Trike

Tampa Trike has developed an exciting new way to make three wheel motor vehicles safer, comfortable, and more accessible for everyone. 

Their innovative vehicle chassis design allows for the vehicle to autonomously lean when cornering. This three wheel vehicle is driven like a normal vehicle and requires nothing from the driver to lean at the proper angle. The various videos on the website capture the chassis in action. 

Storyboard 5 shows the chassis function old school style. 

The Chassis In Action

The main reason for vehicle lean is to shift the majority of the vehicle weight to the inside of the corner. This has been the great advantage of a motorcycle over a traditional four wheel vehicle, but the big leans take a lot of skill, nerve, and can be physically demanding for some riders. With this patent chassis setup, the driver will forget to notice the big leans or feel the centrifugal force.

The suspension needed for our patented design is different from designs used on other three and four wheel vehicles. If traditional “A” arms were employed, the chassis leaning would force the front wheels to lean. Some “A” arm pivot locations can cause the front wheels to lean more than the chassis. Front wheel patches would become very small, reducing their grip and wear life.

A second detrimental effect of using “A” arms with a leaning vehicle is the front wheel alignment would vary during the lean movement. Depending on which wheel has the most grip will determine the new vehicle travel direction on its own. We choose to keep the maximum rubber engagement and allow the driver to be solely in control of the steering.

Our Unique Patented Design

Unlike traditional trikes, our three-wheel chassis design allows for various power sources, including electric, gasoline, and diesel. This unique patented design provides improved stability, handling, and cornering, making it a safer and more comfortable drive. We did a lot of testing to make sure the trike was predictable time after time. An arbitrarily squirrely vehicle is not fun to drive. I am sure we enlarged some potholes, scared people running through off-camber corner dips, and mowed some grass. A fair amount of tweaking took place to get this chassis design to settle down. We are pleased with the results and are ready for other people to enjoy this new patented motor vehicle chassis design.

We believe that our patented chassis design is the future of three wheel vehicles. It has been a lot of work to get it right and we are excited to share it with the world. We also believe there are some innovative people that can take this design up a notch. We are offering our product Patent License Single Vehicle Only so that one can use the patent design as they see fit. Bring your best game. Hoo ah! That is a Double Dog Dare!

Motor trikes and motorcycles are two popular modes of transportation for people who enjoy the thrill of the open road without the constraints of a car. While both offer a unique riding experience, there is often a debate about which is safer. 

Understanding the Differences Between Motor Trikes and Motorcycles

First, it’s important to understand the differences between a trike and a motorcycle. A trike, also known as a trike motorcycle, three-wheeled motorcycle, or three-wheeler, has three wheels and a motorcycle-like design. A motorcycle, on the other hand, has two wheels and a more streamlined design. Both have motors.

Types of Trikes Available on the Market

There are several types of trikes available on the market, including gas powered trikes, electric trike motorcycles, and drift trikes. Gas powered trikes, as the name suggests, use gasoline as their primary fuel source. They are often larger and more powerful than electric trikes, with some engines ranging from 50cc trikes to 1400cc trikes. Gas powered trikes are generally faster and more powerful than electric trikes. This makes them a good choice for people who want a more traditional motorcycle-like experience. 

Electric trikes, on the other hand, use an electric motor and battery pack to power the vehicle. They are typically smaller and less powerful than gas powered trikes, with motors ranging from 500W and 1500W. Electric trikes are sometimes more affordable and easier to maintain. They are also more environmentally friendly since they produce  little noise. 

Drift trikes are designed for drifting and sliding around corners. They typically have a large front wheel and smaller rear wheels, and they are often ridden on downhill slopes or in specially designed drift parks. There can be both electric drift trikes or gas powered drift trikes. 

When it comes to motor trikes, there are even choices when it comes to seating. A Ride On motor trike entails occupying the seat or saddle directly, where the rider experiences the elements and a heightened sense of speed and motion, similar to a motorcycle. In contrast, a Ride In motor trike involves being seated within a chassis, more like automotive seating. These distinctions highlight the choice between an immersive, open-air ride and a more sheltered, controlled experience within a motor trike.

The Customization of Motor Trikes

For enthusiasts who enjoy the customizing aspect of riding, there is also the option of a trike low rider. These have a low, stretched-out trike frame and are designed to sit very low to the ground. They are often customized with elaborate paint jobs and chrome accents.

Trike kits and trike conversion kits are another option for people who want a customized riding experience. A motorcycle trike conversion kit allows you to convert a traditional two-wheeled motorcycle into a three-wheeled trike, often using a bolt-on conversion process. Trike kits can be purchased from a variety of manufacturers to make custom trikes that fit your specific needs and preferences. 

Stability and Safety: The Case for Trikes

One of the main arguments in favor of motor trikes is that they are more stable than motorcycles. Because they have three wheels instead of two, they offer more balance and stability, especially when going around corners or taking turns. This can make them a good choice for people who are new to riding or who have physical limitations that make it difficult to balance on a two-wheeled motorcycle. 

Do you need a motorcycle license for a trike though? Depends on the state you’re in. A few states only require a regular driver’s license, but most others, including Florida, may require a specific three-wheel motorcycle license. 

Motor trikes have a lower center of gravity than motorcycles, which can make them more stable at low speeds. This can be especially helpful when navigating tight spaces or when maneuvering in heavy traffic. In addition, some trikes are designed with extra safety features, such as roll cages, seat belts, and airbags. These can all provide additional protection in the event of an accident. 

Making the Choice: Trikes vs. Motorcycles

However, it’s important to note that trikes are not immune to accidents. They are still vulnerable to collisions with other vehicles or obstacles, and riders can still be injured in a crash. They are especially dangerous in wet or slippery conditions. 

While trikes do offer some advantages in terms of stability and safety, they are not necessarily safer than motorcycles. Both types of vehicles come with risks and require careful attention to safety and proper training. It’s up to each individual rider to weigh the pros and cons and make the choice that’s right for you.

Tampa Trike

Tampa Trike is a business that is passionate about creating high-quality trikes. We are focused on building and selling a unique tilting trike design. Our three-wheel chassis design allows for various power sources. This unique design also provides improved stability, handling, and cornering, making it safer and more comfortable to drive. We believe that our tilting trike is the future of trikes, and we are excited to share it with the world.

Transportation is always evolving. While three wheeled bicycles have been around since 1680 motorized trikes have come to the forefront of vehicle innovation more recently. Three wheeled vehicles are commonly known as trikes. But what makes a trike a trike? When it comes to these three wheeled machines there are some differences to note regarding style, components and rideability. In this article, we’ll give you the rundown on everything you need to know about three wheeled motorcycles.

History of the Trike

The first mass produced adult motorized trike comes from the De Dion-Bouton company in France. The De Dion-Bouton Tricycle went into production in 1897 and sold around 15,000 units during its five years of production. These trikes sold for an average price of 1000 – 1500 gold marks which is equivalent to around 11,000 USD today. The last model that was produced in 1904 boasted a 955 cc engine that produced 8 HP at 1,800 RPM.

Types of Three-Wheeled Motorcycles

Three-wheeled vehicles are not all built the same. There are different variations on this design that all center around three wheels. Most trikes are gasoline powered but some electric options are available as well. The four most common types of three wheeled motorcycles are: regular trikes, reverse trikes, sidecar motorcycles, and outrigger trikes.

Regular Trikes

Regular trikes are the most common style of trike to see in the US. Regular trikes consist of two wheels in back and one in the front. These are often factory built trikes but there are now trike conversion kits that allow you to build a custom trike from a two wheeled motorcycle.

Reverse Trikes

Reverse trikes have two wheels in the front and one wheel in the back. They can also be referred to as “wheels front” trikes and are becoming a more popular option for people looking for a trike that drives like a motorcycle. Wheels front trikes are leaning, meaning they can lean into turns like a regular motorcycle. Other options are rigid and offer less grip when going around corners or making sharp turns.

Sidecar Motorcycles

Sidecars are an older style of trike that are rare to find these days. Sidecar trikes consist of a regular motorcycle with a 1-wheeled sidecar that can store a passenger or gear. These are not traditionally what we think of when we think of a trike motorcycle and were more prevalent in the 1950s. Movies contributed to their growth but faded out of popularity because of readily available cheap automobiles.

Outrigger Trikes

You might do a double take when first looking at an outrigger trike because technically they use four wheels instead of three. Outrigger trikes have converted a regular motorcycle into a trike without removing the back wheel. They utilize a two wheel assembly surrounding the original rear wheel of the motorcycle. This essentially works like training wheels on a regular bicycle.

Trikes can also be categorized further between adult trike scooters and adult trike motorcycles. Trike motorcycles tend to have bigger engines like a 600-1,400 cc producing around 50-120 HP. While trike scooters typically run smaller engines like 50-500 cc with automatic transmissions. There are also styles like foldable electric trikes, trike mopeds, and motorized drift trikes.

Whatever custom trike you want to buy, or build there are plenty of options to choose from. The hard part is going to be deciding on just one. If you need inspiration on where to start check out Tampa Trike for reverse trike design ideas as well as trikes for sale.

Making a smooth autonomous lean transition

This video shows the trike making a smooth autonomous lean transition from right to left. Like a two wheel vehicle, when this three wheel vehicle leans, the rear wheel becomes an active steering component.

Very little steering input is all that is required to drive through these two corners. Looks like the right hand goes from 2 o’clock to 12. Chassis pivot angle setting determines how much steering input is needed for the type of corner at the current vehicle speed. Drawings for the chassis pivot angle setting are Fig. 7A through 9B in the Booklet. The front wheels do not show any noticeable lean so they remain fully engaged with the road surface.  The first four production custom trikes will have adjustable steering caster. See Drawing Booklet Fig, 12. Once the sweet spot is located, all future 250 cc and 750 cc trikes will have a fixed steering caster angle. The 1400 cc will retain the adjustable steering caster setup.

Suspension caster can be changed with reversing or different mounting blocks at the chassis pivot housing. See Drawing Booklet Fig 6  (item 125). We do not expect the chassis to be distortion free from the welding process. Some adjustability will be good. The toe-in alignment will be adjustable. No other wheel alignment is required. Ackerman Steering will be set by design. The steering rod brackets can be changed if needed. See Drawing Booklet Fig 11  (item 166).

The driver has an up close view of the front suspension and wheels doing their job. This has always been a treat to see and feel the connectivity. The production models will need minimalistic splash guards. Spookie, the graphic artist, will help with this. This work product has taken a lot of time, money and patience to get what we felt was right. The three-wheeled bikes have always been a pleasure to drive through corners. We believe we have a clean and manufacturable product for people to enjoy.

Divide and Conquer the Road: Independent steering and lean functions

Here we are showing the independent steering and lean functionality of the custom trikes. When the vehicle is stationary, turning the steering wheel to a lock position does not change vehicle lean position.

When throttle is added, the adult trike will lean automatically to the current appropriate lean position. Here the rear wheel track is inside the inside front wheel track. This will vary with speed and steering radius. Twice in a neighborhood corner, the rear wheel track has been so far inside that the outside front wheel lifted off the road surface. Repeating this has never been tried.

The king pin and shock relationship can be seen as well. The kingpin is the shock shaft. The production trike has two shocks per wheel. This is mainly done for structural strength of the front beam assembly and for separation of the steering and suppression casters. Each shock has two ports. Lower one for filling with oil. The second is for air exhaust during filling. In the application, there are four shock ports per wheel. There are at least five (5) ways these ports can be piped. Exterior flow control/check valves can be utilized in a manual or auto adjustment.

What is fun about the way the three wheel vehicle trike conquers a corner is that one has the familiar automotive type control yet it feels more like a small airplane. The driver mostly feels compression. Visual is the main cornering clue. It is unknown what the maximum cornering speed indicator would be. It may be just common sense or the po-po.