Leaning 3 Wheeler

[dndfindley]

Why not combine the maneuverability of a two-wheeler, with the corner stability of a trike? This is a fun game, Bob! :roflblack:

I have no doubt that the Spyder will continue to have its success. But while I was a happy owner of a Spyder for a very long time, I'm not going to pretend that there weren't a LOT of people out there (read forums other than SL, or visit any non-Spyder rally) who took one look at the Spyder-- or one demo ride on the Spyder-- and were turned off simply because they didn't want to give up the sensation of two wheels in exchange for three.

IME, while BRP desperately wants to sell Spyders to the young and beautiful new rider crowd (look at any of their ads), the largest Spyder demographic remains people who for age/medical reasons would either buy another trike, or give up riding altogether. Given the success of the Piaggio MP3 (not in America, but scooters aren't big here-- you can't walk a block in Europe without running into an MP3), there's obviously a market for leaning trikes. This Yamaha and others like it (e.g. Honda Neowing concept) offers a choice to those who would prefer most of the advantages of a Spyder with the fewest compromises of one. It doesn't hurt that something like this doesn't come with the image of the retired rally-hopping Spyder owner with a bum knee (a stereotype to be sure, but one that's prevalent out in the real world, fairly or not).

Anyway... *if* Yamaha doesn't just sell this overseas but brings it to North America, we'll have an interesting experiment in the marketplace to see how popular something like this is. I guarantee that BRP is watching intently to see if it makes business sense to finally offer a leaning Spyder in their lineup.

P.S. All things aside, I just love that Yammy put their triple into this thing... that engine is the best thing about my XSR, it's such a wonderful mill.

You nailed it - man oh man did you nail it!

 

[dndfindley]

In my opinion a bike like this is exactly what BRP is currently lacking. A sport riding position model with power and performance. I say this without riding the Yammi or the Honda Neowing but if BRP isn't going to provide this then I'm going somewhere else that will.

Bingo! BRP did away with the only sporty machine in their line up - the RS. That and the very questionable reliability of the Spyder is what caused me to trade my RT for a Yamaha FJ-09.

 

[Bob Denman]

BRP has the technology for a leaner already on the books, and ready for their use. They even have "computer-controlled leaning", that is in the system software...
Let your computer lean your bike for you? :shocked:
My guess is that they patented it in order to lock out the competition. nojoke

 

[cmbspyderrss]

I just want to see a review and know how much $$. I saw the Honda at 0.46 and i like that one too.

 

[SXSMachine]

:lecturef_smilie: But a tilting trike can be tipped too far... :yikes:

So can a planar trike and two wheeler yet both these are on the road, they arent infallible, stupid kills most every time...

 

[leonml]

Are people that stupid? Yes ok I said it.

Anyone with a clue knows that a leaning trike could be made to handle better then a sport bike and be more stable upright and braking. With technology being as advanced as it is. Modem leaning trike could be made stiffer while upright and at a stop stand by itself, and when cornering adjust to leaning into the corners. Some people are just simple minded and thick headed dolts.
I bet a good percentage of spyder owners, when first seeing the spyder when it was introduced probably shat all over it too.

 

[leonml]

Who was first?

Too bad Harley is stuck and doesn't take chances.

Here's something a bit different from the Motor Company, it's a patent application from Harley Davidson for a leaning trike. It's looks like a cross between the*Can-Am Spyder*and the*Brudeli 625*but it is distinctively Harley with the big twin power plant in there. Whether they are thinking of producing this or something similar, they probably wanted to get the paperwork in to make sure they were covered. Filed on either September 27, 2006 or April 5, 2007, I can't figure out which dates apply, reading patent paperwork can be a bit confusing.

From the application:

The present invention relates to a suspension system for a three-wheeled vehicle. The suspension system permits the vehicle to lean while cornering, much like a motorcycle. This is accomplished via hydraulic actuators that force the bike into a leaning position while turning, and back to an upright position while tracking a straight line. A transverse beam is coupled to the hydraulic actuators and to spring dampers to allow the suspension to operate independently, even while the vehicle is cornering.

 

[SXSMachine]

Too bad Harley is stuck and doesn't take chances.

Here's something a bit different from the Motor Company, it's a patent application from Harley Davidson for a leaning trike. It's looks like a cross between the*Can-Am Spyder*and the*Brudeli 625*but it is distinctively Harley with the big twin power plant in there. Whether they are thinking of producing this or something similar, they probably wanted to get the paperwork in to make sure they were covered. Filed on either September 27, 2006 or April 5, 2007, I can't figure out which dates apply, reading patent paperwork can be a bit confusing.

From the application:

The present invention relates to a suspension system for a three-wheeled vehicle. The suspension system permits the vehicle to lean while cornering, much like a motorcycle. This is accomplished via hydraulic actuators that force the bike into a leaning position while turning, and back to an upright position while tracking a straight line. A transverse beam is coupled to the hydraulic actuators and to spring dampers to allow the suspension to operate independently, even while the vehicle is cornering.

Harley made it but couldnt make the electronics package work is the reason I have heard. I dont think a trike will ever truly reach the ultimate lean angle on a two wheeler you just cannot achieve the offsets mechanically.




But a leaning trike will make everyone but a boy racer a better rider with more control and have a better experience if they are open to that. I mean the kind of riding that would beat a trike properly is only performed on a track.

The one thing we do have now that Harley didnt have is the chance to use far superior electronics even in just a 10 year period, the complete system for a 3 wheeler could be likely run off just a Raspberry Pi or Arduino PC Im writing a Business Concept document for an electronic box and its outputs now across a range of vehicles.

 

[SXSMachine]

Yamaha Accessories

I have a friend that has worked on Trikes for many years and he says he will get a look at the Yamaha net week hopefully, If Ive got some feedback I'll pass it on, but also interestingly he said he may buy one just to look at designing and selling aftermarket improvements. So already there is moves in the industry to make whatever it is better if thats possible.

See what turns up to report. :thumbup:

 

[Slowpoke387]

Now we're talking

I just want to see a review and know how much $$. I saw the Honda at 0.46 and i like that one too.

if the Honda reverse trike becomes reality we will be first in line. I will be watching for this with baited breath...

 

[ARtraveler]

Wow! The Honda reverse trike is VERY NICE looking. And--it's a real Honda. Now if they would get them over here for sale?

I am guessing that a lot of people would jump on that one. :yes::yes:

Did you catch the windshield wiper on the GW? That would be a great feature if they figure out how to not scratch the plastic.

:bbq::bbq::bbq:

 

[Rogue Hawk]

I like the idea, but it's butt ugly...like fugly

 

[SXSMachine]

Revisit performance 3 wheeling

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I dont think a trike will ever truly reach the ultimate lean angle on a two wheeler you just cannot achieve the offsets mechanically.

The Tilting Motor Works reverse trike conversion for the Goldwing will lean as far as the two wheeler will. Pegs, engine guard, etc., are what limit the lean.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Did you catch the windshield wiper on the GW? That would be a great feature if they figure out how to not scratch the plastic.

Wipers are required in Japan.

 

[ofdave]

.

Did you catch the windshield wiper on the GW? That would be a great feature if they figure out how to not scratch the plastic.

:bbq::bbq::bbq:

better yet, figure out how to keep water off the inside of the windshield.
A second wiper?

 

[SXSMachine]

The Tilting Motor Works reverse trike conversion for the Goldwing will lean as far as the two wheeler will. Pegs, engine guard, etc., are what limit the lean.

Its also the system you put on it that can limit the lean and with the Goldwing Im not sure anyone really tries to go to 45 let alone 60 degree lean angles and a video on their facebook page seems to confirm that ride example didnt exceed 45deg but I doubt that people are doing that on two wheels much at all either.

Two things bother me about the TMW.

One is subjectively, the looks, Its not for me. I'd have a product design engineer go over it and make it like the Neowing rather than a steam locomotive.

The second more importantly. There was a lot of commentary in the Jay Leno's garage you tube that has just been deleted that went through the mechanical attributes of the bike suspension design and telling people who didnt have an idea about the mechanical forces and suspension dynamics of the bike and instead of addressing those comments they have just been deleted without people having the opportunity to grow from that, They thought that people wouldnt revisit the old thread and read what was going on but they are still trying to put Jay Leno's review out there as promotional material and now they have fresh negative comments on it just not as educated and not how to turn it round. :banghead:

 

[ofdave]

The Tilting Motor Works reverse trike conversion for the Goldwing will lean as far as the two wheeler will. Pegs, engine guard, etc., are what limit the lean.

do you know where we could see pics of that?
it'd be great wallpaper

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Its also the system you put on it that can limit the lean and with the Goldwing Im not sure anyone really tries to go to 45 let alone 60 degree lean angles and a video on their facebook page seems to confirm that ride example didnt exceed 45deg but I doubt that people are doing that on two wheels much at all either.

Two things bother me about the TMW.

One is subjectively, the looks, Its not for me. I'd have a product design engineer go over it and make it like the Neowing rather than a steam locomotive.

The second more importantly. There was a lot of commentary in the Jay Leno's garage you tube that has just been deleted that went through the mechanical attributes of the bike suspension design and telling people who didnt have an idea about the mechanical forces and suspension dynamics of the bike and instead of addressing those comments they have just been deleted without people having the opportunity to grow from that, They thought that people wouldnt revisit the old thread and read what was going on but they are still trying to put Jay Leno's review out there as promotional material and now they have fresh negative comments on it just not as educated and not how to turn it round. :banghead:

I didn't see the comments on Jay Leno Garage that you're referring to, but I'm wondering if they got too much into design details and choices that Bob Mighell wants to keep proprietary.

I listened to him talk about his TMW conversion at Wing Ding last fall. He had a GL1800 and F6B both there with the conversions. He specifically mentioned that he wanted to let the bike tilt as much with the conversion as without it. His discussion about the design process implied there was not much analytical engineering involved. It was mostly build, test, revamp, test, revamp again, and test, until it handled the way he wanted it to.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

do you know where we could see pics of that?
it'd be great wallpaper

Start here: www.tiltingmotorworks.com. Otherwise you'll just have to Google for some.