MP3 and helmet?

[Stibbs]

Saw a chap riding through Felixstowe the other day on a Piaggio MP3. He wasn’t wearing a helmet? Personally I would but should he have to by law? It’s the first time I’ve seen one of these front 2 wheelers (as opposed to the “trike” with two rear wheels) being ridden helmetless. Can’t seem to find out the legal position on Google

[newscooter]

I think that the MP3 has wheels far enough apart to classify as a trike. The Yamaha tricity marketing makes a point of saying that you can drive it on a car licence so presumably no helmet needed ?

[knight2]

It makes no difference wether the two wheels of a trike are at the front or the back if they are far enough apart it can be registered as a trike. If so the rider doesn't have to wear a crash helmet, I would!. there are other requirements like a foot brake and a parking brake, etc. Therefore they can be driven on a car licence if your test was taken before 2013, don't quote me on that but I think it's correct. I've never seen anybody riding one without a helmet and I wouldn't do it. I once tried it when it was still legal to do so but didin't like it at all.
The wind in your hair may be nice but over my bald scalp not so much.

[MrGrumpy]

Yes, all recent 3 wheelers seem to legally defined as trikes, with brake pedal etc. The very earliest MP3s weren't though - they had a narrower track and no brake pedal. It does seem a dodgy idea to attract car drivers to a very bike like trike on the basis that you don't need any training! As for riding without a helmet....people who do so must be bonkers. I'm sure you can get knocked off by an idiot motorist just as easily on an MP3 as on a two wheeler, with very similar consequences.

[roadster]

Totally agree that riding without a helmet is crazy. I crashed my MP3 on ice and without a helmet I could well have been dead!

[Data]

I quite agree roadster. I tried dying last year and it wasn't very nice!