apache snow-FSO wrote on 05/16/13 at 08:20:27:You need to go read about the MP3 on modernvespa.com.
Unlike in Italy, here in the US most dealers do not have the experience or mechanics to keep this complicated front suspension in tune. And in the US parts are not always available and long waits are common. People here have a lot of problems with this scooter. Many sell them and are glad to be rid of the problems.
During my 3-year stay in England, many people (women mostly) would tease me on FIAT meaning "Fix It Again, Tony!"
to which I would comment "Your Tony must be a lousy mechanic, I'm not surprised British Leyland died"
They were left speechless
The truth is, whereas I do agree the MP3's front suspension is more complicated than a simple set of hydraulic forks, it is just as true that we're talking Italian Engineering here, not English nor much less French...
...it works AND it's simple... it was invented by Piaggio, not by Citroen or Jaguar or Renault !!! (My vintage MG has an electrical system based on 2 relays and 4 (four!) fuses!)
It's just a parallelogram... essentially a rectangle that will lean right&left... what's so complicated about that ?
AND
if it can handle the potholes of Italian roads, why can't it handle the freeways of America ?
Anyway, the Piaggio MP3 is strong, sturdy, reliable and will literally ride around the world...
...if the mechanics aren't up to the job, it's not Piaggio's fault...