SLUK | 2023 Piaggio MP3 530 : ROAD TEST

With radar, reverse cameras and plenty of other gadgets the latest Piaggio MP3 530 is the most advanced Piaggio scooter so far. Here's what we think of it.
As always there's a full written road test on www.scooterlab.uk

[@rogersmith5371]

I once had the 400 version of this bike and I thought it was pretty good. It has plenty of power and could keep up with everything on the highway at maximum speed (110km/h in most parts of Australia where I live). The power seemed to be available at the top of the band as compared to the Suzuki Burgman 650 that has the power spread across the band. In Australia all three wheeled bikes (2 at the front like this, Can Am Spyders and Rykers and trikes with 2 wheels at the back) are classed as motorcycles, they require a motorcycle licence and a pre-rider safety course before being allowed to ride. The Piaggio 530 would be learner legal but Spyders, the Ryker 900, the Harley with the two wheels at the back and the Rewaco trikes are not. The addition of the reverse gear and camera is a good idea. I have a Can Am Spyder that has a full reverse and a camera would be a great addition. In my view three wheel bikes (of any sort) are a great way for older riders to keep riding. In my own case I gave up a Kawasaki Voyager 1700 for the Spyder simply because the Kawa was getting too heavy to handle but I wanted to keep riding. Also the three wheelers are good for people who want to get into bikes but are concerned about the safety and stability of a 2 wheeler. It is easy to sneer at and look down on the three wheel brigade but in my view everyone should ride what suits them, suits their riding style and budget and gets them where they want to go. It is the ride (where you're going not what you ride or how fast it goes) that matters.

[@MichaelWebMason]

Super video. I made the switch from the Piaggio XEvo 125 18 months ago to the MP3 400 HPE and it's a fantastic scooter. Definitely considering the MP3 530 Exclusive HPE so thanks for the video.

[@ScooterLabUK]

Thanks for the feedback 🤙🏻

[@h.vdbilt]

Nice review. I have over 2 years a 500 HPE Sports Advanced. In just 2.5 years already 54.000 + km. When I will have 100.000 km, I will buy this motor. I am still hapy with my present motor. Overall consumption 1:24 km. What is the fuel consumption on this new engine? I had no problem(s) with the motor, regular maintenance every 5000 km.

[@adamhughes5358]

Watched again good information 😊

[@user-fi5ye8lf5c]

That’s impressive

[@adamhughes5358]

Paiggio please fix the issue with the app for £11,500 it is important for everything to work properly

[@jubei6802]

Not my thing but all nice to know.. good review 👍🤜🤛

[@stevepelham9010]

I got the previous Sport edition and it will stay so. For me biking is the completely oposit from driving a car. Cameras, Sensors, Cruise, a sceen and a app, will only clogg me up, make me older. In nowdays when it comes to Mp3 500 there are no options.. but I am glad that you like yours.

[@Guardian2003]

option would be Kymco CV3 - more bhp, an extra cylinder and about the same price. Looks nicer too imho

[@stevepelham9010]

@@Guardian2003 What about the quality? I can tell you that is basicaly the same as Chinese made or actually parts made in China as it will cost them even less and give a larger profit. Do not belive that war mongreling will stop neither part from doing good business, it is business as usual. I know becuse i have bought from over there in over two decades, taiwanesee owns businesses in China and vice versa, they are doing all the same stuff and the quality is also all the same. A Kymco at the same price level as an Piaggo, that is one realy bad deal. Piaggo mp3 is constructed of such advanced tech that there are no true competition to it! Well ok, Yamaha by their well spreed and very solid dealers network. that is it A Kymco that is their old same, a simple belt driven system that you will find on any scooter and a old small displacement engine sceared up to what? 570 cc? You should know that these from the begining japanese engines there original limit was 200cc and as chinese made they do hold togheter for some years and then they and the Taiwanesee has pusched on so I will give a Kymco two seasons and the the engine will bee toasted. We had lot of Kymcos, two to three years and then it is all over with and hell knows where they all ended up as there are no out on the streets, propably on the scrap yards. kids do not ride them they want Yamaha or old two stroke Piaggos.

[@Guardian2003]

@@stevepelham9010 I guess time will tell with regard to quality of the CV3 but Taiwanese stuff is generally considered of better build quality than Chinese stuff - one of the reasons China wants to bring Taiwan back under its grip. I used to help run a scooter rental business in Vietnam and never had any real issues with Kymco scooters. Unlike Piaggio (and italian bikes in general) seem to have regular electrical problems and high costs of genuine replacement parts. That aside, a twin cylinder engine is going to make for a smoother ride and is mechanically less stressed. I recently bought a 2014 Piaggio MP3 500 Sport (had less than 3k on the clock - checked previous MOT's to verify) because I'm too old and too lazy to do my motorbike license. I thoroughly enjoy riding it (apart from constantly sliding forwards on the seat) but that might be down to me being 6' 4" with size 11 boots on, so I'm always hunched forward slightly more than I'd like. I will be looking to replace it next year so I'm still considering a new Piaggio 530 HPE or the Kymco CV3 but I need to test ride the Kymco. What makes it harder to decide is the extra power and the styling aesthetic of the CV3 - unless by some miracle Yamaha revise their Nikken so it's legal to ride on a UK driving license by altering the front wheel spacing and adding a foot operated brake.

[@Pikestnt]

Interesting to see you splitting traffic - I always found that one of the wheels rode over the cats eyes on my old MP3, which doesn’t happen on 2 wheelers. Did I just need more practice? 😀 Agree with the comments about too much tech on bikes: ABS & TC are fine but radar cruise seems too much

[@ScooterLabUK]

I’ve not had any issues with filtering on MP3s. I think it’s just having confidence that you’ll fit through the gaps and an MP3 is the best thing to hit cats eyes/gravel etc. with a wheel.

[@Pikestnt]

@@ScooterLabUK Yup, I always trusted the width but the thump thump thump of the cats eyes was a bit annoying. I could usually just about avoid it but it meant concentrating on my line rather than the tin boxes. I still might but another one tho - Hence why I was watching your excellent review

[@ScooterLabUK]

@@Pikestnt thanks. The latest update is a big improvement but won’t stop you hitting the cats eyes :)

[@MichaelWebMason]

I have the 400 HPE and ride over them all the time. On the two wheeled XEvo I hated cats eyes but on the MP3 I just ignore them and ride right over them.

[@patwatters8205]

Greetings from Ireland,great review.I,m an old age pensioner who,s been riding bikes for over 50 years,now that my joints are getting stiff especially my hips I think this could be bike/trike number 26...What would your thoughts be about long tours on one,(Spain,Portugal ?)

[@ScooterLabUK]

It could handle a tour no problem:)

[@adamhughes5358]

I have had mine now since 4/8/22 the app worked fine for 5 to 6 weeks then keeps crashing I still haven’t got it working with my phone so use the Tom Tom lots better ( the good thing when it worked was all the information it gave you like speed ,lean angle etc ) Paiggio needs to fix the app on the phone as you spend all this money and you don’t have the use of all the features.😊

[@MrKevC]

I had the same thing with the older model I gave up with the app more or less from day one but the bike on a whole I cannot fault and those that say its not a proper bike well if you come off it its still going to end up the same as if you come of 2 wheels. You still need to treat it with respect as any 2 wheel bike on our roads with crazy car drivers.

[@adamhughes5358]

Thank you you are right about the app . My friends who have ridden it all said that it rides like a bike and could not get over how good the 500 was but the 530 is a lot better 😊

[@MrJeepCanada]

Question about pairing your phone to the MP3 530 does it mirror your phone? I'm planning on getting this bike to do Doordash in the summer months in Canada and I notice there's no place to put a phone mount on the handle bars.

[@ScooterLabUK]

It doesn’t mirror it as such. There is a compartment on the top of the dash with USB point. Personally I’d use a mirror mount for my phone and charge via USB for longer trips.

[@adamhughes5358]

The Paiggio phone app is available to download but it is very bad as I have had the 530 since 4/8/22 in the uk and it worked for about 6 weeks and then crashed and crashed again so gave up and put a Tom Tom on the left hand mirror, and just fitted my iPhone on the right hand mirror 1st time today and it never moved so happy 😊

[@adamhughes5358]

Also the 530 exclusive is a great bit of kit had the 500 business for 18 months before it as a first time on a motorcycle and the new one is a lot better hopefully you will not regret it and enjoy it 😊

[@adamhughes5358]

Obviously Paiggio doesn’t watch the reviews on their own kit as they would be working hard to fix the problem and improve the quality of the app as £11,500 in the uk is not worth fixing it I would like to know if anyone in the E U has it working 😊

[@thomasstropes4835]

Sp connect makes a great mirror mount

[@andrewbui1961]

Hello my friend, so if I buy this motorbike, I don't have to get the motorcycle's driver license? (just use my current car's driver license you mean?)

[@ScooterLabUK]

If you passed your car test before 2013 and live in the UK then yes that is correct.

[@Maddpunx]

Blind spot detection and a reverse camera why!?

[@jubei6802]

I think they want to appeal to car drivers...maybe. ?

[@adamhughes5358]

It’s a heavy bike 😊

[@Guardian2003]

@@adamhughes5358 definitely the understatement of the year! First time sitting on mine I almost dropped it when I accidentally turning the suspension lock off. Compare to my wifes Yamaha MT-09, it's like trying to straddle a whale.

[@mosephz]

Can you carry a pillion on mp3 without a bike licence?

[@rab210]

Yes

[@larsthorwald3338]

I hope it rides nice, because it's visual ipecac.

[@adamhughes5358]

It is very good and a great improvement over the previous model 😊

[@vfdiesel333]

New Beverly must be with the same engine

[@uptowndisco2]

As an owner of the Yamaha Tricity 300 (full bike license holder) what I would like to know is the legality of filtering aka lane splitting with these vehicles ?, I know everyone does it but is it 100% legal ?, the registration document describes it as a tricycle so it is not a motorbike or scooter which can legally lane split , I am sure a lane splitting reliant Robin would get pulled over 🤣

[@ScooterLabUK]

It’s perfectly legal in the UK so don’t panic :)

[@franzw70]

What licence do need if your car license was obtained after 2013, missed the date by 2 yrs …

[@ScooterLabUK]

You’ll need a full A2 or A1 bike license I’m afraid.

[@feliperodriguez364]

@@ScooterLabUKI’ve got a A1 license, I thought it was restricted to 125cc??

[@feliperodriguez364]

@@ScooterLabUK And I’ve also got a full car license

[@feliperodriguez364]

@@ScooterLabUKwould I be allowed to drive this?

[@ScooterLabUK]

@@feliperodriguez364 when did you pass your car test?

[@Guardian2003]

Can't decide between this or the Kymco CV 3 because the Kymco is smoother, having 2 cyclinders and around 10bhp more....

[@ScooterLabUK]

If you can, get a test ride on the CV3. It is very good.

[@Guardian2003]

@@ScooterLabUK I thought that was your job? :) Seriously though, it would be great to see a comparison video.

[@ScooterLabUK]

@@Guardian2003 my personal choice between the two would be the Kymco, although I’ve not spent as much time on it as I have MP3s over the years that twin cylinder engine makes a big difference. Lovely looking, good to ride and not many about yet.

[@k1200ltse]

Ice machine but it wont temptme away from my 650 Burgman

[@ScooterLabUK]

I’ve just picked a 400 Burgman up today forc a road test.

[@anubis3877]

Splitting lanes? 😂

[@ScooterLabUK]

It’s legal in the UK and one of the main benefits for a commuter.

[@paulhughes8724]

Can't wait to see these turning out at the runs NOT!!!!

[@adamhughes5358]

It’s good to get people like me out of cars and into bikes I keep going out with all my friends who all have full bike licenses and we all have a great time and I keep up 😊

[@k1200ltse]

Berk.

[@Guardian2003]

@@adamhughes5358 yup. That's why I bought mine. My wifes an IAM instructor (though they call them Observers for some weird reason) and although I'd never keep up with her MT-09 we make very good progress and have a great time. Who knew there were so many places to get coffee and cake!

[@motorz1986]

Man , i could not understand , a damn word , you said about fuel consumption and a few other episodes of your test review , your speech is definetly not clear , had to turn on subtitle to try understand what you say....

[@giulio3758]

👏🍷🍕

[@robertcurtis3807]

Sounds like a remote control toy car in reverse

[@ScooterLabUK]

It does actually :)