Piaggio MP3
Encyclopedia
Tilting three wheeler
A tilting three wheeler is a three wheeled vehicle whose body and or wheels tilt in the direction of the turn. Such vehicles can corner safely even with a narrow track.-Wheel configurations:...
from the Italian manufacturer Piaggio
Piaggio
Piaggio based in Pontedera, Italy encompasses seven brands of scooters, motorcycles and compact commercial vehicles. As the fourth largest producer of scooters and motorcycles in the world, Piaggio produces more than 600,000 vehicles annually, with five research and development centers, more than...
. It was first brought to market in 2006. It has two wheels in the front and one at the rear.
Variants
125 cc, 250 cc, 278 cc, 400 cc and 500 cc three-wheeled scooterTilting three wheeler
A tilting three wheeler is a three wheeled vehicle whose body and or wheels tilt in the direction of the turn. Such vehicles can corner safely even with a narrow track.-Wheel configurations:...
versions are available.
In Europe, the 500 cc version is marketed under the sporty Gilera
Gilera
Gilera is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer founded in Arcore in 1909 by Giuseppe Gilera. In 1969 the company was purchased by Piaggio, which now holds six marques and is the world's fourth largest motorcycle manufacturer.-History:...
brand, called the Fuoco 500. In the United States, the 125 cc is not available, and the Fuoco is marketed as the Piaggio MP3 500.
In June 2009, the MP3 LT 400 was launched in the UK. This version has a slightly wider front track allowing it to be classified as a tricycle rather than as a motorcycle (as are the other versions). This allows the LT400 variant to be 'driven' on a standard UK car licence rather than the motorcycle licence required for the original versions.
Suspension mechanism
Kickstand
A kickstand is a device on a bicycle or motorcycle that allows the bike to be kept upright without leaning against another object or the aid of a person. A kickstand is usually a piece of metal that flips down from the frame and makes contact with the ground. It is generally located in the middle...
or centre stand. The front suspension is similar to the single-sided trailing arm of Vespa
Vespa
Vespa is an Italian brand of scooter manufactured by Piaggio. The name means wasp in Italian.The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co. S.p.A...
-style suspensions, linked by an alloy parallelogram
Parallelogram
In Euclidean geometry, a parallelogram is a convex quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel sides. The opposite or facing sides of a parallelogram are of equal length and the opposite angles of a parallelogram are of equal measure...
and a central steering arm. Care must be taken when the vehicle is stationary as the suspension rolllock is disengaged when the engine speed exceeds 2,500 rpm (see Piaggio Owners Manual - Page 42). When moving at slow speeds or stopped, the rider must maintain balance through forward motion or with feet on the ground. The front suspension locks or unlocks with the flick of a switch, located just below the throttle on the right handlebar. The suspension lock can be activated only manually, and only at low speeds or at a stop. A parking brake is used in conjunction with the locking mechanism to park the bike. A traditional center stand also is provided, useful in situations where the suspension cannot be locked, such as with a dead battery.
Plug-in hybrid
In September 2009, a plug-in hybrid version of the MP3 was launched, following trials in 2008 by the New York City Police DepartmentNew York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
. It has a 125 cc engine and a battery-driven 2.6 kW electric motor, with a regenerative braking system. The vehicle has three user-selected variants of hybrid drive to create a vehicle capable of up to 141 miles per US gallon (59.9 km/L) and 0 mile per hour in 5 seconds when both methods of propulsion are used.
In electric-only mode the MP3 can travel a distance of 11 miles (17.7 km) at a maximum speed of 20 mph (8.9 m/s).
When both power sources are used the MP3 can run for a maximum of 25 minutes, with performance equivalent to a 250 cc scooter. When powered solely by the petrol engine the MP3 is slower than other 125 cc machines due to its weight – 249 kg (549 lb) compared with 208 kg (458.6 lb) for the petrol-only model.