Vespa

After three days, the grin factor is as high as ever. And the Piaggio MP3 500ie is not just entertaining, it's also commendably useful and fuel-efficient. When the fuel gauge dropped to the top of the red reserve zone, I pumped in 10 bucks worth of premium unleaded. It only took seven and change. Eyeball estimate is between 55 and 60 miles per gallon. With a 3.2-gallon fuel tank, that's 150-plus miles between fill-ups, and, unlike many motorcycles, the tank opening takes the antivapor sheath of a California gas pump hose without any hassle.

If the 55-to-60 … Read more

As I was moving the car out of the driveway to get easier access to my motorcycle, my neighbor came up to me and said "I saw you come in on a really weird motorcycle thing yesterday and what is it?"

Never one to pass up an opportunity, I replied in my best B-movie space alien voice, "It is an alien space vehicle."

"Oh. I thought so."

Well, actually, it's a Piaggio MP3 500. Piaggio, perhaps better known as the manufacturer of Vespa scooters and owner of Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Gilera, and other brands, calls it a "maxi-scooter", and the MP3 series is unlike anything else except the closely related Gilera Fuoco, at least on this planet. The "3" comes not from any music formatting, but from three wheels. The rear wheel is conventional, if larger than the old-school scooter norm. The usual single front wheel is replaced by two, placed close together, and connected by a patented parallelogram multilink suspension system that ensures they turn and bank together. The front wheels can be locked by an electro-hydraulic mechanism so that the MP3 stays upright when stopped, with no need for the rider to put their feet on the ground. That locking system, and a parking brake, means that the center stand doesn't normally need to be used.

At $8,899, the MP3 500 is as expensive as many motorcycles.

… Read more

Here's something you don't see every day.

Gap has partnered with Piaggio, the maker of Vespa motor scooters, to offer a limited-edition LX50.

The Vespa is painted in the same colorful pattern that Gap is offering in scarves, gloves, sweaters, leg warmers, and baby clothes this season.

The $5,999 "Holiday Vehicle" is a bit more pricey than the $3,199 you'd likely pay for the standard LX50.

The pattern is called "Crazy Stripe." While it's adorable, I'm not so sure you'll still think so after the third kid stops … Read more

Legendary scooter maker Vespa enlists the YouTube generation to make commercials highlighting what the company calls 'Vespanomics.' If you never encountered Vespanomics in your Econ101 class, it's the theory of how Vespa scooters are environmentally friendly, decrease traffic congestion, and look cool. At least, that's the definition proposed by the marketers at Vespa. And with gas mileage at around 65mpg, the company has a point. As for cool, you only have to watch the movie 'Quadrophenia' to get that vibe. Vespa is accepting videos illustrating these concepts until October 15. The entrants will be judged by Vespa and … Read more

OK, so some Cravers out there weren't exactly sold on the waterproof GPS unit for bikes cited earlier. We can't blame you. But here's an accoutrement for your bi-wheeled lifestyle that we think would be hard to pass up. This Vespa GTS250 has been outfitted with a Wi-Fi-equipped computer purportedly with a touch-screen display and sound system to boot. To top it off, according to Engadget, it even has a Louis Vuitton seat. We would have preferred Gucci, but we're not ones to quibble.

Okay, so maybe it's not as all-out of an office-roadster tribute as the Mini-Desk, but this Vespa desk clock, a favorite of ThisNext readers, is still pretty cool--and probably a lot more reasonable. The Vespa clock's vintage styling and streamlined design, modeled off the headlight of an original 1946 Vespa scooter, would make a lovely addition to the most chic of office spaces.

But therein lies the problem. It's certainly aesthetically pleasing, and quite classy, and that's kind of why I'd be hesitant to get one. It'd clash horribly with my current desk decor … Read more