What is a tricycle or trike? How did tricycles come about?

Publication date: 06/25/2018. Tags: trikesmotor trikes

Today we’ll try to figure out what a “tricycle” is? How does this concept differ from the word “trike”? And let's add a light pinch of history.

A tricycle (from ancient Greek τρι - “three-” and ϰύϰλος - “circle”) is a three-wheeled vehicle. The concept includes all categories of vehicles that may have three wheels (cars, bicycles, motorcycles, etc.). In turn, some of them are divided into separate categories, but more on that later.

Tricycle Review

Tricycle or Trike-trike in English, as a rule, this word refers to a three-wheeled vehicle.

You may immediately think of a motorcycle with a sidecar, but there is a fundamental difference: the sidecar is an additional element on the side of the motorcycle, and as a rule, the motorcycle retains its layout with and without the sidecar, while the trike is a single whole on three wheels.

They have several configuration options, based on automobile units, based on motorcycles, special designs, and there are also options based on scooters, they are common in Asian countries.

Trikes based on motorcycles are often found; as a rule, these are large and heavy tourers; they are most suitable for conversion into a trike since they have a powerful frame and integration into the design of the rear axle and body occurs without consequences.

Factory models are also produced by BRP under the Can amSpyder brand, they come in several touring and sport versions, with minor differences, their peculiarity is that the gearbox is automatic, and category B is required for driving.

If you are interested in more detailed information about Spiders, look: from the link to the Can am website

In the United States, converting motorcycles into trikes is very common and there are quite a few companies that produce conversion kits, and even more that perform the conversion.

In Europe, one of the most famous companies producing factory trikes is Rewaco, they use both car washing units and motorcycle units, but recently they abandoned the motorcycle layout and motorcycle units and concentrated on using automobile units, after all, they have a greater margin of safety and reliability.

Among motor scooters (scooters), three-wheeled ones have appeared, but they are not considered trikes, since in essence it is an ordinary scooter, it just has a double wheel in front, primarily this was done to improve stability and controllability on slippery roads, for example in the rain on paving stones (in European countries, scooters are used almost all year round, especially where there are no long subzero temperatures and snow.

Transportation of trikes and any other motor vehicles moto-perevozki.ru

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Prevalence

Three-wheeled motorcycles today are an extremely common form of transport only in some countries. For example, in the United States of America it is unlikely that you will surprise anyone by appearing on the road on a tricycle. Also, naturally, trikes are a popular vehicle in Japan, which is always ahead of the curve with new technologies. Moreover, Scandinavian countries are also gradually starting to use tricycles on a regular basis as a standard means of transportation. In Russia at the moment there are not many trikes, but you can get one of them without any problems - they are just used mainly for entertainment, extreme trips, and so on. So far, the widespread use of the tricycle as a standard vehicle is not expected, and in the near future the three-wheeled motorcycle will be a rare guest on Russian roads.

The fundamental difference between a tricycle and a trike

If you say “motorcycle,” the brain first of all pictures two wheels, right? GQ decided to break stereotypes and take a closer look at the outstanding representatives of three-wheeled motorcycle families - trikes and tricycles.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON TRI-GLIDE ULTRA

Seat height:

t 2,430,000 rub.

This is a real chrome-plated royal throne, with a front end reminiscent of the protection of a firing point and the dimensions of another small car. Tri-Glide looks more than rich and impressive, but it doesn’t leave you a chance in city traffic jams. You will have to stand with everyone with a significant look, as if you enjoy swallowing the exhaust of surrounding cars, and be consoled only by the fact that the smartphone cameras of the entire stream are turned on you.

In city traffic, side streets and tight parking lots, the Tri-Glide is a tormentor. Just look, you'll forget yourself and catch someone with the stern, or you'll even flip over in a sharp turn - there are no multi-link suspensions or other amenities in the trike, so it turns reluctantly and scary. However, on a suburban highway the trike has no equal: the powerful 1.7-liter engine perfectly pulls the chariot, which tenaciously clings to the asphalt with three points of support, and the stability and stability of the device allows you to lounge in a comfortable leather saddle as you please. At the same time, the passenger is not forbidden to even take a nap.

CAN-AM SPYDER RS-S

Seat height:

“Damn, what was that?” - the amazed man in the street exhales when an eerie, squat creature rushes past him, as if he had come from a science-fiction blockbuster. Muscular and lean, this device is the very embodiment of swiftness and drive. True, you can’t really get around in traffic jams either, but in more or less free traffic, the Spyder allows you to misbehave worse than any hot hatch. Fortunately, motorists, seeing a tricycle in the mirror, readily move to the side to see the miracle machine.

It’s important to hang around in the middle row, basking in the admiring glances of those around you, but it’s unlikely that you’ll succeed: a tricycle provokes, if not a blast, then, in any case, a vigorous riding style. The combination of weight and revving engine makes it possible to turn the device into a natural rocket, and the semi-automatic gearbox and automatic clutch allow you not to be distracted from maneuvers once again. And, believe me, they are lightning fast - in terms of handling and turning, no motorcycle, much less a trike, can keep up with the Spyder: perhaps only a real spider can change direction so quickly.

Tricycle [ edit | edit code]

Cargo bike [ edit | edit code]

Cargo bikes are most often made with three wheels.

Velotrike [edit | edit code]

- a tricycle that allows you to ride while reclining.

By design, there are models in which two wheels are located at the rear and the drive is on the front wheel, or models with rear wheel drive, which have two wheels in the front. Due to better aerodynamics, and also due to the fact that when pedaling, the pilot rests his back against the back of the seat and can thus exert more force [ source not specified 3139 days

], trikes are faster than bicycles. [ source not specified 3139 days

] Thanks to the three-wheeled design and very low center of gravity, trikes have excellent stability on roads and bends. The frame, like conventional bicycles, can be made of steel, chromium-molybdenum alloy or aluminum.

The length-adjustable pedal stand allows you to adjust the trike to the height of the pilot; the design feature is that it does not require changing the length of the chain. Steering is usually done using handles on both sides of the seat. The brake levers are on the same handles.

Children's tricycle [ edit | edit code]

Tricycle

- one of the types of children's bicycles.

What is a tricycle (trike)?

Tricycles, although they began to attract the attention of road users relatively recently, appeared in the 18th century. Then the audience was presented with a three-wheeled steam engine capable of traveling 5 km. Today it is a huge category of vehicles, combining configurations with three wheels. They can be with or without a motor, open, closed, horizontal or vertical.

In the popular vocabulary, the words “trike” and “tricycle” are often used interchangeably. Let us clarify that the first is a subcategory of the second. Trikes are three-wheeled motorcycles that have one front and two rear wheels located symmetrically to the axis, and their technical characteristics allow them to travel on public roads. To drive a tricycle, category A license is not enough. If you are the owner of a model with a 50 cc engine, loaded with a weight of 550 kg, you will need category B1. B license holders can freely drive trikes and other three-wheeled vehicles.

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The appearance of a three-wheeled motorcycle deserves special attention: the length of the fork is increased, there may be spikes on the rear wheels, and the engine is often located at the rear. But most of all, the public’s attention is attracted by custom models made on the basis of familiar domestic and imported bikes.

GT for long holds

Yamaha Niken GT is a version for traveling or long trips in comfort. Not the least important role in this is played by the enlarged windshield, which will deflect the oncoming traffic from the heads of even tall drivers.

There is a comfortable seat, heated grips, a rear luggage rack and side saddlebags. The downside of the latter is that they have zippers, so they are not airtight and allow water to pass through during heavy rains. Oh yes, they are also small.

Characteristics

The Lifan tricycle has the following technical parameters:

  • power unit - single-cylinder four-stroke engine (volume - 197 cc, air cooling);
  • gearbox - five-speed manual transmission;
  • clutch unit - multi-disc element;
  • fuel tank volume - 11 liters;
  • weight - 305 kilograms;
  • length/width/height - 3.2/1.25/1.4 meters;
  • fuel consumption per 100 km - 6.5 liters.
  • the body is a dump truck with folding sides.

The Lifan cargo motorcycle (tricycle) has a number of advantages. These include easy access to the engine, several color designs, affordable price and ease of maintenance.

List of serial trikes

Global manufacturers took care of motorcyclists who are not ready to turn their garage into a car repair shop by releasing the following models to the market:

  • Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide. It has a 1.7-liter V-Twin engine with 87 horsepower, a Brembo brake system, and a 6-speed gearbox. Cruise control, an adjustable list, and a powerful audio system are responsible for driver comfort.

  • Yamaha Niken. Designed on the basis of the “Japanese” YZF-R3, the model pleased the public with its appearance in 2021. The biker has a 900 cc engine and sporty driving dynamics at his disposal. Thanks to the atypical design, the Yamaha does not care about sharp turns, corners, or winding serpentines.

  • Can-Am Spyder. Stylish, modern, maneuverable tricycle, originally from Canada. Accelerates in 4.5 seconds to 100 km. But its main advantage is the presence of several security systems. The 106-cid Spider engine is manufactured in Austria.

  • Honda Goldwing Trike. Super comfortable model with a 1.8 liter engine. The 5-speed gearbox and 25-liter fuel tank are ideal for long journeys. The Goldwing competes with its two-wheeled sibling.

  • Fantom. Available in a wide range of colors, the trike is compact and easy to operate. The engine capacity is 300 cm3, gasoline consumption is only 1.8 liters per 100 km. ways. It has a strong design, LED lighting, on-board computer. Despite its small dimensions, it is quite ergonomic and roomy.

Tricycles are very different and unique. But their common superpower is to inspire masters and not leave the public indifferent. If you want to combine fast movement in city traffic and gain popularity, a three-wheeled vehicle is for you!

Do-it-yourself trikes: how to make them from which motorcycles

Homemade tricycles are a common phenomenon in Russia and abroad. Only the base is different. In our latitudes, Java, Izh, Dnieper, and Ural are more often chosen for upgrades. Thanks to the powerful opposition engine, the Dnieper and the Ural often give life to a new miracle of technology. For a less powerful model, a moped engine is suitable. Another reason for this choice is minimal costs. Few people decide to cut an imported bike for the sake of experiment.

To design the axle, you will need a profile pipe and drawings of trikes, which can be found on the Internet. Sometimes the “donors” for the axles are old bicycles, and the engines are Zaporozhets and Zhigulis.

Despite the small costs of hardware, you need to prepare for additional expenses: purchases, installation of seats, lights, if desired - chrome plating, if necessary, drive on the roads - registration with the traffic police.

Foton FT-110 ZY

This brand is widely represented in the domestic market. The tricycle of the series in question has an original design, an affordable price and good characteristics.

  • power unit - engine with a volume of 110 cubic centimeters and a power of 8 horsepower;
  • fuel consumption is about three liters per hundred kilometers;
  • load capacity - up to 200 kg;
  • maximum speed - fifty kilometers per hour;
  • gearbox - four-speed unit with reverse and reverse.

The Foton line also includes more powerful versions, differing in engines, transmission and load capacity.

general information

The three-wheeled cargo bike is not particularly new to the transportation industry. Similar samples have been known since Soviet times (“Ant”, “Dnepr”, MT with a sidecar). However, modern modifications of domestic brands and foreign analogues have made a huge leap forward. First of all, this concerns the power unit, functionality and additional equipment.

Small equipment can be equipped with a flatbed or dump body, have a reinforced suspension on springs or be equipped with car tires. Variations with a cabin have been developed. The power of the power unit varies between 11-18 horsepower, and fuel consumption is about 3-5 liters per hundred kilometers.

Tricycle. Types and application. Advantages and disadvantages. Peculiarities

A tricycle is a three-wheeled vehicle with or without a motor. A tricycle can mean a three-wheeled motorcycle, car or bicycle.

Popular tricycle designs

The name tricycle combines a wide range of vehicles of various designs. The differences between them can be dramatic. They differ in the level of comfort, speed, engine type, safety class, availability of a cabin and other parameters.

Having three wheels allows a tricycle to have higher stability than two-wheeled vehicles and be more maneuverable than four-wheeled vehicles. A small number of parts reduces the complexity of maintenance and repair of such devices. All this allows us to call tricycles an alternative between a car and a motorcycle.

Moto tricycle

This is a classic vehicle, which is a device similar to a motorcycle, but with 2 front wheels. It uses a regular motorcycle handlebar. The design may include a roof for protection from precipitation and headwinds.

Due to the presence of two front wheels, it is ensured:

The strong supporting frame and stability allow the installation of powerful motors on tricycles. In addition, it should be noted that there is an abundance of similar electric-powered devices. They significantly exceed conventional electric motorcycles in terms of power reserve, as they have plenty of space for installing large batteries.

Tricycles can be built on the basis of a sports, road, touring motorcycle or chopper. Due to the width of the wheels, they all have higher maneuverability than two-wheeled vehicles. The cost of tricycles is significantly higher than a regular motorcycle, due to the use of more parts. Increasing complexity of the device is accompanied by more expensive maintenance and repairs. In this regard, despite obvious advantages in certain areas, tricycles are less popular than motorcycles.

Two driving wheels

It's time to figure out what a three-wheeled motorcycle can be. In fact, there are not so many options, but the most common of them is a vehicle with two rear driven wheels and one driven front wheel. This is a great design that allows you to achieve both high speed and excellent stability. Such models can often be found both on roads in standard traffic in countries where this type of transport is common, and in other places as recreational transport. However, before you go to buy or rent a three-wheeled motorcycle, you should definitely look at the photo. The fact is that two wheels are not always driving.

Cargo motorcycles "Lifan": description

The St. Petersburg company offered consumers a cargo-type tricycle called “Lifan.” The vehicle is an analogue of the Chinese version of the LF-200 ZH3. The equipment is designed for transporting small-sized cargo weighing up to 275 kilograms. The cargo motorcycle is equipped with a four-stroke gasoline engine with a displacement of 200 cubic centimeters and a power of seventeen “horses”. The multi-disc clutch assembly is placed in an oil bath. The power plant is started using a kickstarter or electric ignition.

The tipping body of the vehicle is designed according to the principle of a dump truck, which speeds up the unloading of bulk materials. The modification under consideration is economical, practical and light weight. Thanks to the presence of folding sides and compact dimensions, Lifan is excellent for use in the agricultural sector. Safety is ensured by a drum-type brake unit, and the tank capacity is enough to cover 170 kilometers without refueling.

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New "Ant"

The reanimated model of the famous Soviet tricycle was manufactured by Soul. A copy of the legendary “Ant” has the following capabilities:

  • engine - four-stroke engine;
  • volume - two hundred cubic centimeters;
  • power - 16.5 horsepower;
  • the five-speed gearbox is equipped with reverse gear;
  • there is a lightweight cardan shaft;
  • suspension - double spring system;
  • enlarged body;
  • improved optics;
  • reinforced front fork.

In addition, the Ant Soul cargo three-wheeled motorcycles are equipped with a self-tipping side, can transport up to seven hundred kilograms of cargo, and are easy to maintain and repair.

In a situation of economic crisis, small business owners are wondering how they can save money and not lose profits. For most business companies, cargo transportation is a major item in the cost estimate. If we are talking about small-sized and not too heavy loads, then the ideal option would be to switch to three-wheeled motorcycles, the so-called tricycles or trikes

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