Motorexpo Test: Piaggio MP3 LT 400cc

Ok, so you want to be a biker. But you haven't got the time to invest in actually passing any sort of test.

You just want to mount up and ride into the sunset. And not on some weak little moped either. You want something that packs a punch. Something with power.

Well, Piaggio reckon it might have the answer. By spacing the two front wheels (yes two, that's right) far enough apart they've created a vehicle that qualifies as a trike in law rather than a motorbike.

And that means those with boring old standard driving licences can ride one straight out of the showroom.

The latest model in the series features a 400cc engine, which might get you laughed out of the kind of biker bar Arnie walks into in Terminator, but is nevertheless a significant amount of punch if your usual power source on two wheels is a pair of pedals.

I turned up at the brand's Motorexpo stand on Monday, a complete biking novice.

After introducing myself I chatted with a couple of the out-riders who would be looking after me for the duration of my first ever ride.

I noted a marked look of surprise as I revealed I'd not only never ridden any sort of powered cycle before, but that I'd also never been a pillion passenger.

After a brief lesson in the controls everyone agreed it would be a good idea if I sat on the back for a bit before being let loose on the open road.

And after a breathtaking few minutes experiencing the surprisingly pronounced angles in the corners, we pulled over and it was suggested I have a bash on the open road.

Well, suffice to say, I didn't die and apparently avoided causing the death of any other road users on the Isle of Dogs route.

It was fantastic fun. Totally unlike the safe, insulated feeling of a car and the rush of acceleration (probably to around a blistering 20mph) was almost indecently exciting.

Now, as the picture shows, I went pillion again for the final part of my ride as the idea of letting me loose with such a valuable machine on other roads featuring cars, roundabouts and traffic lights would not have been a sensible one.

And I'm glad I did. Frankly if I hadn't had the excellent advice of the out-riders I'd probably have killed myself.

Piaggio offer a day's training on the £5,349 MP3 LT free of charge and that I suspect would be the absolute minimum necessary for safety.

In reality, this is a bike that due to a legal loophole you can ride without any bike training.
That doesn't mean it's a good idea to do so.

But what a feeling. I can honestly say riding the Piaggio made me want more. Even if I don't completely abandon four wheels, I'm seriously considering getting my CBT so I get that sensation again.

Book your own Piaggio test ride at piaggiotestrides.co.uk or visit the Piaggio stand opposite Canary Wharf Tube station.

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