Mystery Trike Spotted... BMW?

[Burnszilla]

Full Story: http://news.windingroad.com/auto-news/mystery-trike-spotted-bmw-ktm-you-decide/

http://news.windingroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/myst-bike-1.jpg

No way that this is a BMW.

[Stuff2C]

I Like It!

[Motor31]

For a handicapped person who wants to ride again, I think it's a great idea.

[Burnszilla]

Looks like the passenger just got back from scuba diving.

[Motor31]

Looks like the passenger just got back from scuba diving.
ATGATT scuba?!?!?!?!

[MCMXCIVRS]

Maybe they were going so fast he needed extra weight to keep from being blown off.

[tourunigo]

...uh....WTF I like it. A bit of Mad Max potential, primo posing options, a trunk in the front and, if a BMW, vast touring opportunities for any rider. Almost like a trike in reverse. I wonder if the front wheels lean? But, it does appeal to something in me. (ya...that leaves the gate wide open for comment I suppose) -Bob

[Mika]

I bet $100.00 of your money (I don’t have any to bet with) that under that is a H-D V-Rod setup. The rear drive is belt and on the correct side for that engine. H-D has had various trike set ups over the years that have never seen the light of day. Years ago they picked up all the rights to the Tri-Hawk for example. The Tri-Hawk was a side by side two seater with dual wheels in front and a single drive wheel in the back.

We have seen all sorts of BMW 4 wheel street hot rods out of Switzerland. Their problem in the US is they have to have a law changed to make them street legal. The three wheeler would pass that buy. Have much the look as the four wheeler and be able to be sold as a high end hotrod on both sides of the pond.

[Burnszilla]

Some of the comments from the article...

This is not a BMW. Bombardier I think is a good lead. They own ROTAX an Austrian engine manufacturer (explains the barely Engish speaking riders) which has also a good business relation to BMW (they deliver their singles and twins). Therefore they could have access to the old BMW prototype. Interesting vihicle!


Ding! Ding! Ding! I think Dave nailed it with his “Bombardier snow mobile-looking” comment. Can Am, which was Bombardier ATV, is said to be developing their 1st “on-road” vehicle. Online Canadian press said Can Am might be developing a “low slung high performance trike” vehicle and the pictured vehicle fits the bill methinks.

[pmdave]

Yes, I realize that the vast (and half-vassed) majority of motorcyclists can't see anything with more than two wheels as a "motorcycle", but for years in the USA, the definition of "motorcycle" has included three wheels. BMW owners looking for a three-wheeler have typically looked at sidecar rigs. Honda and Harley owners have typically looked at trikes.

Both Harley-Davidson and Victory are working with Lehman Trikes to produce factory new trikes that would be available at dealers. So far, the design has been 1front, 2rear, but for performance the better layout is 2 front, 1 rear. The motorcycle manufacturer who comes up with a neat 3f 1R performance trike will be rewarded with surprising sales.

There may be some desire to build a motorcycle- based open automobile, (we could call it a "quad", eh?) As vehicles, a 2 front, 2 rear layout is much more stable than any motorcycle. Truth is, it's already been invented. It's called an "automobile".

The big question is "Why on earth would someone screw up a perfectly good two-wheeled motorcycle to make one of those ungainly three-wheelers?"

Is the only reason for a three-wheeler a physical limitation? Or do you suppose there might be other reasons? Is a two-wheeler your only transportation, or do you sometimes drive your enclosed "quad"? Do you have a mental limitation that prevents you from operating anything that has more than two wheels?

pmdave

[john1691]

Looks like a good option for those with physical limitations, as we all may be, eventually. It would be awesome if the front allows it to lean in corners.....

john1691
2000 K1200RS

[mrich12000]

:clap Nice looking as stated would be great for the disabled. :twirl

[Junkle]

"Do you have a mental limitation that prevents you from operating anything that has more than two wheels?"

I love open-minded folks. And I guess if you like chocolate ice cream there is no need to make other flavors of that either?

j.

P.S. Sorry to the original poster for being a bit OT here but I tire so much of people feeling the need to insult anything that they don't choose to do.

[Burnszilla]

The truth is revealed...

http://jalopnik.com/cars/news/so-thats-what-that-was-the-canam-spyder-233897.php

http://jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2007/02/can_am_spyder.jpg
http://www.jalopnik.com/assets/images/gallery/12/2007/02/medium_380503529_df48cfe71a_o.jpg

[Mar]

And here's a write-up of a test ride:

http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/2007/Can-Am/index.asp

[wuli959]

And here's a write-up of a test ride:

http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/2007/Can-Am/index.asp


could be a lot of fun for $16K. :groovy

[Mar]

could be a lot of fun for $16K. :groovy

That's kind of what I thought. The cost is much more reasonable than I thought it would be. But I'd like to know what kind of gas mileage it gets. :) We've got a local club member who rides a KLT trike for physical reasons, and he gets very poor gas mileage.