I've really got the hots for one of these

A 250cc one. Not sure whether red or grey (black looks nasty and the light blue, well, I think it just doesn't suit it). Now if I could only part with my greatly beloved money (round these parts it costs about as much as a Bev/X9 250, which is to say quite a bit)... Oh, and yes, I live in Europe.

WTF is that?

And why does it have two wheels in the front?

That, my bemused friend, is the newest addition to the Piaggio stable. It's called an MP3 (Don't. All the bad jokes/puns have been made already. Thrice.) and, as you quite astutely have pointed out, it has two wheels in the front for added general riding safety.

Oh.

:huh

So, it's a reversed trike?

Like training wheels for the balance-less?

It's more like Italy's definitive answer to wet cobblestones (we have quite a good deal of those in Europe), wet tram tracks (again, a good deal of those over here) and wet 'embossed' road markings (like the slippery/rubbery zebra crossing markings; a lot of people I know have spilled on those). Add to that the usual sand/oil/fuel/miscellaneous liquids.

There is some good video of it in action here.....

http://www.mp3.piaggio.com/index_eng.html

I hear they have a 125 and 250 versions. For now only the 125 will be sold in the US.

Would like to try one for sure just because it is so different.

Cool--I hadn't thought of all the cobblestone stuff (it's been a while since I was in Europe) and the other obstacles you mentioned.

I've had the front end wash out on the Super 9 once on a painted crosswalk and it got my attention in a memorable way.

Neat. I'd like to hear more about this scoot.

Watched the first video-That's it, I'm gettin' one. Just for the WTF factor from the spectators.

this would be really cool for folks like me and DaleB



Wow...I was impressed after watching the video.

Way cool.

From what I understand, a 'winterizing' package will be available at some point in Autumn. It will contain an extra-large windscreen (exceptionally ugly but efective, apparently), a set of winter tires with a special rubber formula (for better grip in the wet/cold) and a set of heated leg covers and (matching) heated waistcoat.
Also available later-on this year will be a few other extras like the flip-down topcase rack (so you can use the rear boot with a topcase installed), a 48-litre topcase and various miscellanea.

excuse the n00b question but do you steer or countersteer that sob?

You steer it like a car. If you tried to countersteer it, the thing would (most likely) whip around and dump you out of the seat.

Wow.

The cool thing is that you don't need a kickstand.

I'd seriously get one to run around on. It's be a cool commuter and a real sweet winter ride.

I think that you'd still have to countersteer the thing though, because it leans into the turns. You use the countersteer to initiate the lean.

So this is already selling in yurop? What is the price range on these babies?

Still holding out for the DN-01 but this could work for my tiny wife who is having trouble with her burgman 400...

The current issue of Cycle World has a short article about it.

I've seen that before on a UK scooter... around 2003 or so... Video was good. Stats were really good, it was superior in every way with regard to handling and cornering vs. a 2 wheel scooter. Countersteering worked the same way (although it has been suggested that countersteering never was in fact "counter-" anything) because of the double fork/wishbone joint thingy.

I love it just for the WTF reaction. It would be a great in town commuter, just wonder if they will come to America.

What fucking sense does that make? Why wouldn't we get the 250?

Wow! An upgrade from this:

That would suprise me too. The market here would accept a 250 version better than a 125.