Business Week has a GREAT article on how Piaggio is doing so well with their IPO and that the next item on their checklist is “strengthen market share in India, China and North America.” I recommend the read… but buried in there somewhere is this little piece about the birth of the 3 wheeled scooter:
Veni, Vidi, Vespa: “THREE WHEELS GOOD. The growth of the scooter market also has a downside: As ridership grows, so do safety concerns. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatalities on two-wheel vehicles were up 18% to just over 4,000 deaths last year. Though motorcycle and scooter fatalities make up less than 10% of all vehicle-crash deaths, 2005 was the seventh consecutive year that fatalities had risen. Although Umesh Shankar, a mathematical statistician with the NHTSA’s Center for Statistics and Analysis that puts the fatality numbers together, suggests those fatalities mostly involve larger vehicles, it’s still an issue for the scooter company.Piaggio’s safety answer? A head-turning new scooter intended to allay concerns. The MP-3, which goes on sale in Europe this month, has two small wheels in front and one in back. The striking design, which will be available here in January, 2007, improves balance and makes cornering sharper and more nimble. ‘People are concerned about balancing of the vehicles, being able to brake, having stability in turns, et cetera,’ Timoni says. ‘And so, addressing some of these concerns, the MP-3 was born.’”
Available here… January 2007 you say? Innnnteresting. All I know is this…
Piaggio, your people probably do not read TheScooterScoop… but IF they did, I would say: “Please don’t make the mistake of starting out the USA with the 125cc version. A scooter of this size and weight will be expected to do at least 80MPH on the highways. If you bring the MP-3 here topping out at 65MPH, your sales will be disappointing at best. Even the 250cc version topping out at 77MPH will be a bit of a tough sell.”
Now… if there were a kit to bring the 250cc’s 77MPH up to 85MPH… I’d consider it. But, why not just drop the X8′s 400cc motor in there and be done with it?
There was also speculation on a Hybrid Vespa… But nothing concrete. My guess? Probably not ’till 2008.
Oh, and check out this on-the-scene shot from the SUPER French site Scooter-Infos.com
Looks like the MP3 is about half a car at this point. That wind screen is HUGE!
14. July 2006 at 2:59 pm
That windshield is part of the winterising package (along with three wet/cold-weather tires and a heated leg-cover and waistcoat).
As for the 400cc engine, while doing some forum skimming I’ve read some guy’s report (the dude went to an Open Doors’ Day of sorts) about how they’re having some problems with rear wheel spin due to the heavier front end on the 400cc version.
14. July 2006 at 8:41 pm
You’d be surprised, Steve, I bet there are some Vespa execs in italy that read your blog. I’ve been told they read mine.
PIaggioUSA execs, on the other hand, can’t read.
I posted this story this morning and joked that it couldn’t have more slavishly rehashed every Vespa public relations “talking point.” Comically, later in the day, CooperKatz, Vespa’s PR firm, forwarded the story to a couple friends of 2sb, as if to brag about how they got their press release printed in BusinessWeek. These stories just don’t happen out of the blue, and there’s no journalism involved, the reporter is basically handed a few press releases and photos, and a list of “sources” to talk to, by the PR firm. OK, end of paranoic rant.
14. July 2006 at 11:00 pm
THERE ARE NO ‘GRADUATED’ MOTORCYCLE RESTRICTIONS IN THE USA
What they don’t seem to understand about the USA market is that anything over 50cc requires a motorcycle endorsement. But once you get the endorsement you can ride ANYTHING of any size… a Harley, a Ninja, a Vespa, etc.
AMERICANS NEED:
* Highway capable bike (80mph+)
* A gas tank (not a step through)
=============================
15. July 2006 at 2:10 am
Kinda looks like one of the critters from “Alien”.
15. July 2006 at 3:32 am
I like the 125cc and I am very much looking forward to getting one. I don’t care about going on the freeway.
15. July 2006 at 7:28 pm
Cool info Anon 1! It appears you’re keeping your finger on the MP3′s pulse there. Please keep us informed!
Hey! It’s Illnoise visiting from 2StrokeBuzz! Well, TSS is no 2SB, but if they ARE reading… We could use an MP3 for review *tap tap* Is this thing on? Oh, and on that PR rant… I hear ya loud and clear. It was a nice read, but also a bit biased… OK, it was a shameless act of self promotion.
True, Dudel… But I like my stepthrough. I guess if I didn’t have stepthough… I could add a tractor seat and a 10 gallon tank between my legs… Ride for a week nonstop.
Keys! Hehe… I like the use of the word “Critters” when describing creatures from the movie Aliens. You sound like Intergalactic Pest Control. “Eh, don’t worry maim. These UA 571-C Sentry Guns mounted in yer nooks and crannies will have this place clean in no time.”
And… for Anon 2. I love ya man/girl. It’s the early adopters that make it possible for North America to get some variety. If I was bleedin’ cash, I would get a 125 version too! But, right now it’s not covering ground any faster than my twenty year old Helix. So, it’s no replacement. When I can use it to cover highways comfortably at 80MPH, I’ll be trading up.
I’ll still want a classic Italian for my rides downtown though.
17. July 2006 at 2:05 am
Steve, I’ve got to agree with your comment that if it could do 80 on the highway it’d be something to very seriously look at.
But believe me, if one of ANY size shows up here next year, I’m getting in line for a trial run.
Till then MY Helix is a tough ride to beat.
Suz_NJ