Piaggio MP3 - insurance
Discussion
Hi all. I braved my other half going pillion on my bike the other day and she loved it. She's really got the bug. So much so that we've gone through every permutation of every avenue of her riding a some manner of motorbike or other. She's not keen on a CBT due to social anxiety issues and has discovered the Piaggio MP3 series of trikes/scooters which she's really quite keen on. However, the insurance quotes coming back are mental on the online comparison sites. The cheapest we got (with some Facebook advice to advise the comparison sites that she has a full motorcycle licence, something to do with it being a full licence to ride the vehicle instead of an actual licence. We're not keen on this idea at all) was £750 or so. If we fill in what we believe is the correct information, the quotes are coming back in the £1300 range and accelerate quicker than the bike can. I've seen people online quote insurances in the £150-£500 which is much more palatable. She has a full car licence, plenty of NCB, no accidents etc and isn't a young driver. Does anyone know a good insurance company to chat with on these? I'm assuming it's a phone job to explain that it's not actually a scooter, it's a trike.
I'm sure you've seen from the UK mp3 Facebook groups plenty of insurers have stopped insuring the mp3 or are charging huge renewals for riders who only have a car licence.
Re doing a cbt, if her social anxiety is that bad, why dont you find a school that will do it 1-1?
Mp3s have their place. I owned a 400, but a if she's just starting out a 125 would be a much better bet imo. Lighter, cheaper to buy, a Japanese one will hold it's value better and easier to work on and if she's got the bug she'll want a full licence at some point and need to do it.
If you are set on 3 wheels I assume the 300 will be cheaper to insure than the 500 and they do a 125 version but you'll need cbt for that. I'd only buy one with a warranty as mine was long in thr tooth and constantly needing something, parts are expensive, there is limited resources online and it's time consuming to take apart to do simple stuff.
Good luck.
Re doing a cbt, if her social anxiety is that bad, why dont you find a school that will do it 1-1?
Mp3s have their place. I owned a 400, but a if she's just starting out a 125 would be a much better bet imo. Lighter, cheaper to buy, a Japanese one will hold it's value better and easier to work on and if she's got the bug she'll want a full licence at some point and need to do it.
If you are set on 3 wheels I assume the 300 will be cheaper to insure than the 500 and they do a 125 version but you'll need cbt for that. I'd only buy one with a warranty as mine was long in thr tooth and constantly needing something, parts are expensive, there is limited resources online and it's time consuming to take apart to do simple stuff.
Good luck.
HairyMaclary said:
I'm sure you've seen from the UK mp3 Facebook groups plenty of insurers have stopped insuring the mp3 or are charging huge renewals for riders who only have a car licence.
Re doing a cbt, if her social anxiety is that bad, why dont you find a school that will do it 1-1?
Mp3s have their place. I owned a 400, but a if she's just starting out a 125 would be a much better bet imo. Lighter, cheaper to buy, a Japanese one will hold it's value better and easier to work on and if she's got the bug she'll want a full licence at some point and need to do it.
If you are set on 3 wheels I assume the 300 will be cheaper to insure than the 500 and they do a 125 version but you'll need cbt for that. I'd only buy one with a warranty as mine was long in thr tooth and constantly needing something, parts are expensive, there is limited resources online and it's time consuming to take apart to do simple stuff.
Good luck.
That sounds about right, just as we're looking for one!Re doing a cbt, if her social anxiety is that bad, why dont you find a school that will do it 1-1?
Mp3s have their place. I owned a 400, but a if she's just starting out a 125 would be a much better bet imo. Lighter, cheaper to buy, a Japanese one will hold it's value better and easier to work on and if she's got the bug she'll want a full licence at some point and need to do it.
If you are set on 3 wheels I assume the 300 will be cheaper to insure than the 500 and they do a 125 version but you'll need cbt for that. I'd only buy one with a warranty as mine was long in thr tooth and constantly needing something, parts are expensive, there is limited resources online and it's time consuming to take apart to do simple stuff.
Good luck.
I think my local one would do 1-on-1 but she's still not overly keen. She's now looking at 125's as a downgrade knowing she could get a 500 and not be restricted with pillion, motorways and the general drawbacks of a 125. I'm encouraging her to keep it in mind though in case this MP3 doesn't work out. A bit of budget creep has shown me the Yamaha Tricity as well, though I'm not sure if they're just as hard to insure. I've been oddly keen on the Honda PCX125 as well. I wouldn't mind if she bought one so I can have a go!
I looked at a 300 and the insurance was the same, oddly. I suppose it's the vehicle type rather than the power.
Duly noted on the repairs aspect of it. I did imagine they were complicated, especially at the front end!
I'm going to try phoning Bikesure. They offer trike specific insurance on their website but the link says call up. See what's what.
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