Motorized tricycles, also called trikes, are sometimes considered cars. There are three typical configurations: motorized bicycle with sidecar; two wheels in the rear, one in the front (aka trike); and two in front, one in the rear (aka reverse trike). However, language and definitions vary.
One of the most successful trikes of its day was the De Dion-Bouton tricycle; from 1897 until the start of the 20th century about 15,000 licensed copies were sold, with De Dion Bouton usually supplying the engines, and it was overall the most popular motor vehicle in Europe.
Trikes have caused tautological confusion and simply defied typical two and four-wheel classifications, especially in the 21st century. Regardless, many popular motorcycles and/or automobiles had three wheels.
Examples
17th century Stephan Farffler's trike
18th century
Cugnot's fardier à vapeur (steam powered)
19th century
Ariel 2.25 hp tricycle (1898) Benz Patent-Motorwagen (Internal combustion engine) (1886–1893) Buckeye gasoline buggy (1891) De Dion-Bouton tricycle (1897–1905) Eadie motor tricycle, (1898–1900) Humber 'Beeston' motor tricycle (1899) Léon Bollée Voiturette (1895) Long steam tricycle (c. 1880) Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede (1884 Tricycle version) Motrice Pia (1894) Orient tricycle (1899–1901) Star motor tricycle (1899)
20th century
AC Petite Alta A200 BSA Ariel 3 (1970–1973) Attica 200 Bajaj RE (1990s–) (Autoriksha) BMW R75 (1941–1945) (w. sidecar) Bond Bug Bond Minicar Brough Superior Austin Four Brutsch Mopetta Campagna T-Rex (1996–2018) CityEl (1987–) Coventry-Victor 3-wheeler Daihatsu Bee David trike cars (1913–1923) De Dion-Bouton tricycle (1897–1905) Electricar (1920–1921) Fend Flitzer (c. 1948) Fuldamobil 200 GG Duetto (1994–1999) Goliath Goli Grinnall Scorpion (c. 1991) Harley-Davidson Servi-Car (1932 to 1973) Heinkel Kabine HM Vehicles Free-way (1979 to 1982) Honda Gyro Indian Dispatch-Tow(1930s) Indian Tri-Car (circa 1907)(Hendee Manufacturing Co.) Invacar Isetta (3-wheeled version) JZR Trike models Krauser Domani Lambretta Lambro (1949–1972) Lean Machine 1982 Libelle (microcar) Lurquin-Coudert (1906–1914) Mercedes-Benz F300 Lifejet
Messerschmitt KR175 (1953–1955) (Messerschmitt Kabinenroller) Messerschmitt KR200 Minneapolis Tri-Car Misc Custom Chopper trikes Misc. Moto Guzzi Triporteurs Morgan 3-Wheeler (pre-war productions) Moto Guzzi Trialce Möve 101 Corbin Sparrow Norton Big 4 (mc w/ sc) Peel P50 (minicar) (1962–65) Peel Trident Piaggio Ape (1947– ) Reliant Robin (1973–2002) Reliant TW9 (1967–1987) Rollfix-Eilwagen Scott Sociable Scootacar
Sinclair C5 (1985) Soviet SMZ S-1L Spirit of America Formula Shell LSRV. (jet engine) Tatra 49 (1929–1930) Triking (1970s-) Twike (TWIKE 1986+) Velorex (1950s–1971) Utopian (1914) Westcoaster Mailster
21st century
AEV 311 EV Ape Calessino 200 (new production) Aptera (solar electric vehicle) Arcimoto Bombardier Can-Am Spyder (2007–) Brudeli Leanster 625L Carver Campagna T-Rex (1996–) Campagna V13R CityEl (1987–) ElectraMeccanica Solo Elio E-Series Elio P models (prototypes)p eTuk USA (2015–) GG Taurus
Hannigan BMW 1600 Trike Hannigan Harley-Davidson V-Rod Trike Harley-Davidson Road Glide 3 Trike (2010–) Harley-Davidson Freewheeler (2015–) Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra Classic Honda Gyro (tilting) IRISCan modern incarnation of C5 succeed? February 15, 2017 JZR Trike models Kymco CV3 (2018–) MEV TR1KE Morgan 3-Wheeler (new production 2010s) Myers Motors NmG Peel P50 (2010– ) Peugeot Metropolis 400i Piaggio Ape (1947– ), MP3 (2006–)Topspeed – 2014 Piaggio MP3 Yourban LT 300IE Review Polaris Slingshot Quadro 350S three-wheel scooter Rewaco RF-1 Trike Roadsmith Trikes Scorpion P6Scorpion Motorsports P6 Stimson Sting (2002–2007) Tanom Invader TC-3 Terracraft Supertrike Tilting Motor Works Tilting V-Max Trike Tokai Challenger Toyota i-Road (2013) Traverston Striker Tri Pod GII by Mynrva (2012-) Bandit 1250, ZX14R based Triking Trirod F3 Twisted Trike Uno III Vanderhall Laguna trike
Veemo by VeloMetro Mobility – Fully enclosed, pedal-electric trike, regulated as an electric bicycle in North America. Venom SS Venom X Volkswagen GX3 (concept trike) Yamaha Niken – trike with the Yamaha MT-09 engine, for European and Asian markets Yamaha RX1 snowmobile custom conversion to street trike Yamaha Tricity ZAP Xebra (2006–2009) ZAP Alias ZTR Trike
Miscellaneous Another idea is the flike, a sort of flying motorcycle/helicopter.
Whike are sail-powered trikes, which may or may not be motorized depending if one considers a sail to be a type of motorization.
There is another arrangement of three-wheel, with the wheels in a line; this is so far pretty rare.
Motorcycles with two sidecars Motorcycles with sidecars often have three wheels, but there has been some use of two sidecars (one on each side of a motorcycle, not a sidecar that seats two which is another thing). In one case the use of flexible type sidecars allow the center-line motor bicycle wheels to stay on the ground, and providing adequate handling
Gallery
See also
Motorized tricycle Steam tricycle Cyclecar Three-wheeler (three wheel vehicles including animal, human, or motors) Tilting three-wheeler (related to the suspension of the vehicle) All-terrain vehicle (ATVs) (variety of wheel number and configurations) Go-kart Off road go-kart and Dune buggies (typically 4 wheels plus roll cage) Chopper (motorcycle) Motor bicycle related: Feet forwards motorcycle Scooter (motorcycle) Cabin motorcycle Sidecar Velomobile (human-powered car) Auto rickshaw (general term that includes many kinds of trike/three-wheelers etc.) Types of motorcycles Motorcycle motor powered car
References
External links