Piaggio’s three-wheeled Fuoco 500 (Italian for “fire”) will
be brought into Canada for 2008, says Canadian Scooter Corp.
Branded as an MP3 scooter, the Fuoco
retains the double-front-wheel conformation, CVT transmission, and
other characteristics of the 22.5 hp MP3 250, but with its
liquid-cooled 493 cc four-valve single, power is increased to 40 hp
at 7,000 rpm (31 lb-ft of torque at 5,500 rpm).
Independent parallelogram suspension
(with one shock fitted to each front wheel and two at the rear),
allows the MP3 to tilt and counter-steer like an ordinary
scooter.
Front and rear brake systems
are separate, and with a single disc (240 mm front, 280 mm rear) on each
wheel, braking should be exemplary. Tire sizes are 120/70-12 front and 140/70-14 rear.
As you’d expect, the three-wheeled
scooter does not require a foot down at stoplights. A “Roll Lock”
front suspension system stabilizes the bike when a right-side
handlebar lever is applied at low speeds. A rear parking brake is
standard.
Dry weight is 244 kg, with a top speed, of around 145 km/h.
The Fuoco is
listed at $10,495. Its smaller brothers list at $8,895 for the 250
and $9,995 for the 34 hp (27 lb-ft) 400 model – yes, the 400 is coming, too. All three models,
designated MP3, share basic componentry (though the 250 uses a
12-inch rear wheel), although the 500’s body style separates it from its
smaller brethren.
