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Your Guide to Motorcycle Trikes

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

A motorcycle trike must be custom made, so there is the cost of the motorcycle plus the conversion. In general, an average motorcycle may cost between $15,000 and $20,000. The conversion may cost up to $10,000. Some motorcycle trikes are sold used, so it is possible to purchase one that already exists. Prices of used motorcycle trikes will vary, depending on what the owner asks. When purchasing a motorcycle trike, it is always a good idea to have it professionally inspected by a mechanic.

There are trike conversion companies offering their services, most of which are located in the United States and Canada. Most of these companies are able to convert any motorcycle into a trike quite easily. The rear wheel and any saddlebags are removed and the bike is rebuilt from there. Additionally, there are motorcycle trike kits that consumers may purchase to do the conversion on their own. Doing this is not highly advised without sufficient experience. Many people confuse motorcycle trikes with the 3-wheel ATVs that were banned in the past. Motorcycle trikes are actually much safer than ATVs as they have a low center of gravity, a shaft drive, powerful engines, and wide rear tires. Overall,motorcycle trikes are quite safe and stable.

Motorcycle trikes do have several advantages over traditional motorcycles, aside from being safer in general. One pleasant aspect of driving a motorcycle trike is that riders do not need to put their feet down when they come to a stop. Furthermore, a passenger may ride without the prospect of tipping the bike over during the ride. The addition of a third wheel also prevents fatigue for riders who travel in stop-and-go traffic. At both rallies, bike shows, and with general motorcycle enthusiasts, the popularity of motorcycle trikes is growing more and more. For any bike enthusiast that is looking for something a little out of the ordinary, a motorcycle trike is definitely the way to go. They are fun, exciting, and will definitely bring a bit of extra attention to the rider in any location.

A Guide to Trikes

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

If you’re thinking of buying a trike, then the following is a useful starting point. This article covers the basics of trike ownership and is aimed at those looking to purchase a machine in the UK.

The first thing that you may not know about trikes is that they can be powered by either a car engine or a motorcycle engine. Which engine is providing the power will influence the weight of the vehicle and its performance.

When you come to buy a machine, you’ll need to consider what you are legally qualified to ride. If in doubt, check with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

The weight of the machine will also make a difference to the testing standards that are applied. Once again, you need to check the legal status of your vehicle to make sure that you have a valid MOT certificate at all times. One question that confuses a lot of people is the issue of helmets. In the UK, at the time of writing, it is not a legal obligation to wear a helmet when wearing a motorized trike.

You will find that some police officers are unsure of this, mainly because seeing a trike on the road is still relatively rare. Many trike owners do decide to wear a helmet, finding that it offers protection from dirt, the weather and any other debris. The choice is yours, although it is certainly the case that there are some excellent trike designs available.

The question of seat belts is far less obvious. The decision on whether or not you have to wear seat belts is down to the weight and age of your vehicle.

At the time of writing, this means that you do have to wear a seatbelt if your trike has an unladen weight of more than 410kg and was first used on or after 1 January 1965. Similarly, you would also need a seatbelt if your vehicle has an unladen weight of more than 255kg and was first used on or after 1 September 1970.

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