PIAGGIO THREE-WHEELER: Piaggio has launched the MP3, an innovative new three-wheeled scooter.
The term 'three-wheeled' conjures up comical images of Del Boy and Rodney's antics in TV's comedy Only Fools and Horses as they spluttered around London in their three-wheeled commercial clapped out van.
This bike, although it may sound very uncool, has lots of practical and pioneering features such as safety, road grip and stability levels that no two-wheeler can match.
"There has been a lot of demand for this scooter. We hope to have the bikes in after the New Year and I think they will really take off, I reckon the 250 cc machine is the one we'll go for," according to sales adviser Angela Griffin in Bikeworld on the Longmile Road.
With two wheels in front and one in the back the Piaggio MP3 can lean like a motorcycle or two-wheeled scooter because it uses 12-inch wheels with large tyres and, "together with the revolutionary front suspension the wheels provide a tilt angle of up to 40 degrees," according to a spokesperson for Piaggio.
The MP3 is available as a 125cc engine and a 250 cc. The 125cc engine offers a power output of 15 bhp and the 250cc is equipped with electronic injection and delivers 22.5 bhp making it very capable of taking on a long-distance comfortable ride.
OFF-ROAD SKILLS: If you're fit and fancy yourself as a bit of an off-road biker Joe Duffy BMW have secured a number of places at Simon Pavey's Irish off-road skills course for next August 2007. Suitable for both beginners and more experienced riders. "BMW's two-day level one course teaches people to ride off-road for the first time and is also suitable for people who have ridden off-road before," according to BMW's Paul Browne.
The course takes place near Bunclody in Co Wexford and they even supply riders with either a F650 GS or a R1200 GS (pictured) bike. "The course teaches participants the essentials of off-road riding with the objectives of increased confidence and machine control, together with improved riding skills and ultimate enjoyment when riding off-road," says Browne, but adds, "Riders must have a good level of fitness for this course."
E-mail Paul Browne at pbrowne@joeduffybmw.ie and make sure you include OFF ROAD in the subject line to secure a place.
- Patricia Weston
- If you have bike news contact motorbikes@irish-times.ie