I wonder if I pay extra if i can have the girl too

Heh. Lemme guess, you plug in the boothbabe, and once she's
awake she pushes?
.
_H*

What would you guys prefer? A full electric Vectrix, or this Piaggio?

I am leaning towards the Vectrix.

MP3 is already expensive, this version will cost more than freaking Yaris... but yeah, I love it... And I would buy it in a zip if i lived in an house...

I looked at the vectrix 2 wheel (the had a 3 wheel in the works) but it wasn't for sale in Canada. And Transport Canada told me it wasn't legally importable. Also, I soon became married to the idea of three wheels so I could more safely ride all year in Victoria.

I paid $8,000 for the mp3 instead of $4000 for a good 2-wheel scooter also by Piaggio (Aprillia). I figured if I hit the ditch I wouldn't miss the extra cash.

I may upgrade to the mp3 phev.

These bikes are awesome. A PHEV version of it will be like icing on the cake. Can't wait!

Sorry... with a realistic range of about 68miles, the Vectrix isn't going to cut it for a lot of motorcyclists that want to run a couple of hours through the twisties. With such a short range, the Vectrix remains a high-glorified errand runner around town and/or a short commuter option. But weekend forays are off limits. I hope with the PHEV Piaggio that the range will be far enough (with the range extension of the gas motor) to make it more versatile.

Considering the size of this "bike" in the photo, why wouldn't you just want a traditional two-wheel bike??? ...Or a full Quad bike? This thing looks dangerous!

It's not more dangerous, it's safer and still fun. Google a review or two.


A quad bike??

heh yeah, I drove MP3 (we actually sell Piaggio group vehicles), and it is the safest bike... It is stable and once you stop, you dont have to put your legs down, it stays flat on its own... and it is good in the corners too.

Again, problem is that here in Europe MP3 costs 6k, and thing will be probably be 10k, which means you can get an car for the price...

Plus, you know motorcycle doesnt have same kind of longetivity as car, they are just not built to the same standards...

The MP3 is no larger than any other maxi-scooter.

The MP3 is much safer than a two wheeled motorcycle. Why? because of the two wheels in the front and the tilting mechanism. The ability to tilt allows the bike to lean into corners like a traditional motorcycle. However the two front wheels doubles the traction available for turning and braking.

Take a look at this video. Specifically look at the end of the video where they are weaving through cones on wet pavement over painted lines. Not something that can be done with a two wheeled bike

YouTube - Piaggio MP3 Clip

I have personally test ridden a MP3 I don't know what you would have to do to get it to low-side. I tried purposely hitting gravel mid-corner and braking mid-corner and the the front would slide but not slide out and crash like a traditional motorcycle. I would love to see this technology applied to a traditional motorcycle.

Quadbikes (4 wheelers, ATV's for Americans) are incredibly unstable due to the high center of gravity and narrow track. When you put street tires on them and put them on a high friction surface like concrete they are scary dangerous. They are also illegal for use on roads in the USA. (Though they are legal in some European countries)

Thanks for the Youtube link. I watched that video. Interesting.
I wonder if they have traction control (TC), like on a car.
And, I see what you mean about these being more difficult to "slide out - tip over" than a traditional motorcycle, since having two wheels brings your footing closer to being beneath your center of mass during intense cornering. I've never dropped a bike, but I slide my car through corners every once in a while (no excess fuel wasted ), and I know how much more performance is limited when you aren't able to slide.

I'm a huge fan of the Vectrix design and execution... and I'm sad to say that even 68 miles is being way too generous. They've had issues with the first battery and the range has been quite disapointing. Fix that battery, and the bike is tough to beat.

The others have covered this already... please don't fall into the trap of determining function by looks. How many people just KNOW that the Prius is a death trip because it looks so tiny?

The huge plus for me is the big front-tire footprint for stopping.

This article has more information on the drivetrain modes - 4 of them!!

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/11/14/piaggio_unveils_plug_in_hybrid/

It took me a while to get past the opening picture, but once I did...

Can anybody explain to me why I wouldn't *always* want to be in the mode the maximizes regenerative braking? I mean if I'm braking, why would I NOT want to generate as much as possible?

EV only mode for 12 miles is a good choice too.

Wait, there's a scooter in that picture?

Darell,
I'm wondering if the mode that maximizes regenerative braking would be too much to use on curvy roads that may have gravel or other 'slippery' things on it... Quickly closing the throttle could cause a sudden 'lurch' of the bike with the powerful regen, which might momentarily compromise the rear tire's traction if one is in the middle of a curve, for example.

As an example, the Suzuki Burgman 650, has an electronically controlled CVT and two transmission modes (well, really three if you also include manual which isn't a true manual): Regular and Power. In 'regular' mode, the bike already has pretty heavy engine braking that a new rider must get accustomed to. In 'power' mode, which increases the revs of the engine, the engine braking is even greater. In either mode, it does take some getting used. I know for myself, the engine braking is strong enough to bring the bike to a near stop without using the brakes over a surprisingly short distance.

My personal frustration with the Burgman has been the lack of a neutral or a way to disengage the heavy engine braking. At least with the Piaggio's regen, some of that energy will be recouped whereas with the Burgman, the only thing you might gain is a savings on your brakes, if using the engine braking carefully.

I wish my MP3 would coast better. You let off the throttle and it slows down really fast. It's an automatic so you can't put it into neutral. The RPMs are tied to the speed of the bike - some kind of direct drive.

If the PHEV just allowed me to coast better, I'd be happy. If the regen mode slowed you down faster, I wonder if that would really be better.

Ultimately, the reviewers will let us know.