trikes

Polaris Slingshot shoots on ahead in 2024

Well, purists may say it is not a trike and hence branded and classified as an “autocycle” by NHTSA. Irrespective of your preference and riding experiences, Polaris Slignshot continues to be a bestseller in its category as an autocycle. Slingshot has been so popular that the 2024 version will receive quite a few updates. In fact, I would like to see if Harley-Davidson will enter the autocycle segment to keep its three-wheeled business busy among dealerships. Polaris so far, has no interest in the traditional trike. Whereas Can-Am Spyder has its own unique market, not directly competing against Slingshot. I would say Can-Am Spyder is a choice for those unhappy with a big and heavy V-Twin powered Harley-Davidson Freewheeler and its luxurious sibling Road Glide and Tri Glide Ultra. H-D took a big gamble with Pan America and riders responded positively, at least initially. Even their return into India market with 440X, a small engine bike to compete against the local legend Royal Enfield, met with more bookings than they ever expected in this year, their 120th anniversary year. The recent India Bike Week saw custom built Harley-Davidson 440X showcased to the crowds which included one with a sidecar and a cafe-racer styled version. Will Polaris Slingshot and Polaris Indian as a whole consider expanding to Asian markets with local manufacturing to rival Harley-Davidson’s aspirations in China and India depends mainly on opportunities offered in investment and capital expenditure by the local governments in those nations. The automotive sector is booming for both, the Asian Dragon and the Asian Tiger, and Elon Musk might just put up a Tesla plant in India since Chinese cars, motorcycles and EVs are not promising given the Chinese military ambitions at it’s neighbors borders. QUAD Summit for 2024 seems to be postponed as POTUS […]

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Countdown to Bonneville: 5-Ball Racing

5-Ball Bonneville Racing : Salt Torpedo We have about six weeks before we roll into the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials in Utah. We will haul our hand-built Salt Torpedo one of the first streamlined trikes powdered by a 135-inch JIMS Twin Cam. I’m going to try to deliver a brief report every couple of days. Let me know if you have any questions. And of course we’re looking for sponsors to support this effort. Just recently, Terry components helped with one of the items on our list, battery shut-off cables and jumper cables. I’m working on the trailer today. –Bandit * * * * https://5-ballgarage.com/

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Road Test Report: Trike Kit Failure

Howdy! Grab a chair an’ a beer, ‘cause I’ve got a warning for ya! A lot of ya will remember be from Thunder Press, and remember my wife, Reggie’s pink trike. She’s put almost 100K miles on it, and rode it all over the western states. A while back, she noticed a clunk, an’ when I checked it out, I found that the left side axle housing had broken the welds, and the angle destroyed the bearing surfaces of the aluminum center housing. I found out that Champion Trikes, the makers of the kit I used, (before Harley made trikes) had been sold and the design changed, so no parts are available for the older kits. With a lot of miles on the bike, we decided it wasn’t worth buying another 10K kit, so she bought a new trike and I started to put her Heritage back on 2 wheels. That’s when I discovered that the main supports were also broken, and it’s lucky she wasn’t slidin’ down the highway on her ass at 80 miles an hour! I’m not knockin’ Champion Trikes here, since the current owners had nothing to do with the kit I bought 16 years ago. I just want to let anyone with one of the early kits know that there’s a problem, and they need to check all welds closely! I’m including some pix of the damage to let ya know where to look. The white paint is where the welds broke, and should be one piece. Ride safe, y’all, and we’ll see ya on the road! Buckshot, Thunder Press (Retired) * * * * * * * * * * * * Get all the Tech and Tips from the old to the new — for Free. Visit https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Techs_Bike_Builds.aspx

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These Pictures Perfectly Illustrate Every Motorcycle Segment

by Luke Zietsman Over the years, motorcycles have evolved into several segments, and these pictures will help you make sense of them all. Until around the ’80s, motorcycles were more or less just considered motorcycles. Aside from the recently established dirt bike class, other bikes were all lumped together. Click to Read the full Article at HotCars.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Make your own ride – Get Featured on Bikernet.com – Click to Visit our Bike Features

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The Trike File Is Now Open

Legends Suspension Systems Save the Day By DaCat Being part of the Hamsters for 30+ years and building custom bikes, I never thought of owning a Trike. One night 10 years ago, as we were admiring all the custom one-of-a-kind bikes at Sturgis, a buddy says to me, “You know what the next big thing is going to be……. Trikes”. I’m like what? And he says, “Think about it. We are all getting older.” Well guess what… I bought a Trike. Because of a major bike accident a few years ago, I’ve lost my ability to close or grip with my right hand. It’s become a major problem to hold up a heavy bagger. I decided I can’t risk this anymore with my wife on the back. Click Here to read this Personal Riding Story, only on Bikernet.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Sign up for Free Weekly Newsletter from Bikernet.com to stay updated on latest Motorcycle news, events, products, tech, tips, reviews, deals, fun & more. Click Here to Join – it’s Free – you can unsubscribe anytime.

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WW2 fire-fighting Trike

This WW2 fire-fighting trike is the strangest, coolest thing we’ve seen all week. A 1941 Kurogane Model 1 Fire Trike, a three-wheeled firefighter used in Japan and Malaysia. Click Here to Read this Article in the Cantina at Bikernet.com Join the Cantina for more – Subscribe Today. https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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Charles Metz DeDion-Bouton Motor Tricycle

The unique Orient “Autogo;” One Part Runabout— One Part Tricycle. Charles Metz was bullish on the potential of his DeDion-Bouton motor tricycle to transfer motor power from the track to the street. In 1899 he took his conviction a step further with the development of the unique Orient “Autogo;” one part runabout— one part tricycle. Click Here to Read this Photo Feature Article only on Bikernet.com Join the Cantina for more – Subscribe Today. https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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Visually Impaired Patriots Experiencing the Road to hold its fifth annual motorcycle ride

by Erik S. Hanley from https://www.jsonline.com A motorcycle ride supporting veterans with disabilities is rumbling through Oak Creek later this month When T.J. Oman, a retired Navy lieutenant commander in Wisconsin, reached out to a fellow veteran in Minnesota about the fifth VIPER ride, he learned the man had been diagnosed with cancer and had months to live. VIPER, or Visually Impaired Patriots Experiencing the Road, will hold its fifth annual motorcycle ride on Aug. 22 in Oak Creek at the Oelschlaeger-Dallmann American Legion Post 434, 9327 S. Shepard Ave. The Minnesota man has traveled to the Milwaukee area for every past VIPER event, but his sister was keeping this year’s announcement from him because of his diagnosis, Oman, one of the VIPER ride founders, said. “I messed up her plans because when I didn’t see his application this year, I put together an email and sent it to a batch of people curious about their absence,” Oman said. Now that he knows the ride is happening, despite his diagnosis, that veteran is coming to ride. Motorcycle owners, known as “pilots,” are partnered with a veteran called a “tailgunner.” The duos stay together throughout the day’s events. Volunteers are known as the “groundcrew” and they work to give directions, welcome participants, set up food and drinks, clean up and more. “We’re looking forward to it this year because we missed it last year,” said John Carter, a former Marine and co-founder of the VIPER ride. The 2020 ride was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Initially only for blind veterans, the ride recently became “the VIPER ride plus+” expanding to allow veterans with any physical disability that prevents them from operating a motorcycle. There is no cost to participants. “We don’t charge anybody a dime, this is not a fundraiser,”

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Veterans’ campaigner Simon Weston gets special gift on 60th birthday

by Enda Mullen from https://www.coventrytelegraph.net Veterans’ campaigner Simon Weston says 60th birthday gift of Triumph trike is dream come true. It followed a crowdfunding campaign organised by former Meriden Triumph engineer Norman Hyde. Veterans’ campaigner and Falkland War survivor Simon Weston has been presented with an extra-special gift to mark his 60th birthday in the shape of a Triumph trike. Simon signed up for the British Army at 15. Aged 20, when serving in the Welsh Guards, he was aboard the logistics ship RFA Sir Galahad – laden with fuels and ammunition – when it was bombed by the Argentine Air Force during the conflict in the South Atlantic. He suffered horrific injuries and underwent prolonged reconstructive surgery. At times Simon said he was close to giving in, but courage and determination saw him emerge positively as a strong advocate for troops’ and veterans’ rights. Along with his many charitable activities he gives inspirational talks on achieving mental wellness. Awarded the OBE in 1992, Simon was made a CBE in 2016. Veterans’ campaigner and Falkland War survivor Simon Weston has been presented with an extra-special gift to mark his 60th birthday in the shape of a Triumph trike. The gift was the result of a crowd-funding campaign which had its roots in a chance conversation at a presentation given by Simon two years ago. Simon revealed to former Meriden Triumph engineer and world speed record holder Norman Hyde that he would really love a trike like the one ridden by Billy Connolly on his TV travel series. It spurred Norman into action and he decided to embark on a mission to fulfil Simon’s dream. He said: “Knowing what Simon had given to our country and knowing what good people there are in the bike world, from manufacturers and importers, through

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Gearhead’s Trike Story

by Tim Graves with photos from Sam Burns That old trike was a real Frankenstein’s monster. She was the back end of a Corvair of a 1960 vintage and a front end of a Honda CB 500. She had a full-size keg gas tank on the chariot bed over the engine. The driver seat was a plastic Baja bucket. The passenger seat was none. Just a little history of what started me on the biker’s road. Click Here to Read this Photo Feature Article only on Bikernet. Join the Cantina for more – Subscribe Today. https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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