Can you actually register these things?

Wife likes this as an ATV-type thing:

http://reno.craigslist.org/mcy/2404325562.html

The ad seems to imply that it can be road registered, is that really the case?

Some states require registration for even ATVs. Iowa, for example. Could be what he means.

Ah, that would make more sense. I haven't really seen ATVs with plates out here, but I know you have to get certain stickers if you want to go out on the trails. IIRC that's the same in CA.

Back in the mid 80s, one of the motorcycle magazines took one of the better Honda trikes, either a 200X or a 250R, added proper lights and mirrors, street tires and then stiffened the suspension and got it registered for the street. It was kind of cool to see, but probably a bad idea.

I'm sure that the seller of this one is referring to registering it for off road use.

side rant, not necessarily directed at the 3-wheeler above: I hate trikes. Hate everything about them. Can-Am spyders, t-rex's etc, are the ultimate failboat vehicle. All of the negatives of riding a motorcycle with all of the negatives of owning a car. No protection from the elements or random idiot drivers like a car as well as less stability, but none of the extra manueverability and leaning and other dynamics of a motorcycle that make them so damn fun. WHY? I don't get it.

For an atv, I bet the one in the OP is as fun as any other ATV. Be careful about roll-overs.

I've seen 4-wheelers plated in Indiana & driven on the street. It was a small town though, so it may have been a local ordinance.

Honda stopped making them for a reason.

Reminds me of this: But, you know, with a higher center of gravity once the rider is on it.

Four wheels: Reasonably optimal layout for a "flat"-corning vehicle.

Two wheels: Obvious layout for a leaning vehicle.

Three wheels: Can't lean, is going to have issues in either corner-and-accel or corner-and-brake, depending on which end is "missing" a wheel.

Of course, that still makes this perfectly sensible, no?

What about something like this?

914Driver wrote: Honda stopped making them for a reason.

I had a 110 version and it was a lot of fun. But I didn't ride it like a numb nuts. Hey, even a four wheel ATV is dangerous.

spitfirebill wrote:

914Driver wrote: Honda stopped making them for a reason.

I had a 110 version and it was a lot of fun. But I didn't ride it like a numb nuts. Hey, even a four wheel ATV is dangerous.

Sure. But what does three wheeler do that a 4 doesn't?

Nevermind, bad question. Let me rephrase that. What does a three-wheeler do that you want it to do that a four doesn't?

skierd wrote: side rant, not necessarily directed at the 3-wheeler above: I hate trikes. Hate everything about them. Can-Am spyders, t-rex's etc, are the ultimate failboat vehicle. All of the negatives of riding a motorcycle with all of the negatives of owning a car. No protection from the elements or random idiot drivers like a car as well as less stability, but none of the extra manueverability and leaning and other dynamics of a motorcycle that make them so damn fun. WHY? I don't get it.

Ask a paraplegic who still wants to ride.

Or the guys(gals?) who commute on them into the city via HOV highway. Gotta say, that seems pretty smart.

So how does a paraplegic mount a motorcycle or trike? Do they have a lift in the garage or something? Just something I've wondered. Frankly someone without or without the use of limbs gets a free pass to do whatever non-destructive activity they choose. It still doesn't change the facts regarding the lump sum of negatives that a trike embodies.

Commuters, I dunno maybe get a side car and carpool like responsible adult. Or get a bike.

One could argue that half of the projects people post here on the board don't make any sense either, but it's something they wanted to do so who am I to say it doesn't make sense. It may not fit the conventional view of motorcycling, but if people enjoy riding them I think it's great.

Paraplegics have all different levels of mobility so there's no set answer on that one. I imagine some of them can lift themselves out of their chair and get on the bike without help; I recall seeing a chopperized Harley trike once that had a retractible crane affair on the back, so the owner could lift themselves up and over onto the seat.

Getting back to the original post - as mentioned, some parts of the country require registration of offroad motorcycles and ATVs, it's not really different than having to register a boat or a snowmobile. I doubt that one of those old style three wheelers could be made street legal. I think the manufacturers went to making quads and stopped making trikes at least in part because of liability - the trikes were pretty tippy, and a lot of people got hurt on them.

I'm amazed I survived childhood riding those things. A friend a 110 and 200(maybe was a 250).

We flipped, rolled, crashed those things so many times. Scariest was watching my friend hit an exposed root at 30+ mph and have the trike toss him forward on to the ground and then flip up in the air about 10ft. Then crashing to the ground about 2' from his head.

want an ATV? get a LARGE framed quad or even better, a side-by-side like the polaris razor

I rode several 3 wheel ATVs back in the day and the only one that was tolerable to me was a Yamaha 250 2 stroke that would turn without wanting to tip over. It was made for racing. It was easy to lean off the side and use the power to dirt track it around corners. It was so well balanced that it was also easy to ride on the front tire and one of the rears if you chose to have some fun. In general I was glad to see the run of the mill versions gone.

There are many videos on You Tube of 3 wheeled vehicles that handle quite well. The safest way to go is 2 wheels front and one back. The Reliant was a poor design for many reasons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoOMC3HWuFY&feature=related

I think three wheelers like this are awesome.

I still want to build a 3 wheeler out of a BMW 'flying brick' K bike drivetrain, tube frame and Miata front end. Breathe on the motor for probably 180hp, and likely under 1500 lbs. Stick a fat enough tire back there and it'll hook up.

I'm a little surprised that we don't see more specials built around BMW K bike drive trains. I guess they're just a little too rare and pricey. They seem like such an obvious choice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS1xIIHFS2M

More or less all of the "you oughtas" in these videos came true and most/all 3 wheelers were banned. I love them Ive ridden at length a honda 70 honda 90 both 4 stroke Yamaha 175 2 stroke and I bought a Honda Big Red 250 last summer all were great fun and pretty easy to ride once you got the hang of it.