Piaggio has applied for a patent for a new MP3. In contrast to the current version, where the fairing moves along with the angle of inclination, the fairing is fixed in the new patent and therefore remains parallel to the horizon.
When Piaggio launched the MP3 in 2006 after years of development, the reactions were not of the air, but only after an observant German discovered that by increasing the track width to 465 mm, the scooter was technically a three-wheeler car (and you therefore do not have a motor). but needed a car driver’s license), it went very fast.
Not much later, the LT version with a 465 mm track width was a fact, which soon turned out to be the golden move: MP3s sold like hot cakes, even with us in the Netherlands, the tricycle turned out to be the best-selling motorcycle for years (which, however, you did not find in the vehicle data of the RDC because it fell under the car sector).
However, the fact that a driving license was required for the MP3 was a thorn in our government’s side, imagine that the whole of the Netherlands would trade in its cookie tin for an MP3 to escape the daily traffic jams (which would have been solved by this), that would really be a disaster. So, with the new driving license directive in 2013, the legislation was amended and a motorcycle license has been required ever since.
However, this only applies to those who have passed the driving license in accordance with the new (3rd) directive, for everyone who already had their B driving license before January 19, 2013, everything remained the same. And so Piaggio can continue with the MP3 for decades to come.
Although since its introduction Piaggio has released different versions of the MP3, varying in design and displacement, the concept has remained the same from the start. Just like a regular scooter, the entire cockpit rotates at an angle of inclination.
Now that is not such a problem with a 2-wheel scooter, but because the nose of an MP3 is much wider, the result was that the nose had to be a lot higher, to create space for the wheels that are in relation to the fairing and in case of too little space in a bend the inner (high) wheel would hit the wheel arch.
Another disadvantage was that the wide headlight unit turned during the turn, which deteriorated visibility. This is not a problem with a normal scooter or motorcycle because the double headlights are placed much closer together.
The system now patented by Piaggio solves the above problems. By mounting the nose part of the cockpit to the triangle construction, it also remains parallel to the horizon when inclined, so that it can be mounted lower. The only space that needs to be taken into account now is the travel of the front wheel.
Besides the fact that the light beam of the headlight is now constant at all times, the new construction also provides much better aerodynamic values, which in turn is good for wind protection and handling. Piaggio has created so much space in the new nose that a net helmet can be stored in it, and that is also quite sublime. More space remains under the saddle for daily shopping.
It has not been said that this concept will actually make it into a production model, but it does indicate that Piaggio is far from done with the MP3.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.