Defining a trike

[Lonestalker]

Let’s put the cat amongst the pigeons, what is a trike?
Am I being pedantic but shouldn’t a real trike be based on a MC engine and be mounted at the front otherwise it’s a 3 wheeld car?

Discuss: I think I might have oppened a real can of worms….

Is the Reliant Robin a trike ? I don’t think so…..

 

[ricle41]

Very interesting point, but I'm not about to get into that discussion.

 

[tfdeputydawg]

Any 3wheeled vehicle licensed as a motorcycle and has "open" seating.
If it has an enclosed driver/passenger area, it's a cage!

 

[Nana]

Welcome to TrikeTalk, tfdeputydawg

 

[John Luciano]

Enclosed motor= car
Enclosed driver=car
Enclosed as with a roof and or doors =car
more than 3 wheels=car
I am sure there are ways around these Conn. rules.
Conn is afraid of an influx of the cheap Chinese cars getting reg in our state
Almost impossible to build a homemade car or trike in this state
You are only allowed to build ONE composite motorcycle in your life time unless you are a dealer

 

[ricle41]

O.K. John, I'm going to have to jump in. If more than three wheels makes it a car, what do they call a wing with a Voyager kit?
Here in Kansas, I just registered my Goldwing Trike, and it is registered as a bike. They don't count wheels. Actually for insurance and property tax, the conversion kit is listed as an accessory. They require a motorcycle driver's license and sell it the plate for the rear as a two wheeler.
I guess Kansas is just easier to get along with.

 

[Gorilla]

welcome aboard tfdeputydawg

 

[Simdog]

My bike has a voyager kit on it, and it is registered as a motorcycle. I am required to have a motorcycle endorsement. They don't distinguish between 2-wheelers, trikes, etc. As long as you pay the money, they smile and say "Go forth and ride!"

According to Louisiana law [R.S. 32.1 (38), (64), and (84)], my setup does not fit the definition of a motorcycle. However, it does fit the definition of a motorcycle with a "semitrailer". Whether the definition was meant to fit, who knows ... but it does.

So, is my bike with a voyager kit a trike? By definition, no. But it serves the same purpose.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." -- William Shakespeare

 

[Ozarkryder]

A bike with the extra wheels technically isn't a "trike", it is a motorcycle. The Voyager-type kits are made to come off easily, making it an accessory, not a permanent part of the bike. Voyager sells this as a feature, (Mild To Wild in 5 minutes)
In Missouri if it was a permanent modification it would have 4 wheels, and become a "car". As it wouldn't conform to automobile state and federal safety standards it would be illegal to run on the street. As far as I know there isn't any state that will let you take a motorcycle or trike road test with it installed.

 

[John Luciano]

In Conn it is considered a trailer, I don't really think they ( the poWeres thAT BE ) have ever heard of it( Voyager ) and i am not going to tell them. I aint opening up that can of worms . Same as the Stallion thing . I hope someone gets one reg. as a motorcycle soon, so that it will set a standard.

 

[Simdog]

...As far as I know there isn't any state that will let you take a motorcycle or trike road test with it installed.

Louisiana will.

As far as the state is concerned, they don't differentiate between a 2-wheel or non-2-wheel licensure. That was a specific question I asked the Dept of Motor Vehicles when my father-in-law tested on his trike (true trike). I personally know of tests taken and passed using the voyager kit. However, each state does have their on procedures, and I would expect differences nationwide.

 

[trike lady]

In 2006 I received a trike endorsment in the State of Florida with the Voyager on my 1993 Goldwing, now in order to receive a trike endorsment or 3 wheels only you must go through a state approved training program.

 

[John Luciano]

The guy in GA I sold my Voyager equipped 1981 Honda Wing to said they followed him around town for 20 min and gave him a endorsement

 

[Lonestalker]

Thank the Gods I live in Europe

 

[shadowokie]

A bike with the extra wheels technically isn't a "trike", it is a motorcycle. The Voyager-type kits are made to come off easily, making it an accessory, not a permanent part of the bike. Voyager sells this as a feature, (Mild To Wild in 5 minutes)
In Missouri if it was a permanent modification it would have 4 wheels, and become a "car". As it wouldn't conform to automobile state and federal safety standards it would be illegal to run on the street. As far as I know there isn't any state that will let you take a motorcycle or trike road test with it installed.

I took my MC endorsement with my Voyager kit here in Oklahoma. No problem!

 

[Lonestalker]

Let’s put the cat amongst the pigeons, what is a trike?
Am I being pedantic but shouldn’t a real trike be based on a MC engine and be mounted at the front otherwise it’s a 3 wheeld car?

Discuss: I think I might have oppened a real can of worms….

Is the Reliant Robin a trike ? I don’t think so…..

Just to be naughty if a trike is a 2 wheel bike with an extra wheel then is a Beach Buggy a trike with an extra wheel.......

 

[meredog]

i took my driving test on my three wheel trike in Michigan, At the end of the test the lady administering the test signed and handed me the paperwork needed to get my licence.
As she handed me the paper she said " you do understand this is not a motorcycle endorsment and i cannot ride a two wheel bike with it,"
My question is--if i do not have a motorcycle licence, am i bound to motorcycle laws ? example Helmet law ?

 

[tfdeputydawg]

i took my driving test on my three wheel trike in Michigan, At the end of the test the lady administering the test signed and handed me the paperwork needed to get my license.
As she handed me the paper she said " you do understand this is not a motorcycle endorsement and i cannot ride a two wheel bike with it,"
My question is--if i do not have a motorcycle license, am i bound to motorcycle laws ? example Helmet law ?

If it has a motorcycle registration and plate, no matter how many tires it sets on, then the laws pertaining to helmets, etc. apply.
The only thing a trike operators license does is restrict you to not operating a street legal and properly licensed 2 wheeled vehicle on public byways.

 

[Gorilla]

meredog. does you lic show an endorcement of "CY" with a "20*" restriction? if so it is a motorcycle endorsement with a not for 2 whell restriction according to your DMV. That being said all motorcycle stuff applies. Have to put a helmet on.

 

[willybeermonster]

Over here in England you can ride/drive a bike based trike or a car based trike on a bike or a car licence and without an helmet, on the v5/log book/registration document of a Reliant 3 wheeler/Robin it says TRICYCLE/TRIKE.

Willy