NMBR: The MP3 is just the beginning

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 5:24 pm

http://www.gizmag.com/tilting-three-fou ... dium=email

A well-written article generally.

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 5:41 pm

If they would finally allow us to have the four-wheeled models her ein the states that would revolutionize my commuting. I'm taking the scooters this weekend for winter storage. If I had one of these then I'd almost never need my car

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 5:45 pm

The narrow-tract 4-wheelers would definitely improve safety and stability but the complexity needed to do that gives me pause: cost, maintenance, lack of simplicity.

Fascinating but unproven. But new ideas always are.

uncleralph · Post by **uncleralph** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:29 pm

I can see narrow-tract 4-wheelers really confusing the DMV. Is it a car or a motorcycle? Do you need a motorcycle license? How narrow is narrow? Will law enforcement officers have the same understanding as the DMV? I am sure all states aren't going to agree. I see a repeat of the 50cc mess that currently exists from state to state.

Ralph

rsrider · Post by **rsrider** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:07 pm

Those Italians, they don't like the Chinese.

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-new ... 19485.html

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 9:20 pm

I'm just glad the Italians put their foot down. Mainland China is infamous for theft of intellectual property. This one was exceedingly blatant. Italy would have been seen as a doormat for NOT doing something.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 10:41 pm

I was just looking at that Gizmag article.

Here's one more way to challenge the definition of "scooter": Start adding wheels! I don't want to think about it.

The Quadro is pretty interesting and I think in terms of aesthetics somewhere between the MP3 and the Peugeot 3-wheeler they keep promising. For riding, I say if you're going to add a wheel in the front, why not another in the back?

Okay, possible reasons why not: Expense. Cost of repairs. Having any damage to the linked wheels and suspension result in an insurance total loss. It kind of takes the downsides and upsides of an MP3 and duplicates them in the back!

Meanwhile, still waiting on my Persu electric Carver. Going on about four years since original projected launch date. Meh!

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 11:00 pm

Might as well be waiting for Godot.

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:37 pm

OMG that persu is freaking awesome! I'm sure it will be well outside the means of a community college teacher though

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:52 pm

I dunno. I think I like the Nissan better.

Mulliganal · Post by **Mulliganal** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 1:52 pm

ericalm wrote: Meanwhile, still waiting on my Persu electric Carver. Going on about four years since original projected launch date. Meh!

My wife and I saw something like this parked near our local coffee shop, the wheels would retract into the body when you start and come down automatically when you stop. I don't remember the name that was on it (perhaps is was an older Persu but that name doesn't ring a bell) but it was pretty damn cool; I only wish we had a chance to see it in action.

teabow1 · Post by **teabow1** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:06 pm

Feels like we're going in circles, that is, back to cars again.

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:24 pm

Mulliganal wrote:
ericalm wrote: Meanwhile, still waiting on my Persu electric Carver. Going on about four years since original projected launch date. Meh!
My wife and I saw something like this parked near our local coffee shop, the wheels would retract into the body when you start and come down automatically when you stop. I don't remember the name that was on it (perhaps is was an older Persu but that name doesn't ring a bell) but it was pretty damn cool; I only wish we had a chance to see it in action.

Was it this?
http://monotracer.peraves.ch/

Very expensive, and they have to teach you how to drive it. But very cool.

From YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9-hMlN19NE

black sunshine · Post by **black sunshine** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:49 pm

Southerner wrote:
Mulliganal wrote:
ericalm wrote: Meanwhile, still waiting on my Persu electric Carver. Going on about four years since original projected launch date. Meh!
My wife and I saw something like this parked near our local coffee shop, the wheels would retract into the body when you start and come down automatically when you stop. I don't remember the name that was on it (perhaps is was an older Persu but that name doesn't ring a bell) but it was pretty damn cool; I only wish we had a chance to see it in action.
Was it this?
http://monotracer.peraves.ch/

Very expensive, and they have to teach you how to drive it. But very cool.

From YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9-hMlN19NE

there's a dude in Atlanta that has one - i've seen him at the local biker (motorcycle) night. from what i heard, there's only 2 in the USA? in any case, it looks pretty sweet!

Mulliganal · Post by **Mulliganal** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:58 pm

black sunshine wrote:
Southerner wrote:
Mulliganal wrote: My wife and I saw something like this parked near our local coffee shop, the wheels would retract into the body when you start and come down automatically when you stop. I don't remember the name that was on it (perhaps is was an older Persu but that name doesn't ring a bell) but it was pretty damn cool; I only wish we had a chance to see it in action.
Was it this?
http://monotracer.peraves.ch/

Very expensive, and they have to teach you how to drive it. But very cool.

From YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9-hMlN19NE
there's a dude in Atlanta that has one - i've seen him at the local biker (motorcycle) night. from what i heard, there's only 2 in the USA? in any case, it looks pretty sweet!

Yup that's the bike, and I'd think we're seeing the same guy and the same machine, very cool. I wonder what they cost?

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:07 pm

Well, Eric, you had the only Stella 4T on the road in the US for quite a while, why should you be any different now?

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:11 pm

jasondavis48108 wrote:OMG that persu is freaking awesome! I'm sure it will be well outside the means of a community college teacher though

Actually, the estimated MSRP is under $18K depending on which model you get. They're going to have a hybrid and a plug-in electric.

Of course, 5 years ago that was going to be $12K-$16K depending on model…

PeteH wrote:Well, Eric, you had the only Stella 4T on the road in the US for quite a while, why should you be any different now?

Heh! I wasn't supposed to have the only 4T on the road. Damn red tape!

I'd be happy to test one of these for a year. I previously said I wanted to be the first person to ride, er drive, one cross country!

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:22 pm

It may give the price somewhere on the site but I read in one of the moto mags recently that it runs about 85 grand, IIRC.

I do think these machines are interesting but I don't see anything like that going mainstream. It's just not for the average consumer, even if they bring the price down. Now that Nissan might do it for some.

I can also see these 3 and 4-wheeled motos or scooters or whatever taking hold with the public. After all, offroad motorcycles were only ever adopted by so many folks, even during the boom of the 70's, but everybody and his brother has a 4-wheeled ATV. I think the reason is that there is a perception ( a wrong one, I think) that no special skill is needed to ride one because it has 4 wheels like a car.

I'm particularly interested in machines like the MP3 and the Parkour because of their stablility on slick or loose surfaces. I was hoping the Japanese would develop the concept but until now, it seems to have been a novelty preserved only by Piaggio.