Piaggio came out swinging in 2021 with its largest, and most advanced, [MP3 model. Built on its proven leaning-Delta trike chassis, the MP3 500 hpe Sport Advanced carries the largest mill found to date in an MP3 platform, and it comes with advanced electronics that remain a rarity within the realms of scooter-dom. The addition of a reverse gear moves the “500” from rare to unique as the only three-wheel production scooter to claim such a feature.

Piaggio MP3 500 hpe Sport Advanced Design

Astute observers of the MP3 500 Sport Advanced will note the automotive-roadster elements: the grille and badge, recessed headlights complete with flush-mount glass and DRL emitters, and a broad vented windscreen. Head-on, it looks like a sports car that got left in the dryer just a little too long. All of this comes together to give the 500 a mature and well-put-together visage that marries well with the sleek elegance we find behind the front end.

Proper, scooter-like footwells leave room for the rider to shift their feet fore and aft as needed for comfort. If you like to share the fun with a friend, just flip-out the fold-up footpegs and you're good to go with a beefy J.C. rail, wide seat, and short buttstop that should be a source of confidence for both you and your riding partner.

The step-through is interrupted by a short-rise tunnel molded into the lighted under-seat storage compartment that can carry two full-face buckets or a computer bag/books/groceries/whatever for some real-life errand-running utility. Through the Bike Finder feature you can remotely unlock the seat using the fob to eliminate fumbling around with the keys with an armload of goodies.

A very bike-like rear mudguard contains the spray from the rear hoop and mounts the license plate below the rear lighting that, like up front, rolls with LED tech for improved visibility. Bluetooth connectivity and the MIA app bring your phone into the network with its own bundle of functions to finish the package.

Piaggio MP3 500 hpe Sport Advanced Chassis

Tubular steel was the material of choice on the MP3 500 hpe Sport Advanced in the double-cradle frame for the strength and rigidity it brings to the table. Coil-over Kayaba shocks float the rear end on 4.25 inches of travel with the obligatory spring-preload adjuster, while up front, the curious parallelogram setup comes with 3.34 inches of travel to soak up the abuse from the road and protect the integrity of the front contact patches. Since the front end lets the whole bike lean into the turns, an electronic suspension lockout is necessary to keep it from sagging at stops and in the parking lot.

A pair of 13-inch rims lead the way lined with 110/70 hoops followed by a 140/70-14 drive wheel out back, and it's this trio of contact patches in a Delta configuration that makes the MP3 range so stable and secure, even on irregular surfaces such as cobblestones and brick that can still be found in parts of Europe/UK. Each of the two front wheels carry a 258 mm disc, followed by a 240 mm disc with stock ABS protection all around as the first layer of electronic safety netting.

Piaggio MP3 500 hpe Sport Advanced Drivetrain

The safety electronics continue on the MP3 500 hpe Sport Advanced well into the drivetrain with a ride-by-wire throttle control that enables the ASR (traction control) feature and comes with a choice between running in the “STD” power delivery profile and the “ECO” setting that takes the edge off the throttle response to improve fuel consumption. In case you somehow manage to lay the thing over, a lean-sensitive immobilizer kills the engine much like a dead-man's switch so it won't just lay there with the fire lit.

A 94 mm bore and 71 mm stroke gives the four-stroke thumper a total displacement of 493 cc. In the top end you'll find a single cam that actuates the four-valve head with long-service roller tappets in between. Power flows through a dry centrifugal clutch and a CVT gearbox with a torque server to turn in the expected twist-and-go operation scooter riders expect.

In an industry first for three-wheel scooters, the factory offers the MP3 500 hpe Sport Advanced with a reverse feature that makes it infinitely easier and stress free to manage the 500 in the parking lot. In short, you don't need to park with your nose uphill to get it out of the slot.

That “High Performance Engine” brings 44.2 horsepower to the table, backed up by 35 pounds o' grunt with a staggering 90 mph top speed that is sure to hold you in good stead, even at interstate speeds, with power in reserve for passing and/or getting jiggy with it on the superslab.

Piaggio MP3 500 hpe Sport Advanced Price

The MP3 500 hpe Sport Advanced rolls in a choice between Matte Sapphire Blue, Earth Brown and Black Meteor. Not matter which package you pick, you can count on a $9,999 price tag for the starting price.

Piaggio MP3 500 hpe Sport Advanced Competitors

It's slim pickings for leaning Delta trikes in this displacement bracket. Yamaha has its Tricity that is similar in its footprint, but the engine is significantly smaller along with the price, and it's nowhere near as confidence inspiring in the fast lane.

I won't even consider a fixed, non-leaning trike here, 'cause anyone willing to pay for that sensation of flight in the corners will not be satisfied riding a stodgy machine. For now, Piaggio enjoys a singular position at the pinnacle of scooter design. Will that remain so into the future? Time will tell, but I'm betting we'll see more entries in this genre sooner rather than later.

Read our full review of the Yamaha Tricity 300.

He Said

“While I'm no fan of scooters in general, I concede that not all scooters are created equal, and this is a perfect example of top-shelf engineering in what would usually be a rather humble category. Owners rave about how stable it is, even on wet cobblestone roads, which has led to an almost cult-like popularity in Paris specifically, and in Europe in general. This is definitely the scooter for you if your commute takes you on faster roads.”

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “The Sport Advanced is a nice step up from an already nice scooter. Gotta love the leany-trike action that gives almost sportbike-like performance in the corners. The new hpe engine is about 14 percent more powerful than the previous '500' engine and the inclusion of things like reverse gear and a multi-function display with MIA connectivity is a plus.”

Piaggio MP3 500 hpe Sport Advanced Specifications

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