So, leaning 3- and 4-wheelers are still being pitched...

"BringBackTheCommodore" (bringbackthecommodore)
12/18/2015 at 09:08 • Filed to: oppositelock, bikelopnik, 3-wheeler, 4-wheeler

Spotted these, had no idea development was still being pursued for them:

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And there are a few other designs out there. Interesting idea, I’ve always leaned in favor of them, but I think we need better-looking designs.

More contact patch is not a bad thing to have, especially when, if I lose traction on one tire on my M50, I’ve lost 50% of my total available traction.

Not something I’d replace a motorcycle with, but something I’d consider adding to the stable.

DISCUSSION (24)

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > BringBackTheCommodore
12/18/2015 at 09:11

I’ve seen stuff like this before. Like these little scooters.

Kinja'd!!!

BringBackTheCommodore > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
12/18/2015 at 09:13

Yep, the Piaggio MP3 scooters are neat!

Cé hé sin > BringBackTheCommodore
12/18/2015 at 09:14

And common. I was in Paris recently and they’re everywhere.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > BringBackTheCommodore
12/18/2015 at 09:16

I’ve not seen ones in the States, but I really like them. If I lived downtown in a city, I’d sure take a look at one.

jariten1781 > BringBackTheCommodore
12/18/2015 at 09:17

I had no clue anyone was wasting engineering dollars on 4 wheel road motorcycles...is there any public road in the developed world where this would be legal? Cool project though, I be it’d be fun to be on...just seems like there's no way to get a return.

BringBackTheCommodore > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
12/18/2015 at 09:17

I was in San Diego a few weeks ago and spotted one in a parking lot. I knew they were being sold here, I was surprised to finally see one. They seem to be a bit rare in the U.S.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > BringBackTheCommodore
12/18/2015 at 09:18

Kinja'd!!!

This one looks pretty sweet.

I’m not really into motorcycles but this thing is cool

BringBackTheCommodore > jariten1781
12/18/2015 at 09:18

I think they’d still be classified as motorcycles. Otherwise, you have to add crash protection, a roll cage, and eventually develop something like this:

Kinja'd!!!

BringBackTheCommodore > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
12/18/2015 at 09:20

Some interesting designs for the front suspension. Dual-tube fork legs, I wonder how that handles compared to a normal motorcycle.

BringBackTheCommodore > Cé hé sin
12/18/2015 at 09:21

Neat! Kind of interesting that the MP3’s have taken off so well, but it adds the benefit of ( dramatically) increased stability when you’re stopped or going through slow-speed maneuvers.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > BringBackTheCommodore
12/18/2015 at 09:21

I didn’t even know that they were sold in the States.

BringBackTheCommodore > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
12/18/2015 at 09:24

They are, there’s one about 5 hours from where I live going for $9,000. Kind of rare, but they’re available. Not sure I’d go for one though, considering you could get something like a brand new Vulcan S or Versys 650 for that kind of money. Then again, I’m not their target market.

Cé hé sin > BringBackTheCommodore
12/18/2015 at 09:25

And not just Piaggi.

Meet the Peugeot Metropolis.

Kinja'd!!!

BringBackTheCommodore > Cé hé sin
12/18/2015 at 09:27

Okay, now that’s cool. I had no idea Peugeot was in that business.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > BringBackTheCommodore
12/18/2015 at 09:28

Yeah I don’t know.

I at least have to commend the engineers for creating this crazy cool looking contraption

Tripper > BringBackTheCommodore
12/18/2015 at 09:28

Yikes, that first one looks like a normal motorcycle that was born too close to a nuclear power plant.

Cé hé sin > BringBackTheCommodore
12/18/2015 at 09:31

Very much so. Peugeot have been making motorcycles since the late 19th century, although they’ve recently sold out 51% of the business.

JEM > BringBackTheCommodore
12/18/2015 at 09:36

I could this being really good for sport/touring. Better than one of those Can-Am machines.

BringBackTheCommodore > Cé hé sin
12/18/2015 at 09:37

Likely to keep the rest of the company sustainable. Still cool though, kind of like how it’s neat that Piaggio makes scooters and aircraft.

BringBackTheCommodore > JEM
12/18/2015 at 09:38

Add some saddlebags, throw on some rain gear, and tour the countryside. I bet it’d be easier to throw around a corner than a Can Am Spyder - they’re great machines, but they are hefty.

jariten1781 > BringBackTheCommodore
12/18/2015 at 09:45

Nope, I’m not aware of anywhere (there could be somewhere, but not that I’ve ever seen) where the classification of motorcycle does not include some form of the clause “vehicle with less than 4 wheels”. There are some spots where it has additional clauses, like Texas where it is required to have a saddle vs a seat, and there are other very rare spots where their is a third category of autocycle (which are normally limited in displacement, have <4 wheels, and require crash protection)...but I can’t think of any where, no matter how stupid, that bike wouldn’t be classified as a car thereby requiring the full suite of safety features (seatbelts and airbags included), crash testing, bumpers, lighting requirements, and emissions regs.

BringBackTheCommodore > jariten1781
12/18/2015 at 09:48

Damn pesky regulations. It’s why we can’t have fun things like...

Kinja'd!!!

But seriously, though, that makes some level of sense. Maybe there’s no room in the lawbooks for a leaning 4-wheeler, but there may be some room for a leaning trike, like the Yamaha MWT-9.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > BringBackTheCommodore
12/18/2015 at 10:44

I’ve seen them a bunch in California and the dynamics look just horrible. Watching quick lane changes it looks like the bike is going to high side.

BringBackTheCommodore > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/18/2015 at 11:17

Yeah, that doesn’t sound like fun. The design seems kind of top-heavy, although I figured they had accounted for handling at speed.