04-25-2017, 11:44 PM
For those of you not familiar with these modern three wheelers, here is a good clip of the Piaggio MP3. They are ridden like a traditional two wheel scooter, perhaps feeling a little bit sluggish when you first try them. You quickly get used to it though, and as such they basically provide all the same advantages that regular two wheel scotters (and bikes) do. On top of that, they provide better grip on the front, with a much more stable front when braking hard or rising in the wet. As a result, they have become very popular around cities in Europe.
The Quadro4 is a further development of these, but I think the four wheel solution actually is detrimental to the practicality. There is much less luggage space on them, for actually only a small added benefit.
Interestingly, the Japanese have been producing an alternative to these for years with their three wheel delivery scooters. There is a major difference in that they have two wheels in the rear, but are still articulated so as to ride like a regular bike. They are very common around Japan, and are extremely practical delivery vehicles around the tight streets there.
The Quadro4 is a further development of these, but I think the four wheel solution actually is detrimental to the practicality. There is much less luggage space on them, for actually only a small added benefit.
Interestingly, the Japanese have been producing an alternative to these for years with their three wheel delivery scooters. There is a major difference in that they have two wheels in the rear, but are still articulated so as to ride like a regular bike. They are very common around Japan, and are extremely practical delivery vehicles around the tight streets there.