The Piaggio MP3 Scooter

[Teacher Mark 53]

I'm not sure what the spokesman is saying, but I'm sure it's good!

http://www.piaggiousa.com/pScooters/MP3.cfm

[IAMX 3,055]

The most fundamental answer is missing -- can you wheelie in it?

Can't tell you how often I see a students on bikes flying between traffic doing wheelies or tapping people's cars.

[Teacher Mark 53]

The most fundamental answer is missing -- can you wheelie in it?

Can't tell you how often I see a students on bikes flying between traffic doing wheelies or tapping people's cars.

I hate young people having fun.

[IAMX 3,055]

Wow, was my English ever ###### up in that post.

[PlatyPius 5]

I actually quite like the "big" one (500cc). Top speed of 90. I just wonder if it's classified as a scooter or as a motorcycle in Indiana. Scooters can't be ridden on the Interstate, is why I wonder.

Too bad they're so damn expensive. I think they're actually pretty cool, in a dorky sorta way.

[Teacher Mark 53]

I actually quite like the "big" one (500cc). Top speed of 90. I just wonder if it's classified as a scooter or as a motorcycle in Indiana. Scooters can't be ridden on the Interstate, is why I wonder.

Too bad they're so damn expensive. I think they're actually pretty cool, in a dorky sorta way.

I'm not sure, but I'd guess it's classified as a scooter. I think they're pretty cool too.

The path to my post started with this article:

Monday October 20, 2008

Vespas fun way to save gas

St. Albans dealership will begin selling the Italian scooters

by Monica Orosz

Daily Mail staff

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Charles Rashid acknowledges this might not be the very best time to open a new car dealership in the Kanawha Valley - unless, that is, you're offering the fun and fuel-efficient models his St. Albans-area dealership does.

"They're like Ferraris - top of the line," he said.

Rashid, who also owns Logan Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Suzuki, is the first dealer in the state to snag a Vespa dealership.

Also on the lot of his MacCorkle Avenue dealership just east of St. Albans are other Italian motorcycles by Aprilia and Piaggio - including a nifty three-wheeler with two small wheels in front and one in back - and gas-thrifty Suzuki cars, whose motto is "Live large, drive small."

Rashid figures the blend of inventory is perfect for today's economy.

"I want to change the way people feel about alternative transportation," Rashid said. The way he looks at it, there's room in the family garage for an SUV and a scooter.

Need to haul all the kids? Take the SUV. Need to run to the store for a loaf of bread? Zip on over in the Vespa, which with its step-through profile and small stature is easy to maneuver.

"A lot of people talk about doing something about the economy and energy crisis. I am actually doing something about it," Rashid said.

The Piaggio MP3 is a three-wheeled motorcycle with two front wheels that can be locked into place at, say, stops, so the vehicle stands on its own. It gets up to 70 mpg. The Aprilia is for motorcyclists who love leaning in and experiencing some speed, but even it gets 40 mpg.

Last week, Rashid had several of each model on his lot, where he's still finishing up work on an adjacent showroom and full-service shop, which will be run by service technician Garry Hill, who is certified to fix Mercedes, Porsche, Suzuki, Chrysler and Jeep models along with motorcycles. He also has a couple Vespas on display in a Quarrier Street storefront, in the 1000 block.

Rashid already is getting calls about his Vespas from as far as Ashland, Ky.

"I'm also getting a lot of hits off the Vespa Web site," he said. "Vespas are selling out everywhere," he added of the scooters that start at $1,900.

Vespa actually is a Piaggio product, created to help Italians navigate streets torn up by the ravages of World War II. According to the Vespa Web site, its name comes from a comment Enrico Piaggio made upon seeing the utility vehicle. "Sembra una Vespa," he is quoted as saying, which translates to "It looks like a wasp."

Rashid, 38, jokingly calls the new dealership his "quarter-life crisis," but adds he has always loved cars. His wife, Stacy, also is a businesswoman - she runs a coffee shop bearing the name of their daughter, Sofia, that is located in downtown Charleston on Virginia Street. The couple also has a daughter named Charlie.

In selecting a Kanawha Valley spot for a dealership, Rashid headed down to the state Division of Motor vehicles for a little research.

"A thousand cars a month are sold on this road," he said, ticking off dealerships from South Charleston to St. Albans located there.

http://dailymail.com/foodandliving/200810200205

[Teacher Mark 53]

Indiana Scooter Laws

Indiana scooter laws are outlined below for your convenience. It is important, however, that you always check their website to insure that you are aware of the most current and complete set of laws. Click here to be redirected to their website.

Mopeds

What's a moped?

Under Indiana law, a moped (or motorized bike) is defined as a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with a cylinder capacity of 50 cubic centimeters or less, a horsepower rating of less than 2.0, and an automatic transmission.

If a vehicle exceeds these limits, it's considered to be a motor vehicle, and its operators must follow the licensing, titling, and registration rules for a motor vehicle. See our sections on these areas for more information.

Moped riders must be at least 15 years old, and have a valid driver's license or state ID card with them when riding. Additionally, mopeds may not be driven on an interstate highway (why would you?), or over 25 mph. And, mopeds may not be driven on sidewalks.

Riders under 18 must be equipped with a helmet and something to protect their vision, such as goggles, glasses, or a transparent face shield.

Scooters

Indiana lawmakers define a scooter as having two wheels, a floor pad for feet, a driver's seat that isn't a saddle, and equipped with motive power.

A scooter may fall under the classification of mopeds or motor vehicles, depending on its makeup. So, follow the rules and procedures for whichever applies to your situation. If you have questions about this, contact a license agency, or call the Bureau of Motor Vehicles at (317) 233-6000.

People who ride motorcycles do so for a variety of reasons. Some motorcycle riders in Indiana choose to ride a bike because of the incredible gas mileage a modest motorcycle will bring, while others choose to ride the baddest hog¯they thrive only when they can scream down the open road.

But everyone who rides a motorcycle has to be aware of the Indiana requirements and responsibilities that go along with the ride. Riders need to pass special tests to qualify for a IN BMV motorcyle license. Reading the Motorcycle Manual is critical to being able to pass the test for a license, and so is hours and hours of practice at the handlebars.

Street-legal motorcycles also need to be properly registered in Indiana. You'll need to fill out the paperwork and pay the fees when you register your ride at the BMV.

http://www.scooters-and-mopeds.com/indiana.html

[akdiver 3]

This is really old news....

[akdiver 3]

I actually quite like the "big" one (500cc). Top speed of 90. I just wonder if it's classified as a scooter or as a motorcycle in Indiana. Scooters can't be ridden on the Interstate, is why I wonder.

FYI - a scooter IS a motorcycle. A scooter is TREATED as a motorcycle by a DMV (i.e. requires a license), typically if the engine is more than 50cc. Whether or not a motorcycle is allowed on an interstate is based on engine size, not body style (scooter is just a type of body style). In short, a scooter CAN be ridden on an interstate, if it has a large enough engine (150cc sticks out in my head). A 500cc scooter is definitely big enough.

FWIW, I've ridden my 250cc scooter from Alaska to Mexico, to Key West Florida, up to Quebec and back. I went on a lot of interstates in the course of that trip.

Cheers!

AKD

[Teacher Mark 53]

This is really old news....

What?

[Teacher Mark 53]

This is really old news....

Here's something a little more up to date for you Evel:

[akdiver 3]

This is really old news....

What?

These scooters have been out since at least May. I saw them in the dealer showroom this past spring.

[Cassie 8]

Since the hubby now works less than 5 miles from our house, we sold one of our cars and bought a scooter (not the one at the beginning of the post). Having a gas bill less than 6 dollars a week for it is pretty sweet!

[rocks 494]

FWIW, I've ridden my 250cc scooter from Alaska to Mexico, to Key West Florida, up to Quebec and back. I went on a lot of interstates in the course of that trip.

Cheers!

AKD

wow, that's a long way to go. sounds like fun!

[NickD 203]

Since the hubby now works less than 5 miles from our house, we sold one of our cars and bought a scooter (not the one at the beginning of the post). Having a gas bill less than 6 dollars a week for it is pretty sweet!

With an over abundance of idiot drivers on the road, you can get killed on those things, absolutely no protection for the driver and certainly no match for an SUV driven by somebody glued to to a cell phone.

No thanks.