Piaggio MP3 350: finally the right engine [ROAD TEST]

Piaggio MP3 350 MY2018 An already known package for the lucky Italian three-wheeler, which confirms ABS and ASR, to which in this new version it adds a restyling all about comfort and quality, given that the refinement interventions go precisely in these directions. There are new saddles and windshields, improved finishes and equipment, but the most substantial innovations concern the engines. We will also have the opportunity to tell you the details of the new 500, which we are testing right now. The top of the range gains power, rising to over 44 horsepower, while the chassis sees the introduction of a pair of Kayaba gas-filled rear shock absorbers. What we were all waiting for was the 350 engine, which is doing so much good on the Beverly. It does not replace the 500 (also due to its substantial increase in performance in the 2018 version), but it represents a very interesting solution, thanks to almost 10 horsepower more than the 300 (which it effectively replaces), but not only that. Its innovative oil bath transmission eliminates what was in fact one of the main defects of the MP3, the transmission noise, while at the same time gaining almost absolute fluidity. A price that places it closer to the "old" 300, rather than the 500, given that it stops at 8.590 euros, compared to 10.299 for its older brother (for the HPE Business, 10.699 for the Sport).

Aesthetics and finishes:

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Few refinements, above all more comfort and quality

It is a restyling and it is also such in practice. If the revolution of this new 350 engine is hidden, the aesthetic improvements are under the gaze of those who know the MP3. We're talking about details, but those that increase the practicality of a scooter. In fact, the windscreen has been renewed, smoked and more protective, also because it now extends to protect the hands; in addition to the saddle, which gains more consistent and comfortable foam, but also a different finish for the stitching. Other details that have been retouched are related to the appearance, which gains in modernity, with the new and redesigned front shield grille and LED direction indicators. Attention is also paid to the passenger, who can benefit from the redesigned backrest, while the two grab handles are new, with improved ergonomics. The BikeFinder is now standard, which in addition to the useful function for finding the scooter when you don't remember where you parked it (by activating the direction indicators), offers remote control opening of the saddle.

For the rest, the appearance and equipment of a scooter is confirmed which is perfect for urban and non-urban commuting, with a very spacious underseat, capable of accommodating two helmets and more, but also well finished, with a soft covering, lighting and a hydraulic piston to support the saddle. The instrument panel, clearly inspired by the automotive industry, is based on two classic circular elements, combined with a display full of information, including very useful information on autonomy, as well as average and instantaneous consumption. We then find four further warning lights, relating to the roll control system warning and its block, as well as signaling that the engine has stopped and the parking brake is engaged. In the lower part there is a row of buttons, partly intended for accessory systems, such as heating the grips and saddle, others for opening the saddle and deactivating the traction control. This modern and sporty glossy pastel gray color is beautiful, one of the five dedicated to the MP3 350, together with the three matt ones (black, gray and green), as well as the classic pastel white, also glossy. Another sporty detail are the petal brake discs, combined with the red painted shock absorber springs.

Engine and performance:

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If it's not the perfect engine for everyone, we're close

Obviously the needs are different from person to person and what is the absolute truth for us is not for others. The fact is that this seemed to us to be absolutely the best engine we have ever tried on the MP3. A compromise with many advantages and very few sacrifices, thanks above all to its power and fluidity of operation, combined with a compactness and lightness comparable to those of the 300. In terms of power, the 21 goes from around 300 horsepower to over 30. This data alone is enough to give the idea that we are not talking about "50cc" more (52 to be precise, going from 278 to 330), but about a completely different engine with significantly superior performance. The 330 cc has a stroke and bore (69 mm x 78 mm) optimized to have the best performance, in terms of performance and consumption, at intermediate speeds, as well as guaranteeing very high fluidity and elasticity. A modern and relatively young engine, born in 2012 and then evolved for the transition to Euro 4, capable of 30,6 horsepower at 8.500 rpm, with a torque of 29 Nm at 6.250.

In addition to guaranteeing an excellent performance/displacement ratio, with particular attention paid to limiting weight and size, this engine is characterized by a transmission that features an automatic clutch (as is customary on scooters), but of a multi-disc type and in oil bath. A "hybrid" solution, with features derived from motorcycles that guarantee silence and smooth operation that are unique for a scooter. The consistency of its performance, even with very intense use, is also a positive characteristic that adapts perfectly to the MP3, which can thus be used both in the city and for wider-range tourism.

The MP3 350 when driving turns out to be, in our opinion, the best ever. Brilliant performance, not far from the "old" 500 (especially in an urban context), with a regularity and fluidity never seen before. It loses one of its biggest defects, the transmission noise, while it acquires a smoothness when releasing the clutch, both when stationary and when reopening the throttle, which is unknown to other scooters, with the exception of the Beverly with which it shares the same engine and transmission. We will have proof of this when we get on the new 500, which although improved, remains rougher in some passages, as well as noisier. The 350 also stretches well, with a maximum speed of 130 km/h (over 140 indicated on the instrumentation) which allows it to be used without problems even on the motorway. Of course, if frequent and perhaps prolonged motorway journeys are your daily bread, the bigger brother remains the best solution, but in all other cases the 350 is perfect.

Ride and handling:

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Top safety, without sacrificing driving pleasure, even for those who only have a B license

Obviously those who choose the MP3 almost certainly do so for the practicality and safety of the second front wheel. The bends that can be done in absolute safety, without being a pilot, but even on wet asphalt and in extreme conditions, make the difference. Added to this is the ABS – ASR package, which raises the bar of active safety. While the benefits of anti-lock braking should now be known to everyone, even the most sceptical, traction control is still relatively uncommon on scooters, but we appreciated its presence. Suffice it to say that the more experienced, on low-grip surfaces, can indulge in traverses (excluding the ASR). The MP3 350 in fact has enough power to drift, without putting an expert driver in too much difficulty, but obviously the electronics avoid unnecessary dangers for those who don't want to find themselves managing a power drift. The difference compared to a conventional scooter, with two wheels, emerges clearly when temperatures drop and when it rains. The second front wheel is in fact a guarantee that allows you to drive in total serenity, with the plus of the suspension lock, with the vehicle stopped at traffic lights, which allows you to keep your feet on the platform, perhaps warm and protected by the classic cover.

Also worth mentioning is the convenience of using the foot brake, the presence of which allows this MP3 350 to be driven even by those who have a B license (the car one), but who, once they get used to it and have the right sensitivity with their foot right, it can prove useful. It acts on both the front and rear, controlling the pair of 258 mm discs, plus the 240 at the rear. Comfortable, not too high as a seat (790 mm from the ground), the MP3 is perfect for all heights, also in light of the fact that it makes it unnecessary to put your feet on the ground with the vehicle stationary. The passenger is also comfortable, but has a high position, which exposes him more to the air, but which on the other hand gives excellent visibility, even from the front. Riding, as mentioned, you can also have fun doing bends with sportbike angles and even sliding the rear, if you want to exaggerate, but the MP3 is above all a comfortable means of moving around in traffic, with the dimensions of a normal scooter and significantly superior safety. The only costs to pay are slightly reduced handling and a lean descent that needs to be guided a bit. Nothing exaggerated, it's all natural, but you notice it when you get back on a scooter with only two wheels, when at the first bends it almost seems like you're falling towards the inside of the curve.

Price and consumption:

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It raises the bar, a little also in price, but not in consumption

As for consumption, the 350 (remember that the displacement is actually 330 cc), offers excellent results. The declared figure is 25,6 km/l (3.9 l/100 km) in the WMTC cycle, which translates into real consumption close to these values. In fact, it always remains around 23-25 ​​km/l, but you can also get a little more than the declared value, with only slightly careful driving. Not bad really, given the size close to 240 kg. With 12 liters of tank (of which 1.8 are reserve), the autonomy is therefore close to 300 km.

The new MP3 350 has a list price of 8.599 euros, 600 more than the "old" 300 with the same trim level, with ABS and ASR. However, we are 1.700 euros "away" from the price of access to the 500 HPE range, with the Business costing 10.299 euros, the Sport 10.699.

The list of accessories is also very extensive, starting with the Piaggio Multimedia Platform, which extends the instrumentation through interaction with your smartphone, as well as making numerous other functions available, such as those with which you can analyze and check the status of the vehicle. We then find three versions of the rear top case, one for 30, a second for 37 and one even for 50 litres, side bags (42 liters total) and a 16 liter tunnel bag. For those who travel often and need greater aerodynamic protection, a larger windscreen is available, as well as various leg covers, including the new Comfort+ cover. Particularly refined, it has been designed for use in all seasons, with a modular structure, easily dismantled and with an anti-sway system, thanks to the stiffening plates. There is no shortage of heated accessories for winter use, from the saddle to the grips, including a leg cover, which take advantage of the predisposition and buttons already present in the lower part of the control bridge. The many accessories, of which we have listed just a few, are accompanied by a dedicated line of helmets, as well as Piaggio clothing items, such as summer and winter gloves.

PROS AND CONS
We like it:
Excellent engine, road holding even in extreme conditions, perfect for commuting, not just urban
We do not like it:
Challenging price

Piaggio MP3 350: the Motorionline Report Card

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Tester clothing:
Gloves: Tucano Urbano Calamaro
Jacket: Tucano Urbano Urbis
Helmet: Nolan N100-5