Would you migrate to a trike?

[scott19]

I just don't get trikes. They seem to me to have all the disadvantages of both motorcycles and cars, and hardly any of the advantages of either.  I once test rode a Can-Am Spyder and came away unimpressed. I honestly think my Miata offers more of the fun of motorcycling than a trike does , if that makes any sense.  Although I love to ride 2 wheeled bikes, I don't think I'll ever migrate to 3 wheelers.


Do you ever see yourself on a trike?      


 

[ducsbill]

Would have a sidecar just because I find them interesting, although it may happen as I get older just so I could extend the "in the wind" riding.
Bill W.

[DNA]

If I stepped on a landmine and got a leg blown off - yes.

Otherwise - not interested.

Physically intact people on a trike confuse me.

[Papa Lazarou]

Robin Reliants rule.  

[stromgal]

If I get to the point where I need 3 wheels, I'll get I Piaggio MP3. Don't want to give up leaning into a curve.

[coho]

If by Migrating to a trike you mean replacing a motorcycle with a trike, then no.  
If you mean would I ever have a trike and a motorcycle, then yes.  I think 3wheelers of all sorts are interesting and there are no rules, customs or laws that I am aware of that preclude having one or more of each.  I'd rather have three wheels than four any day.

[bluepoof]

I'd rather have three wheels than four any day.

+1.

[scott19]

 I'd rather have three wheels than four any day.

See, that I don't get. While nothing beats leaning over into a corner on a bike, I don't see throwing a trike into a corner as ever being as much fun as doing the same with your average capable sports car. I just don't. The Piaggio MP3 may be the exception that proves the rule.

[coho]

Not the same fun, or more- or less-fun, different fun.
If I want to get my lateral G's on, I have three motorbikes for that.

[Hanny]

I love bikes, but there is nuthin', nuthin' like power-sliding a sidecar through a tight turn....

[Justin]

I'd go for a side-car rig if for some reason I could not ride a 2-wheel m/c

[RSims]

I just don't get trikes. They seem to me to have all the disadvantages of both motorcycles and cars, and hardly any of the advantages of either.  I once test rode a Can-Am Spyder and came away unimpressed. I honestly think my Miata offers more of the fun of motorcycling than a trike does , if that makes any sense.  Although I love to ride 2 wheeled bikes, I don't think I'll ever migrate to 3 wheelers.


Do you ever see yourself on a trike?      


 

+1 on the Miata.  If you gota a Miata, you don't need a trike.

[Hambonee]

I would do a sidecar. My GF won't tag along on the motorcycle but she has mentioned that she would ride in a side car. My X-stepfather had a Ural with a side car and I have always wanted one since.

Trike no, sidecar..yeah..as long as I still had a two-wheeler!

[MK96xj]

Sidecars are an answer to a question asked.

Can Am allowed snow mobile riders to extend there riding season.

Trikes are a forced answer to question nobody asked.

[bomber]

I remember a test of the Can AM of a well known moto journo who'd lost the use of one of his feet in a riding accident.

The lead pic in the test showed him with the nonfunctional body part bungied to the vehicle, so he'd be able to ride the thing.

Yeah, I'd consider a trike, if that kept me riding.

[ConPilot1]

Absolutely would when I get too feeble to deal with a two-wheeler.
I think trike's + Spyder's offer a viable alternative to older riders or disabled folk.

In my local area there is a guy paralyzed from the waist down who rides a Spyder, and he loves it.
Has a custom mount to the trike to accommodate a pretty high-tech folding wheelchair.

As long as I have that wind in my face I'll be happy.

[bluepoof]

I remember a test of the Can AM of a well known moto journo who'd lost the use of one of his feet in a riding accident.

The lead pic in the test showed him with the nonfunctional body part bungied to the vehicle, so he'd be able to ride the thing.

I skimmed this and at first had a horrifying mental image of the foot itself being bungied to the Spyder, like to the luggage rack or something.    

[ConPilot1]

Our paralyzed rider that I speak of had his legs secured to the Spyder in one manner or another. I don't recall exactly how, but I remember him reaching down
and undoing something that held his legs to the side of the bike. I didn't want to like, "stare".

[bomber]

I skimmed this and at first had a horrifying mental image of the foot itself being bungied to the Spyder, like to the luggage rack or something.    

well, hell, you don't want to loose em on the freeway, and risk some motorcyclist adding it to the list of weird shit seen in the middle of the lane, do you?

[Giaka]

See, that I don't get. While nothing beats leaning over into a corner on a bike, I don't see throwing a trike into a corner as ever being as much fun

Believe it or not there is more to the love of riding than taking a corner. I know its shocking isn't it?  

By trike I am including the Touring Spyder even though its a reverse trike. I would move to this if I ever found myself having issues with riding on two wheels.

[Mookie]

Meh.  Trikes seem pointless for the able bodied.  If I wasn't able bodied a sidecar rig would be cool (especially for my dog), or an MP3 but until then, hell no.  

[scott19]

Believe it or not there is more to the love of riding than taking a corner. I know its shocking isn't it?  

By trike I am including the Touring Spyder even though its a reverse trike. I would move to this if I ever found myself having issues with riding on two wheels.

Ok, so take the cornering out of the equation. Say you're riding down a completely straight road. Maybe it's wonderfully scenic, or maybe it's a boring slab. How would the experience be better on a trike than a convertible car? It can't be "wind in the face", because most of us enclose our faces in full face helmets and/or employ windshields. Is it because you feel more exposed to the elements? I get the whole "if you're in a car, you're looking at a movie, if you're on a bike you're IN the movie" analogy, but I smell the same smells, feel the same atmospheric changes with the top down as I do on the bike.

I admit that I've never gotten in that "zone", where you're not thinking about anything-yet thinking about everything, in a car like I have on a bike. So maybe that's the same on a trike as it is on a bike. I haven't ridden a trike long enough to tell.

I do know this: You take the lean out of the experience and I start to lose interest fast.
     

[R Doug]

I enjoy riding over driving based on, among other things, the physical relationship between machine and rider.  Trikes and cars do very little for me compared to a bike.  If I'm somehow unable to ride a bike, I would prefer a well balanced open cockpit car which is fun to drive.  Trikes are the king of understeer.  Understeer sucks.  Give me a car which is easy to oversteer and at least I can still make myself giggle.  

[Kootenanny]

I do know this: You take the lean out of the experience and I start to lose interest fast.
      

This.  Something like the Brudelli Leanster, sure, I'd be interested.  But a non-leaning trike...uh, no, thanks, I'll take a good convertible sports car any day.  Lower center of gravity and wider track equals better stability, and--believe it or not--they ARE fun to drive!  (Indeed, I've scared myself as bad or worse in my Spitfire, with it's immense 60 hp, as I ever have on any bike--that thing will corner!)

[cultureslayer]

I have to agree with sports car over trike at this point, but hopefully it's not a decision I will ever have to make.

[bomber]

Indeed, I've scared myself as bad or worse in my Spitfire, with it's immense 60 hp, as I ever have on any bike--that thing will corner!

Some of that fear may be due to the IRS, yes? ;-}

[Kootenanny]

Some of that fear may be due to the IRS, yes?

Huh?

[bomber]

if memory serves, my buddy's SPit had an independent rear suspenion that, er, did interesting things.

course, it was well loved, and well used, by the time we got our hands on the poor thing.

[Kootenanny]

if memory serves, my buddy's SPit had an independent rear suspenion that, er, did interesting things.

course, it was well loved, and well used, by the time we got our hands on the poor thing.

Oh, OK, yeah the rear suspension is weird--I thought you were talking about taxes

And yeah, the Spit can do some "interesting" things when pushed hard in the corners--especially when the rear spring (there's only one!) has a broken leaf...(I've since installed a new spring and better shocks, tires will have to wait a bit...).  BTW, early Corvettes used a similar system AFAIK (dunno about modern 'Vettes).

But, man, it's a fun little car to drive!  Can't imagine a trike would be any better.

[bomber]

Oh, OK, yeah the rear suspension is weird--I thought you were talking about taxes

And yeah, the Spit can do some "interesting" things when pushed hard in the corners--especially when the rear spring (there's only one!) has a broken leaf...(I've since installed a new spring and better shocks, tires will have to wait a bit...).  BTW, early Corvettes used a similar system AFAIK (dunno about modern 'Vettes).

But, man, it's a fun little car to drive!  Can't imagine a trike would be any better.

Oh, I agree, Spits were/are a hoot -- I didn't lilke his much cuz it made so much more power than my Bugeye, I could arely keep him in sight . . .

Little vehicles are just fun!

[Mac]

Are you suggesting trikes migrate?

[tixen]

I would migrate to a trike, but only if the trike in question could lean into turns like a proper motorcycle.

[Kootenanny]

I would migrate to a trike, but only if the trike in question could lean into turns like a proper motorcycle.

See my link to the Brudelli Leanster above

[Mr.Black]

If I absolutely had no choice I would ride a trike.

I had no desire to comment here until I saw this today



I really like the looks of it.

[Justin]

I really like the looks of it.

And at your age, you may be ready for it.  

[Mr.Black]

And at your age, you may be ready for it.  

Listen here punk...............

[Scratch33]

Speaking of trikes, it looks like Lehman is in dire straits.

http://trikeridersnow.com/pages/Lehman_Trikes_Could_Be_Up_for_Sale.aspx

[squeezer]

Are you suggesting trikes migrate?

African or European trikes?



I don't think I could go for a traditional trike as much for aesthetic reasons as anything else. Passing a Goldwing trike yesterday, all I could think is what an ugly, silly looking contraption it was.

I've only done a test ride on a Can-Am Spyder, and while I wouldn't trade my bike for one, I thought at the time, "If I could no longer ride two wheels, I could do this." As has been mentioned many times, it was a lot like snowmobiling. I thought it was fun.

At the beginning of summer, though, my cage imploded and I replaced it with a 2002 Miata. OhMyGod that thing is fun. I have never enjoyed a car this much. After this experience, if I couldn't ride a bike anymore, I'd probably stick with a small roadster rather than going the trike route.

[Kootenanny]

Speaking of trikes, it looks like Lehman is in dire straits.

http://trikeridersnow.com/pages/Lehman_Trikes_Could_Be_Up_for_Sale.aspx

Slight thread jack--I noticed one of the responses to that article, whose author suggests that Lehman's current economic woes may be due to the contract they entered into with H-D to supply conversion kits to make Harley's "Tri-glide" trikes; OK while it lasted, but then H-D didn't renew it (or cancelled it) and started doing their own manufacturing of those parts.  Suddenly, Harley went from a major customer to a major competitor.  Just another example IMO of Harley's "knife-in-the-back" business practices (thinking of Buell...).

[Scratch33]

 Suddenly, Harley went from a major customer to a major competitor.

Yeah, I noticed that too.  Next to Harleys, Honda Gold Wings are probably the most triked bike out there.  Doubt any manufacturer's gonna be interested in getting in bed with 'em.

[Kootenanny]

Yeah, I noticed that too.  Next to Harleys, Honda Gold Wings are probably the most triked bike out there.  Doubt any manufacturer's gonna be interested in getting in bed with 'em.

Guy I know owns a motorcycle shop, and he's an "authorized" Lehman dealer and conversion shop.  It's a big part of his business.  However, he also offers at least one other trike conversion kit, and is being courted by at least two more companies--he's interested, because with Lehman, he's limited to Harley and GW conversions (as I recall); with the other conversion kits makers, he can cover a much wider range (including Victory, Suzuki, and Triumph cruisers, and I'm sure many others).

[scott19]

At the beginning of summer, though, my cage imploded and I replaced it with a 2002 Miata. OhMyGod that thing is fun. I have never enjoyed a car this much. After this experience, if I couldn't ride a bike anymore, I'd probably stick with a small roadster rather than going the trike route.

My thoughts exactly, and why I started this poll.


I wonder how many new trike owners have no motorcycle experience? Perhaps a good portion of the trikers I see out in the wild are noobs who don't feel confident with two wheels yet.

[DredheadV2.0]

If I stepped on a landmine and got a leg blown off - yes.

that

[MKorn]

If something happened where i could no longer deal with balancing a bike, i would switch to a trike.

[maddjack]

Had a very good hack setup years ago......it sucked in truth, like having a car without power steering.
Trikes...no attraction. Ihave never have ridden a trike, and they are not the same riding wise as a Hack ( sidecar setup)so maybe I should reserve judgement on those.

[Pelagic]

 ... : They seem to me to have all the disadvantages of both motorcycles and cars, and hardly any of the advantages of either.  ...  I honestly think my Miata offers more of the fun of motorcycling than a trike does , if that makes any sense.  ...  I don't think I'll ever migrate to 3 wheelers.

+1,000
I couldn't agree more. I already have a convertible and surely it's faster than a trike on a nice mountain road. It has a top that goes up when it rains, airconditioning when it gets hot and a heater when it gets cold. I can travel safely in it wearing a t-shirt and shorts, bare-foot even and I never get helmet hair. It's got a console to hold my Big Mac, my girlfriend can do me a 'favor' there and ... ... it carries my golf clubs.

[CanadianBird]

I'm 66 and one day I won't be able to ride two wheels. When that day comes I would like to buy a Can-Am Spyder. Not a car/convertable.

[expatbrit]

Robin Reliants roll.  

FTFY

As shown by Jeremy Clarkson

[Kootenanny]

My thoughts exactly, and why I started this poll.


I wonder how many new trike owners have no motorcycle experience? Perhaps a good portion of the trikers I see out in the wild are noobs who don't feel confident with two wheels yet.

I'm in this camp.

I get the feeling that many Spyder riders have no 2-wheel experience.  I know of at least one guy, posts on another forum, who bought a Spyder with no experience...but after a few months riding it, he got the chance to try out a bike, and the Spyder was quickly retired!  Somehow, I doubt his experience is unique.

I do remember reading an interview with the CEO of BRP, in which he stated clearly that BRP never intended Spyders to compete in the motorcycle market...they were intended to fill a niche market which didn't really exist at the time, but which the board at BRP felt could be developed.  I gotta hand it to them, I never would have imagined the things would sell so well!

The thing is, having experienced the "open-air" feeling on a motorcycle, I can appreciate the attraction of it...but for me, that's only a small part of the attraction of riding a bike.  A far larger part of the equation is the ability to lean the bike into corners.  If/when I can no longer ride, I don't think I'll want a "cheap imitation"--I'd rather explore a completely different method of travel, such as sports cars.

[PatM]

I'm in this camp.

I get the feeling that many Spyder riders have no 2-wheel experience.  I know of at least one guy, posts on another forum, who bought a Spyder with no experience...but after a few months riding it, he got the chance to try out a bike, and the Spyder was quickly retired!  Somehow, I doubt his experience is unique.

I do remember reading an interview with the CEO of BRP, in which he stated clearly that BRP never intended Spyders to compete in the motorcycle market...they were intended to fill a niche market which didn't really exist at the time, but which the board at BRP felt could be developed.  I gotta hand it to them, I never would have imagined the things would sell so well!

The thing is, having experienced the "open-air" feeling on a motorcycle, I can appreciate the attraction of it...but for me, that's only a small part of the attraction of riding a bike.  A far larger part of the equation is the ability to lean the bike into corners.  If/when I can no longer ride, I don't think I'll want a "cheap imitation"--I'd rather explore a completely different method of travel, such as sports cars.

The product was developped so BRP would have products to sell year round. Snowmobiles, ATV and watercraft have limited appeal outside a specific time period. The Spyder fills the gaps. And the product is appealing to it's customer base which may or may not be bikers.
Personally, I wouldn't ride a trike or Spyder. I tried the Spyder and didn't like it.
I'd look into an old Triumph TR6 or something similar.

[Kootenanny]

I'd look into an old Triumph TR6 or something similar.

I'm already there: '78 Spitfire...

[stevent]

A friend of mine is 70 and bought a CanAm Spider, I think one of those would be a lot of fun to ride..

[MilleArp]

If I get to the point where I need 3 wheels, I'll get I Piaggio MP3. Don't want to give up leaning into a curve.

BIG + 1

.

[MilleArp]

A friend of mine is 70 and bought a CanAm Spider, I think one of those would be a lot of fun to ride..

They handle just like a quad.  I'll take a Spyder over a Trike any day.

.

[stew71]

Yes. To this.  

[coho]

They handle just like a quad.  I'll take a Spyder over a Trike any day.

.

The Spyder is a trike.

[X1Glider]

Only if I were so old and frail that I could no longer hold a 2 wheeled bike up...or became handicapped...simply so I could keep riding and therefore keep my sanity.

[black hills]

Only if I were so old and frail that I could no longer hold a 2 wheeled bike up...or became handicapped...simply so I could keep riding and therefore keep my sanity.

what he said, otherwise hell no!

[wibornz]

When I can't ride two wheels, I will be traveling like this

[slayman]

Nope a Lotus 7 if I could afford it, if not a TR6 or maybe a Miata.

[Bryan217]

I'd consider a Spyder when i get to the point where I can't ride anymore. I took one for a test ride, and wasn't too thrilled with it, but maybe by the time I get to that point, they'll make it better, like maybe some leaning?

[rgbeard]

I have a V-12 XJ-S.

No need to consider a trike.

[oldenslow]

Nope, you might as well buy a POS convertible and never ever put the top up.

[Morgan Buchanan]

If I had a physical issue that would leave me unable to balance a 2 wheeler, I'd do anything to stay in the wind, and a trike would probably be it.