Can Am Leaning Trike Patent

[Fisher858]

Harley has a reverse trike patent pending...

Harley has had this reverse trike, independently-sprung front wheels, patent pending since 2005. Check it out below, especially the very intelligent comments from readers...

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/06/01/harley-davidson-leaning-trike-patent-application/

No sour grapes here. I took possession of a 2011 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited three weeks ago. A great ride, thanks to Spyder tech Dr. Nick, the professor of motor cyclology, who assembled it from the box it came in and set it up perfectly. Traded-in my 2008 RS. I'm a Can-Am fan.

Hey, I'm just sayin. It will be a fight to the finish between Harley and Can-Am for market share among the 3-wheeling crowd of "aging riders and their ladies," the demo both companies are going after. I'm 68, so I can say that.

My guess is Can-Am will win the duel. They have far more corporate resources from parent Bombardier. Harley, sad to say, is just another great American icon about to be put under by US taxes, off-shore outsourcing, and foreign imports.

Ride safe, brothers and sisters.

(We had a tragedy here in San Diego yesterday. A 68-year old 3-wheel rider was rear-ended and killed at a freeway traffic slow-down by a 23-year old going "about 65," according to the CHP. RIP to this good man and
prayers to his family.)

 

[fastfraser]

Piaggio Mp3 has had a leaning trike / scooter for years ! Manual lock for under 5 kph. Had one that I traded for my Spyder. Had the 500cc. What a blast, would out lean any stock bike. Not so good on the HYW,the transports would blow you all over the place .

 

[draboo]

Before y'all get too excited..
from CYCLEWORLD,JUNE 2011, pg 18

"There already are other leaning three wheeler designs out there,so its not suprising that Can Am wanted to ensure that, in the event it decides to expand the Spyder lineup with a "leaner', it would not have to license anhybody else's design"-Chaz Rice,Can Am rep, Valcourt

Seems like a case of CYA.

 

[AMTJIM]

I don't think the speed proportional leaning will be too hard. Aircraft arleady have this, maybe they robbed it from Bombardier aircraft. High speed aircraft with hydraulics have a transition of aileron and rudder ratio. The higher the speed the less throw a rudder is allowed for example. With 3000psi pushing the control surface instead of muscle and cable, it's easy to over control. It may very well borrow it's signal from the steering assist if no new computer is added. A simple image would be to think of 2 drinking cups, one fixed and one mounted to the leaning suspension. A solenoid will power the one attached to the leaning suspension forward and aft. When stopped, the solenoid pushes the cup forward and they stack tight, the bike wil be locked vertical. As you move forward and accelerate, the solenoid retracts the cup and allows lean angle. It may just fully retract by 10mph, I think gyroscopic phenomena is in effect by then, I'm sure hey are playing with it.

 

[DragonSpyder]

I'm guessing it will lean as you turn the bars and not as the rider leans. This will eliminate the need for any lock.

 

[DJS]

leaner

Carver has been using this tech for yrs in Europe,Son has had 1 for 3 yrs

 

[Firefly]

Pertaining to HD - they have become nothing more than a clothing retailer that happens to sell motorcycles. They make more from just selling Chinese made t shirts than bikes- and this doesn't count all the other Chinese made trinkets they hawk.

HD won't ever bring a reverse trike to market. BRP is the current expert in this technology and things will only get better IMO.

 

[wukka]

Carver has been using this tech for yrs in Europe,Son has had 1 for 3 yrs

Yes, that is one truly cool LEANING ride.

And for how many years have they said "Coming SOON to the US?"

 

[bjt]

Yes, that is one truly cool LEANING ride.

And for how many years have they said "Coming SOON to the US?"

At least three years. We have / had a member here (screen name Derwin) who was running a forum for Carvers and I popped over to his forum a few times to learn about those machines.

 

[Firefly]

Don't those Carvers cost like $50,000?

 

[Brunswick]

Don't those Carvers cost like $50,000?

I don't care what they cost. Given what I guess they weigh, and that one skinny little tire up front, I wouldn't dare to do any aggressive cornering in one of these.

 

[aka1004]

If they take steering wheel off and put a handlebar on carver that would be perfect. Carver's lean is THE perfect way to do it, I think.
Rear wheel stays put and only rest of the vehicle leans.
It sure looks fun and stable on video and very nimble. I am guessing it will out manuver spyder easily.

 

[Firefly]

If they take steering wheel off and put a handlebar on carver that would be perfect. Carver's lean is THE perfect way to do it, I think.
Rear wheel stays put and only rest of the vehicle leans.
It sure looks fun and stable on video and very nimble. I am guessing it will out manuver spyder easily.

I'm not sure about that-- since the rear wheels don't lean - it's going to have the possibility of tipping on tight turns like a trike-- although maybe it doesn't turn as tight? Just not sure it would do any better than the Spyder in the twisties.....

 

[aka1004]

I felt that rear wheel being the way it is on carver is the reason for stability.
Since I have not been on neither carver or tilting spyder, I can not comment but it just seems carver would be more nimble but it has steering wheel and roof.

 

[DJS]

Carver

Son has been traveling thruout Austria,italy,germany on his,says twisty's are are gr8 in alps and back roads,never had a problem,only time to dealers was for mods,dealer would come an pickup bike when mods accured,he always went to pickup after done for the ride lol,can't compare on spydrs doing same twisties,think comparing would be apples v oranges,all bikes have good/bad points,not sure what Carvers are but will check, I GET to use it for a month next year when i attend the BlueKnights Intle meeting in Vienna,only then can i give a somewhat honest answer

 

[SXSMachine]

So the Million dollar question then is, who would actually buy a leaning Spyder and would you retrofit a system to your current bike if it was at the right price?

I know I certainly would. As an enabled spyder ryder the ability to lean steer without the chance of the tryke falling over is good but the real benefit itthe lack or as little lateral G foces on me so I have better control of the Spyder and much less fatigue on arms and just in general from fighting it round corners and trying to stay glued to the top.

We should do a sticky and Poll it. what do you think mods? Lemonster?

 

[Arr MiHardies]

Holy dead thread revival Spyder Man!

 

[chickridin]

I just get a Spyder, then you improve the technology to make my new toy obsolete? Arrgghhh!
http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6348675/early-adopters-through-history

This could kill the resale market for exisiting Y's. It just doesn't pay to be an early adopter.... Then again, lots of things get patented and that's as far as they get.

I don't see how it would hurt anything as far as resale. It really wouldn't be any different than a car, or any other motor vehicle...2, 3 or 4 wheels, changing specs year to year.
:dontknow:

 

[Weave2u]

Please say it's not so!! Imho we just don't need it! :yikes:

:agree: I have no problem with current flat turns. The systems involved in allowing the MC to lean is yet another thing that can go wrong. Also, you would need MC tires, etc.... Hmm... I know there will be many who will like the leaning action, I just won't be in that crowd.

 

[ARtraveler]

ldpost:

Jury is out for me. I would not trade my spyder for a "leaner". Anyone know what the surprise announcement was?

opcorn: