Red, let me tell you my experience with the Piaggio group.
I ran a Service an parts for a dealership where we sold those things.
Now the bikes themselves were really nice. Other then they broke a lot.
Yes it was always something.
The bad part is, getting parts ABSOLUTELY SUCKS ASS!
The Italians take off the whole month of August for what they call "Holiday"
I once needed a battery for one model that had a special style one of a kind T-shaped battery.
No other company made it and it wasn't even in their wonderful parts catalog. They called parts, "Spares"
It took nearly a month to get our wonderful Rep to come out. He was sarcastic as hell asking us " how can you people not find a simple battery number"
Well he went over to the computer, and started looking it up.
Now keep in mind the bikes we sell over here are a year older then the bikes they have over there.
So if it's a 2010 model you have to look up parts for a 2009!
He spent a half hour looking, then yet another hour on the phone!
Afterwards he didn't act so cocky and left saying he would take care of it!
Well guess what. After a yet another month, we got emergency Red label, not one but TWO F'ing batteries with $60 just in freight each!
Can you imagine the customer?? He was so pissed off he was screaming at us every time he came in.
We couldn't do shit to help him out!
Let me make this clear. We dumped that company and lost a fortune because we never received any reimbursement for both crate damaged bikes, sales spiffs they never paid or parts returns etc...
I will make it real clear for ya. THAT COMPANY SUCKS ASS !!!
I recently was in a dealership where they sold them, asked the parts people how Aprillia or Ducati is for getting parts, and they looked away and wouldn't even answer me. I told them my story and they said "It isn't any better" Neither of those Italian companies will EVER get a dime from me!
Good luck if you have one, but no way no how not in my lifetime!