Camping And Scootering Go Hand In Hand
(via designboom.com)
Styling, versatility, efficiency and practicality are what makes this three-wheeled, one-man camper so delightfully attractive. Based on a Piaggio Ape 50, Cornelius Comanns of Germany brings you the”Bufalino“! Read more about it on designboom.com.
Cornelius Comanns_Bufalino_interior view (image via: designboom.com)
2010 Geneva Motor Show Concepts
Two concepts debuted at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show that may interest you. First, …
Yes! It's the Honda 3R-C. (photo: world.honda.com)
Photos From Seattle
Six days of walking, driving and riding buses, and how many scooters did I see on the streets of Seattle over the Thanksgiving weekend? Three. Two captured; and a yellow Honda Metro that got away.–Lorenzo
Peugeot Hybrid3 Evolution Concept Video
(From Spain’s online scooter magazine–Solo Scooter)
It appears that this three-wheel hybrid concept from Peugeot is pretty close to reality. But somehow, I am just not convinced that the pillion will get much use at all. See it for yourself.–Lorenzo
Three-Wheel Hybrid Concept from Peugeot
Wish and ye shall receive. Well, keep wishing because there’s no sign that Peugeot will be bringing any of its scooters to US, so this three-wheel hybrid concept is out of the question, too, I guess.
(From motoblog.it) This is Peugeot’s ongoing three-wheel hybrid concept, the Hybrid EVO 3, unveiled at the 2009 EICMA. It has a front suspension similar to the ill-fated Italjet SCOOOP, a hybrid engine, plus an exhaust that seems to come straight off of the Piaggio MP3 500. Suddenly, the three-wheel market is heating up.–Lorenzo
Photo: motoblog.it
I am back! More TOD updates after a quick recovery…I promise*
2,440-miles on a scooter in seven days will make not just some spongy buttermilk pancakes, but absolutely thin French crêpes out of an average man’s average buttocks. Not having a terminal with Wi-Fi out in the hills of Tennessee also means that you’re most-likely disconnected from the rest of the world (which could be a good thing in many ways) especially considering that I was on a vacation. So please, give me a minute, watch this short video of my wet slide down the TOD (4 minutes but took over three hours just to load), and I shall have more to report after my body is well-rested and my brain is up-to-speed. Where is Ed, btw? Please wish him safe on the roads.–Lorenzo
TOD (Day 4) Loop de loopy loop
**(9/21/09) Updated with new Tail of the Dragon videos. Check them out!**
Loopy De Loop is a cartoon character; but this loop that we are talking about here is a 120-mile loop that “can easily be traveled in one day” as the complimentary map that you pick up at any area convenience store would suggest. But of course, the innocuous description heavily downplays the fact that the “Mile-High Legend” Cherohala Skyway and the (in)famous Tail of the Dragon with its 318 curves in 11-miles are both part of this 120-mile loop on which we are about to embark today.
Andrew and Ed at Turkey Creek overlook (alt. 2,630 ft.), Cherohala Skyway, TN
2010 Can-Am Spyder RT
There’s a preview of the new 2010 Can-Am Spyder RT (Touring Roadster) over at Motorcycle.com Talk about an over-priced machine that doesn’t lean naturally. But most of all, talk about ug…–Lorenzo
photo: BRP/Motorcycle.com
Sexiest Man Alive Rides MP3
George Clooney, People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1997 and again in 2006, may have been joyriding these days around his Italian villa on something a little “safer” like the Piaggio MP3 (400? 250) after his painful bone-breaking motorcycle accident in 2007. However, the court of public opinion may not be so kind to this living sexy man. Original article and more photos here.–Lorenzo
photo: Luca Sgro
Hybrid MP3 Coming Your Way… At Last
SCGT has independently verified a report on Motorcycle.com dated yesterday (7/10/2009):
Piaggio has introduced a hybrid version of its three-wheeled MP3 scooter…Plug-in scooter gets a claimed 141-mpg.
The official words from Piaggio.com stated on 7/7/2009:
The Piaggio Group presents the MP3 Hybrid, the world’s first hybrid scooter and a vehicle destined to revolutionise urban mobility…
photo: piaggiogroup.com (*Eco-friendly Italian female companion not an option)
Hey, there’s even a flashy, new Piaggio MP3 website! Surely devoted MP3 fans in America would be getting the announcements in their inboxes by now? Nothing yet. Although they are looking for a Creative Director and a VP in Business Operations, if you’re interested.
In For Service
MP3 500 will be in for a rear tire change (8,148 miles), roller replacement, and some transmission work. The professional towing service is compliment of Piaggio Roadside Assistance, and provided by Nicholas and Elizabeth Young, husband-and-wife team of Young’s Towing of Nederland.
A Lotta Scooters You Can Buy With (seized) Drug Money
Thanks to jmd from Modern Vespa for digging up this interesting news article featuring the newest urban patrol vehicles from the New Brunswick (NJ) PD. There were other colorful ones, but Tommyr made this comment, saying “It’s great that the taxpayers didn’t have to foot the bill for the scooters. The dirtbag drug dealers did!“ My personal favorite bit of the article came from Ray Lewandowski, (happy recipient of the drug money and) owner of Sport Honda from which the MP3′s were purchased, quote:
You have to exhibit an air of authority when you’re a policeman. So when you stop and your motorcycle falls on you, it doesn’t look good to the perpetrator.
New Brunswick police officers Hector Lugo (left), Eric Brown and Charles Savoth show off the department's three new three-wheeled motorcycles, which combine efficiency and safety. (Photo courtesy of NBPD)
Mardi Gras And The MP3 Advantage
(Scene: Mardi Gras Parade) Rolling down the parade route, spectators and revelers lined up on both sides of the street, you spot a group of kids, smiling, some screaming teens, waving their arms wildly in the air, desperate for your attention. They want beads! At this moment, aboard the Piaggio MP3, moving at the speed of a slow race, you switch on the suspension-lock with your right thumb…
Yeah, you! Go deep!
Piaggio MP3 LT First Look
Motorstelevision released this video of the brand new Piaggio MP3 LT. The LT (which may stand for “Large Track”) is said to be a little wider in front, equipped with a right-hand foot brake, and able to be operated with a car license (in Europe). Also, there are two versions–the 250cc LT and the 400cc LT. Let’s take a look.–Lorenzo
Easy Does It, Adiva!
Using a Piaggio power train and the mp3 concept, throwing in an original convertible top that can be easily stowed away in the trunk, or “boot”–you’ve got an all-weather Adiva 400 three-wheeler.
For a demo of how this baby works, please take a look at this cool video from the 2008 EICMA by schiapputer.
Smrfmobile Defies Logic
Apparently, when Piaggio mp3′s were puchased by some buyers here in US (not known elsewhere) that three wheels were just not enough. Remember this lady with the “mp5″? Well, she’s not alone. Enters the Smrfmobile, and this one even has its own web page. I have not had a chance to tally up all the mods and upgrades yet; but you may want to when you have some free time after riding. The interesting thing is that after thinking about it a little more, I conclude that if the set up enables more people (those w/handicaps included) to improve their lives by riding and enjoying scooters, then I am all for it.–Lorenzo
To each its own (photo: smrfcop.com)
A Little Extra Help Is All You Need
Stability and safety are two main selling points of MiniTrike, manufactured by Tow-Pac, Inc. With a price tag between $2,599 and $3,299, depending on wheel size, the MiniTrike does not come cheap; but so is your safety. In this case, the word “trike” is a little misleading since the entire set-up actually has four, not three wheels. In essence, the Minitrike is a pair of “training wheels” fitted to a scooter, or a motorcycle.
The name Tow-Pac was brought to my attention by Mike and by news that Becky in Houston, who had earlier this year suffered a broken leg from a scooter-related accident, recently purchased a Honda Helix outfitted with such a device. The proliferation of namely, maxi-scooters and their popularity among middle-age crowd looking for an alternative, gas-saving form of transportation have brought on an unforeseen downside (to which the MiniTrike could be viewed as a solution).
So I thought that I’ve understood the whole attraction surrounding Tow-Pac (yes, the stability and safety) until my eyes nearly popped out as I saw these pictures on Modern Vespa before I fell off my seat…
MP5? (photo courtesy of jodeg on MV)
The Road Ahead
The road ahead could be rough, so I will pack an extra wheel just in case. Ugly son of a b*tch some would say; but I think the beauty is in the ride. Meet my new scooter, the Piaggio mp3 500.–Lorenzo
MCN Tests MP3 500 (Gilera Fuoco)
MCN (Motorcycle News) is one of those sites which I follow. This time, the featured bike is the Gilera Fuoco (fuoco is Italian for fire), rebadged by its parent company Piaggio and sold in the USA as the MP3 500. Check out the video below as MCN’s Chief Road Tester, Trevor Franklin, rides the new three-wheeler.–Lorenzo
