What do you think of this??

[Ace-Garageguy]

Are tricycle cars (three-wheelers) legal in all 50 states?

The Fed considers anything with less than 4 wheels to be a motorcycle, so the vast majority of 3-wheelers don't have to conform to any safety standards. Every state I'm familiar with follows the same reasoning (at least, that's the way it was a few years back).

[Harry P.]

Are tricycle cars (three-wheelers) legal in all 50 states?

http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/article/slingshot-motorcycle-or-not-states-push-back-and-dealers-wait

[Ace-Garageguy]

Obviously (or maybe not) one of the great attractions of a three-wheeled vehicle to a small or startup company is that, if it IS defined as a motorcycle, it doesn't have to face the crippling financial and weight expense of being certified as a protect-the-passengers-from-human-stupidity-and-inattentiveness device.

This was the reason my own vehicle project, launched in 1984, focused primarily on a 3-wheeled vehicle. There was simply no way a small company could build a certified "car", but a limited-production "motorcycle" was feasible.

I even went so far as to begin the certification process of the vehicle structure as a "helmet", under the letter of the laws as then written, in order to allow the thing to be operated without an additional helmet in states that required them on bikes.

To try to saddle any 3-wheeled ultralight vehicle with occupant protection required of a "car" is missing the entire point that a motorcycle offers ZERO occupant protection, and it is a personal choice to operate one in a 'dangerous' environment. 

And so it should be...as long as the operator / owner / consumer IS MADE VERY AWARE THE THINGS AREN'T CRASHMOBILES.

 

Edited April 27, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[Harry P.]

All I want to know is how many cupholders are there? 

[Ace-Garageguy]

All I want to know is how many cupholders are there? 

Don't forget the iPod dock and the Wi-Fi, and computerized mirror adjusters and butt warmers.

Edited April 27, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[BigTallDad]

OK, with the preceding in mind...

Most (if not all) states require a unique license to operate a motorcycle. I wonder how many folks have purchase a trike, thinking it was a "car", and are operating it without the proper license.

[Snake45]

OK, with the preceding in mind...

Most (if not all) states require a unique license to operate a motorcycle. I wonder how many folks have purchase a trike, thinking it was a "car", and are operating it without the proper license.

I'd be good. I have a cycle rating on my license, even though I haven't been on one since the day I GOT the cycle license in 1989.

[stavanzer]

I'd buy one. What is it?

[Ace-Garageguy]

I'd buy one. What is it?

Here ya go. Only $25,000 and you too can have something that looks like it was designed by a 5-year old.

http://www.autoblog.com/2015/11/12/defiant-ev3-three-wheel-translogic-188/

 

 

[bismarck]

This is when I start taking the bus.

Amen....

[Rob Hall]

I think if I wanted an electric car, I'd look into the Focus Electric...or a used Tesla Model S.   This 'Defiant' thing is too weird for me.

Edited April 28, 2016 by Rob Hall

[Jon Haigwood]

Electric cars are not as great as they say. I have had several. They were as fast as heck and sporty but I was always dumping more money into them.

Of course they were 1/10 scale RC, but they were more fun than a Smart Car

[stavanzer]

Thanks, I won't be able to afford one.

[Deathgoblin]

Ummmm...  No. Looks like someone cut a wedge out of the front of a '36 Ford.  It looks like a classy doorstop.