Photo Gallery: Harley's Rumored Leanable Trike
Tuesday September 30, 2008
If you thought the idea of a leaning scooter with two front wheels was weird, consider the rumors surrounding a top secret Harley project Wired says will be unveiled at next month's Intermot motorcycle show. Concept sketches of this three-wheeler by Harley-Davidson depict a product markedly different than their existing Tri Glide Ultra Classic, and features a suspension system that enables wheels to change camber as the vehicle leans into turns.
The rumored bike is expected to boast a V-Rod-sourced powerplant, which certainly would put it in a different category than the Piaggio MP3 or even BRP's Can-Am Spyder. We'll keep you posted on when rumors and innuendo become fact, but in the meantime take a look at our Photo Gallery with sketches of the Harley Concept Trike.
Related:
Photo © Harley-Davidson/U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Click for Photo Gallery
Comments
Interesting, but I think they’re missing the mark. It seems like a trike would be targeted at the aging baby boomers who will increasingly have trouble balancing a 700+ lb. machine. If that’s the case, they need to stick more to the classic bike - old school looks and air-cooled 45 degree v-twin.
Last year a Harley dealer told me that he couldn’t get enough v-rods because they were selling so fast. He did, however, have four of them in the showroom.
That’s what I’m talking about in my comment last week about the Piaggio. We need leaning three wheeled motorcycles for those that can’t hold up a bike, but love the asphalt dancing.
The side view looks incredibly close to the RBR Spyder. Their trike, in the one test I read though I have been following development for over a year, has the handling tested as great but the stopping power as pitiful. Something would also have to address more storage. I mean if your gonna ride something that ugly it ought to at least keep your undies dry!