Call it a case of love at first site, but this is the coolest scooter ever. That feeling was reinforced with our first ride as this $8700 trike is built for safety in mind with a range of technology that assuages one’s fears of driving at 540-pound vehicle in traffic thanks to Piaggio’s innovative use of two small front wheels instead of one to increase stability and braking.

The MP3’s 400 cc engine has liquid cooling with electronic injection that pushes out 34 horsepower. You can also order a larger model, the 500, or smaller versions such as the 125 and 250 cc, but we would stick to the 400 for most users as it makes sustained highway driving possible. For those who ride with a partner or in the mountains the 500 is a strong recommendation.

Riding the MP3 takes a while to master as it handles differently than two wheeled bikes. It resists quick moves more and when cornering over rough surfaces there is a secondary bump as the second front tire hits the impediment. This impact tends to straighten out the bike, but it is easily compensated for and would only be a problem in competitive racing. For the street this Piaggio is pretty near perfect and safe.

While riding in the mountains I entered a high-speed corner and encountered gravel that had slipped onto the roadway. Normally this would be an invitation to disaster, but the Piaggio’s two front wheels, acting almost like a locking differential in a car, were able to find secure footing and the corner passed effortlessly. When one wheel slipped, the other found traction. Very reassuring.

Despite this noble handling trait, the most wondrous feature of the MP3 is that this scooter can balance itself. It is a marvel. When you come to a stoplight all you do is hit the leveling switch and the scooter remains upright. When the light changes the stability control automatically turns off when you accelerate. Even though there is a kickstand you can use the stabilizing system when you park your MP3, too. Just make sure the parking lever has been activated. I found myself trying to rationalize the $8700 price for the 400 and it didn’t take too much to convince me that this is one trike that the whole family could enjoy. Perhaps not the whole family as Piaggio has clearly labeled the storage area as not for pets so there goes that idea.

Under the MPs’s seat is a large and easily accessible storage area that can hold two helmets and more. The rear hatch is easy to open and pops open when you use the key fob in much the same fashion as a car trunk. Very trick. On the other hand, opening the larger storage area under the driver’s seat takes practice, as you have to reach under the cushion and pull it up. You can also active the lock by using the key in the ignition and pressing in, but it takes practice. Regardless, there is more storage space here than on any scooter we have tested to date. Other interesting features are the lack of a clutch, foot brake, transmission gear selector, or kick-starter. The MP3 is the simplest scooter to ride.

There are some negatives. The windshield is a bit too low and so a great deal of wind buffets you at speeds over 40 mph. Since you sit upright there is no escaping the wind stream, as it is very difficult to lean forward due to the short driver’s seat. A taller shield is advisable for high-speed use, but would undoubtedly cut down on the scooter’s estimated 92-mpg top speed. The turn signals don’t cancel. This is a major annoyance as a small flashing green light in the console is all that reminds you that they are activated. As well, the glass covering the gauges is at an angle that does little to prevent glare and makes reading the information difficult with polarized lenses and/or bright sunlight. The MP3’s “mode” button is unneeded as all of its functions, temperature and trip odometer could be placed where the speedometer is and a large, digital speedometer could occupy its niche in the center of the console. Placing the turn signal switch where the mode button is would make it much easier to activate than its current position low on the left hand part of the handle bar. A grab handle to pull the seat up to gain access to the storage bin underneath would also be appreciated. The night lighting is adequate with good side illumination, but there is a dark shadow in the center that is disconcerting.

Other concerns are smallish rearview mirrors, indicator lights that should be LEDs, a lack of a good seal on the rear storage area, and not enough leg room for taller riders. Of these the latter is my only real complaint about the MP3. The passenger did not have these complaints, but did note that under braking the seat surface was a bit slippery.

On the plus side the gas cap is hidden under a cover and is controlled by pushing the key into the ignition switch and turning it. The cover is centered between the two foot rests and is ideally located. If you spill any gas it does not ruin the finish of the bike and there is even an overflow pipe that directs the precision fluid to the ground. Very nice touch as is the light in the cargo area. There is also a clock and a lockable helmet flange on this very deluxe scooter.

Under the unique bodywork is a single cylinder, liquid cooled, powerplant that uses electronic port injection to squirt unleaded fuel through the four valves and move the hefty scooter along at a steady rate through a drive shaft. It is not fast, but the 400 keeps up with traffic thanks to Piaggio’s CVT unit that distributes the power to the 14-inch rear wheel. A nice feature of the MP3’s design is that the air pressure in all the wheels can be checked without removing any body parts. Braking, which is very good, is handled by disc brakes on both front wheels and a third disc for the drive wheel.

The real story here is the front suspension. The front wheels are synchronized to provide stability thanks to the cast aluminum arms and hinges attached to the central tube with suspension pins and ball bearings. Forget the explanation, it works is all that is important.

Driving this scooter requires the ability to relax. The MP3 likes to go straight and even tries to ignore your initial attempt to turn it if you treat it timidly. In skilled hands this Piaggio is terrific fun and you can lean it into a turn far more than any scooter that I have ever tested. The MP3 would be great in a trick rider’s hands as its extra stopping power could make it possible to lift the rear end off the ground and its balance and stability make any type of extreme riding simpler. I can even envision some dishonest cad disabling the five mile per hour limit on the upright stabilizing mechanism and doing endless tricks while it politely goes straight down the track. Of course, that would be very wrong.

The MP3 gets the looks from all ages. Unfortunately, some people judge by appearances and they find the Piaggio’s front weird instead of futuristic. Too bad that they don’t understand that beauty is more than skin deep. This is a scooter for those who like the idea of driving a safe vehicle with better braking, handling, and storage than more traditional bikes.

Family conference: The MP3 comes in a variety of colors, but looks most fearsome in black. The seats are also black and quite comfortable, albeit they could be longer for taller riders. The muffler is too low and can scrape if you lean into turns aggressively, and the three-gallon tank could be enlarged. The ergonomics are strange, but become less of a problem as you grow familiar with this motor trike. The bottom line is that we would buy this scooter it is that good. We don’t know about build quality and we don’t know what futuristic scooter Honda has waiting in the wings. We also realize the declining dollar might make parts expensive, but for us this is the most comfortable, easy to drive, and easy to love scooter made. The fact we got nearly 70 miles per gallon just adds to the fun.

For a list of all vehicle websites go to http://www.reacheverychild.com/business/auto/index.html