Piaggio MP3 400

Pros: quirky, good storage under seat and in boot

Cons: cramped, heavy, expensive repair bills!

I bought this because it was quirky (I know that's not a good reason) and I thought the extra grip would be useful. Unfortunately it's got small front wheels which a more prone to being disturbed by bad road surfaces - and my previous maxi-scooter didn't have particularly large wheels. The riding position is fairly cramped - your knees are quite close to the bars and you have no where to move your legs to. I also find myself slipping forward on the seat when braking hard because there's nothing to brace against. ANd it's not really very quick off the mark.

But my biggest gripe is the cost of repairs. It's not because parts or labour are particularly expensive but because it's necessary to strip the entire complex front end for seemingly anything! A set of bearings went after just 10k miles (I think they were made of cheese) - they cost perhaps 20 quid but took a whole days labour to replace. My throttle cable has broken (despite being in a protective tube) - about 8 quid for parts but it took almost 6 hours labour to replace.

I really don't think that this bike design brings enough benefits to warrant that extra expense.

The Piaggio MP3 is simply amazing. I would have less people stopping me in a Lambo than this. It makes everyone happy. On the motorway it just glides along. It doesn't have the snap acceleration of a big bike, but the smoothness is superb.Riding in the city though there can be no equal as it can take corners and bad surfaces without any fuss or bother. Economy is also very good.Overall this is the future of bike design. I look forward to seeing more bikes adapting this technology.