2 brakes up front, they stop well too.
I have not been into bikes for a long time, but this little thing has me really tempted.
And, get this, you can even drive it on a car license as the DVLT consider it as a trike.
I considered it to be a lot more stable and better braked than a regular 2 wheel superscooter. When you stop, it stands up on its own and you don't have to put your feet down.
Even if you are not into bikes, I heartily recommend you try these. And they have been around for a few years now, so Autotrader has plenty of them.
Any experience of owning these things in the PH collective?
When my bike was in for a service the dealer gave me one of these for the day to get to work. Only the 250cc version but it was a right laugh to ride on a twisty road. The speed you can go around tight corners is incredible as you don't have to worry about the front wheel tucking in, and the grip in the wet is immense.
LiamB said:
Every single one of them I've seen on the road has been ridden by the s
ttest, most dangerous riders.
Nice generalisation there, dude.ttest, most dangerous riders. So that makes me a s
t and dangerous rider? I thought I was proceeding perfectly safely and briskly on Hampshire's finest A roads. I defer to your better judgement. I suppose all Audi drivers are cocks, as well...
toppstuff said:
Nice generalisation there, dude.
So that makes me a st and dangerous rider? I thought I was proceeding perfectly safely and briskly on Hampshire's finest A roads. I defer to your better judgement.
I suppose all Audi drivers are cocks, as well...
Did I say you were? No. So that makes me a s
t and dangerous rider? I thought I was proceeding perfectly safely and briskly on Hampshire's finest A roads. I defer to your better judgement. I suppose all Audi drivers are cocks, as well...
The handful I have seen have been.
Interesting looking things though.
boyse7en said:
When my bike was in for a service the dealer gave me one of these for the day to get to work. Only the 250cc version but it was a right laugh to ride on a twisty road. The speed you can go around tight corners is incredible as you don't have to worry about the front wheel tucking in, and the grip in the wet is immense.
Thats exactly what I liked about it.I was hooning around the A and B roads where I live and as I went round a corner, I found that the otherwise dry road was very wet from where a tractor had spread mud and water from the ditch into the corner. Horrible combination for a bike, but the little Piaggio's two front wheels just carved through it all. Well impressed. No danger of it tucking in and binning me in the hedge or into oncoming traffic.
If anyone here ski's, I think there is a good way of describing it : when you ski a corner you are always aware that your outer leg is supporting the lower leg as you carve the turn. You get the same impression with the scooter - you can sense the outer wheel supporting the lower wheel as you "carve" a line round the corner.
And the brakes are epic.
This is a really viable alternative to a car or a weekend toy IMO.
These are the things that are always getting in my way when I use my bike to commute. They can't filter yet the riders always try then jam up the gaps 
Saying that though, a lot of them do make good progress through the traffic and now my curiosity has been pricked I may give one a try. I know a few car drivers who have never touched bikes that are tempted by one.
BTW OP, who took the pics? where they in the boot of a car?
Saying that though, a lot of them do make good progress through the traffic and now my curiosity has been pricked I may give one a try. I know a few car drivers who have never touched bikes that are tempted by one.
BTW OP, who took the pics? where they in the boot of a car?
Edited by croyde on Wednesday 12th June 11:03
croyde said:
These are the things that are always getting in my way when I use my bike to commute. They can't filter yet the riders always try then jam up the gaps
Saying that though, a lot of them do make good progress through the traffic and now my curiosity has been pricked I may give one a try. I know a few car drivers who have never touched bikes that are tempted by one.
They aren't that wide though, shirley? I never felt it was any wider than a bike with panniers for example. I did'nt sense that I needed to adjust to any extra width when filtering to the front at traffic lights. YMMV though. Saying that though, a lot of them do make good progress through the traffic and now my curiosity has been pricked I may give one a try. I know a few car drivers who have never touched bikes that are tempted by one.
croyde said:
These are the things that are always getting in my way when I use my bike to commute. They can't filter yet the riders always try then jam up the gaps
Saying that though, a lot of them do make good progress through the traffic and now my curiosity has been pricked I may give one a try. I know a few car drivers who have never touched bikes that are tempted by one.
BTW OP, who took the pics? where they in the boot of a car?
Look like some stock pics?Saying that though, a lot of them do make good progress through the traffic and now my curiosity has been pricked I may give one a try. I know a few car drivers who have never touched bikes that are tempted by one.
BTW OP, who took the pics? where they in the boot of a car?
Edited by croyde on Wednesday 12th June 11:03
Looks fun though.
A lot of the gaps I go through are literally as wide as my back tyre. Grid lock London for you eg there are a lot of kerbs in the centre on approaches to junctions. Line of traffic and some bastid White Van at the front of the queue which means I have to walk it through a gap at ground level of say 5 ins whilst leaning the bike at an angle to avoid said van's mirrors.
This done many times on a 15 mile commute across the city is one of the reasons that I decided that a BMW GS is not for me
RobCrezz said:
Would you recommend this for a commute of around 60 miles, mostly dual carrageway?
Quite interested as this could be a replacement for my train season ticket!
The 400 can comfortably handle a 70-80mph cruise, the 500 even more. Loads of stowage space for lid and kit. So, yes I reckon it's a great commuter wagon.Quite interested as this could be a replacement for my train season ticket!
I'm reassured that it can stop better than a 2 wheeler and it is better at staying upright ! I have an active dislike of falling off. The Piaggio is'nt exactly as safe as a Volvo SUV for sure , but it is a lot safer than a regular bike IMO.
This does look interesting. Where does it fall regards insurance / tax etc?
From my quick browsing, it appears you need to buy a specific "LT" model for it to be rideable on a bike licence. I wonder what sort of numbers are in circulation (second hand) at any point?
Interesting for sure though, easier to convince wife that its safe(ish) also.
From my quick browsing, it appears you need to buy a specific "LT" model for it to be rideable on a bike licence. I wonder what sort of numbers are in circulation (second hand) at any point?
Interesting for sure though, easier to convince wife that its safe(ish) also.
LiamB said:
Every single one of them I've seen on the road has been ridden by the sttest, most dangerous riders.
Sort of agree with this... I cycle commute through the middle of London, and these things are generally ridden by tttest, most dangerous riders. ts in tassled loafers, who make their 2-wheeled compatriots look like saints.I commute by bike, and whilst I'm sure lots are driven well, there does seem to be an excess of less than observant people riding these. I think the problem has already been noted by the OP. You can ride these on a car licence with no further training whatsoever, yet riding the vehicle in traffic is far more similar to riding a bike, and as a consequence those with no bike training tend to ride these badly. Just my opinion, but if I was getting on one I'd get a bike licence.
I used to commute over country roads on a scooter but managed to throw it into a hedge in spectacular style after hitting a patch of diesel resulting in a stay in hospital and a couple of operations. I tried to get back into it by buying a bigger scooter and (perhaps more importantly!) getting some training. However I found myself occasionally getting very uncomfortable and almost 'freezing' - presumably as some sort of flashback to the accident - so I gave up but it looks as though one of these could be the answer if they are as nearly as much fun as the real thing but far less easy to fall off!
If some car drivers are getting into these without much experience of bikes I can see how they may not ride as the more traditional bikers would expect them to.. 
I don't think this detracts from what are excellent machines.
My interest was raised when I went to Milan a few weeks ago. They seemed to be everywhere over there, hurtling around with confidence. An Italian I met there explained that they are popular because Milan has some cobbled streets and roads and these bikes have a lot more grip, falling off them on wet cobbles is much harder to do ! Of course, it being Milan, everyone looked effortlessly cool when riding them. I think I looked like a binman when I tried one. I can't seem to be cool the way Italians can.
I don't think this detracts from what are excellent machines.
My interest was raised when I went to Milan a few weeks ago. They seemed to be everywhere over there, hurtling around with confidence. An Italian I met there explained that they are popular because Milan has some cobbled streets and roads and these bikes have a lot more grip, falling off them on wet cobbles is much harder to do ! Of course, it being Milan, everyone looked effortlessly cool when riding them. I think I looked like a binman when I tried one. I can't seem to be cool the way Italians can.
Dave200 said:
LiamB said:
Every single one of them I've seen on the road has been ridden by the sttest, most dangerous riders.
Sort of agree with this... I cycle commute through the middle of London, and these things are generally ridden by tttest, most dangerous riders. ts in tassled loafers, who make their 2-wheeled compatriots look like saints.
I must admit it's the first thing I look for on a scooter/trike rider. It lets me know if they'll ride like a plonker or not
croyde said:
Dave200 said:
LiamB said:
Every single one of them I've seen on the road has been ridden by the sttest, most dangerous riders.
Sort of agree with this... I cycle commute through the middle of London, and these things are generally ridden by tttest, most dangerous riders. ts in tassled loafers, who make their 2-wheeled compatriots look like saints.I must admit it's the first thing I look for on a scooter/trike rider. It lets me know if they'll ride like a plonker or not
I've seen a few Quentins on their Vespa's around Bond Street and Piccadilly who fit that description..
Hang on, I think I even know a few...
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff