While I was out and about a few days ago, I saw an odd-looking motorcycle. I didn’t get a really good look at it, as it was coming towards me, and by the time I realized there was something different about it and took a second look, it was past me.
It was a “trike”, two wheels in front and one in the rear. But the wheels in front were not set widely apart like you would expect, they were only about six inches apart.
Is anything like this being made in production? Or did I likely see something custom-made? What’s the benefit in having two front wheels that close together?
Yep, that was probably it. Cool! Maybe I’ll find a Yamaha dealer nearby and take one for a test drive! (Although I’m more of a cruiser guy than sport bike.)
As a technically minded guy, my first reaction was “well that’s needlessly complex, twice the number of failure points”, then “boy is it UGLY!” (And I own a Yamaha myself, ‘99 V-Star 650 Classic ) and finally “how can it possibly corner “better” with a wider front track, a single tire would be more precise
It may have slightly more stability and grip in the corners, but it won’t be as crisp or precise, they basically bolted a tire to each fork tube
It’ll be a heck of a lot more expensive at tire change time…
I find this fascinating. Unnecessary, but so are many of the great vehicles. And many more of the failed ones. Time to go find someone who has tried it for an opinion. (FWIW, I don’t ride myself due to a sometimes severe vertigo problem. But I used to do so.)
