THOUGH more used to putting the pedal to the metal with heavyweight bikes, finds Piaggio’s latest scooter offers a bracing start to the New Year.

Did you get your MP3 for Christmas and was it all you wanted? Bet you didn’t get an MP3 like the one I tested a few weeks ago! No, it doesn’t play music, but it’s got two wheels at the front and flair and design as only the Italians can do.

This three-wheel scooter had heads turning wherever it went or was parked up. Certainly it’s quirky but the machine is ultra-stable at slow speeds and for those intending/interested buyers who are a little nervous and not too sure about stability this machine reaches out and grabs you by the throat screaming "Try me, try me".

Through Colwins of Sittingbourne, I was able to get hold of this unusual twist-and-go 125cc 4-stroke bike/trike/scooter, stealing it from under the noses of the "big-boys" from the specialist motorcycle press. Quite a coup!

Granted it’s a bit unusual to be able to sit on the saddle of a bike, feet up at traffic lights and not have to worry about the bike falling over, because the machine is able to be locked (via a switch on the handlebars) in an upright position when stationary - the front two wheels make the MP3 totally stable acting as a short axle with some 420mm (161/2 ins approx) of space between each wheel.

Even more of a show was feet up and hands off the bars at lights and watch the expression of other road users – how does he do that? The moment the throttle is blipped the locking mechanism releases and the bike behaves as a normal two-wheeler.

Initial cornering is a psychological thing; if you’re a conventional bike rider, forget there are two wheels. Is it going to handle strangely? No, is the answer; there are absolutely no negative feelings with this bike and its twin front wheel parallelogram assembly, in fact the reverse is true - you have twice the amount of grip and the extremely clever engineers at Piaggio have overcome all the inherent complications with a dexterity that makes eating spaghetti without slopping it all over you as only the latins can accomplish!

But it’s not only about the revolutionary wheel set-up. The MP3 is in it’s own right a well thought-out scooter; there’s a host of toys to play with – two trip gauges; air temperature; clock; and so on.

It’s underseat storage space is huge - enough for a full-face helmet, rucksack and oversuit to fit easily. The saddle is extremely comfortable and plentiful for two-up riding, with the handlebar switchgear easy to operate.

Riding in the dark poses no problems as the front is festooned with sidelights and twin beams, with a constant-on dip headlight. Braking is certainly well up to spec with a disc on all three wheels and suspension is conventional with 4-way adjustable twin coil units. Fitted as standard is an immobiliser. Finish and paint scheme (light metallic blue) were well up to expectations.

The125cc motor is perfect for town but underpowered for any motorway work as I found out taking it round the M25. Against a slight headwind I struggled to get 60mph out of the unit and with the rev counter showing 9,200 rpm I backed off; I did manage to get 70mph but again the poor motor was showing in excess of 10,000rpm.

Not good for longevity! If you’re interested and going to do motorway journeys then the 250cc would be a much better choice I imagine.

Honda, and much earlier in the late sixties/seventies, Ariel, tried the concept of one wheel at the front and two at the back but these were short of disaster.

Piaggio (of Vespa fame et al) have gone the other route and although I don’t see it as being a Sinclair C5 – sinking without trace – it’s possible that us finicky Britishers will not gel to the revised wheel arrangement; however, I’m told that the bike has gone down a storm both in Italy and France and at the moment Piaggio are having problems meeting demand.

Test rides are being offered at certain dealers. If you get the chance, take it. I guarantee it’ll put a grin factor on your face!

FACTFILE

TECH SPEC: 125cc 4-stroke liquid cooled single cylinder; 4-valve; automatic transmission with centrifugal clutch; 15bhp@9,250rpm; triple discs 240mm; wheel sizes: 12in.

PRICE: £3,999.

DEALER: Colwin Motorcycles, 2 Frederick Street, Sittingbourne; 01795 472513.