List of motorized trikes is a list of

motorized tricycle A motorized tricycle, motor trike, or motortrycle is a three-wheeled vehicle based on the same technology as a bicycle or motorcycle, and powered by an electric motor, motorcycle engine, motorcycle, scooter or car engine. Classification Dependi ...

s also called trikes, and sometimes considered cars. There are three typical configurations: motorized bicycle with sidecar; two wheels in the rear, one in the front (aka trike); and two in front, one in the rear (aka reverse trike). However, language and definitions vary. One of the most successful trikes of its day was the

De Dion-Bouton tricycle The De Dion-Bouton tricycle was the most successful motor vehicle in Europe from 1897 until 1901. With about 15,000 copies sold, the de-Dion-Bouton motor tricycle scored the first breakthrough for the distribution of motor vehicles. In particular ...

; from 1897 until the start of the 20th century about 15,000 licensed copies were sold, with De Dion Bouton usually supplying the engines, and it was overall the most popular motor vehicle in Europe. Trikes have caused tautological confusion and simply defied typical two and four-wheel classifications, especially in the 21st century. Regardless, many popular motorcycles and/or automobiles had three wheels.

Examples

17th century

Stephan Farffler Stephan Farffler (1633 – October 24, 1689), sometimes spelled Stephan Farfler, was a German watchmaker of the seventeenth century whose invention of a manumotive carriage in 1655 is widely considered to have been the first self-propelled wheelc ...

's trike

18th century

Steam Tricycle in Front of North Entrance to Smithsonian Institution Building 1888

* Cugnot's ''fardier à vapeur'' (steam powered)

19th century

Ariel Ariel may refer to: Film and television *Ariel Award, a Mexican Academy of Film award * ''Ariel'' (film), a 1988 Finnish film by Aki Kaurismäki * ''ARIEL Visual'' and ''ARIEL Deluxe'', 1989 and 1991 anime video series based on the novel series ...

2.25 hp tricycle (1898) *

Benz Patent-Motorwagen The Benz Patent-Motorwagen ("patent motorcar"), built in 1885 by the German Carl Benz, is widely regarded as the world's first practical modern automobile and was the first car put into series production. It was patented and unveiled in 1886. T ...

(Internal combustion engine) (1886–1893) *

Buckeye gasoline buggy The Buckeye gasoline buggy, also known as the Lambert gasoline buggy, was an 1891 gasoline automobile, the first made in the United States. It was also the first automobile made available for sale in the United States. It was initially a three- ...

(1891) *

(1897–1905) * Eadie motor tricycle, (1898-1900) *

Humber The Humber is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal rivers Ouse and Trent. From there to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary between th ...

'Beeston' motor tricycle (1899) *

Léon Bollée Léon Bollée (1 April 1870 – 16 December 1913) was a French automobile manufacturer and inventor. Life Bollée's family were well known bellfounders and his father, Amédée Bollée (1844–1917), was the major pioneer in the automobile i ...

Voiturette (1895) *

Long steam tricycle The Long steam tricycle appears to be one of the earliest preserved examples of a steam tricycle, built by George A. Long around 1880 and patented in 1883. One example was built, which after some years of use was dismantled and the parts dispers ...

(c. 1880) *

Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede The Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede was a steam powered velocipede made in France sometime from 1867 to 1871, when a small Louis-Guillaume Perreaux commercial steam engine was attached to a Pierre Michaux manufactured iron framed pedal bicycle ...

(1884 Tricycle version) * Motrice Pia (1894) * Orient tricycle (1899–1901) *

Star A star is an astronomical object comprising a luminous spheroid of plasma (physics), plasma held together by its gravity. The List of nearest stars and brown dwarfs, nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked ...

motor tricycle (1899)

20th century

* BSA Ariel 3 (1970–1973) * BMW R75 (1941–1945) (w. sidecar) * Brough Superior Austin Four *

Campagna T-Rex The Campagna T-Rex is a two-seat, three-wheeled motor vehicle created by Campagna Motors, located in Quebec, Canada. It is powered by an in-line 6-cylinder engine from BMW. Although it used to be registered as a motorcycle, it is now largely co ...

(1996–2018) * CityEl (1987–) * Coventry-Victor 3-wheeler *

David David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

trike cars (1913–1923) *

(1897–1905) *

Electricar The Electricar was a French electric car manufactured from 1920 to 1921. An city car, urban car, it used a ½horsepower, hp electric engine manufactured by a M. Couaillet of Paris. It was a single-seat three-wheeler with a single front wheel. Ref ...

(1920–1921) *

Fend Flitzer The Fend Flitzer was a three-wheeler, three-wheeled invalid carriage designed and built by Fritz Fend. The Flitzer established many of the basic concepts on which Fend's later Messerschmitt Kabinenroller microcars were developed. Background In 194 ...

(c. 1948) *

GG Duetto The GG Duetto was sold as motorcycle-sidecar combination built by Switzerland, Swiss manufacturer Grüter + Gut Motorradtechnik GmbH (GG) between 1994 and 1999. Approximately 30 units were produced. Unlike a traditional sidecar added to a motorcy ...

(1994–1999) * Goliath Goli * Grinnall Scorpion III (c. 1991) *

Harley-Davidson Servi-Car The Harley-Davidson Servi-Car was a three-wheeled utility motorcycle manufactured by Harley-Davidson from 1932 to 1973. Concept and uses The Servi-Car was designed during the Great Depression when Harley-Davidson was desperate to expand its produc ...

(1932 to 1973) *

Heinkel Kabine The Heinkel Kabine was a microcar designed by Heinkel, Heinkel Flugzeugwerke and built by them from 1956 to 1958. Production was transferred under licence to Dundalk Engineering Company in Ireland in 1958. However, the licence was withdrawn shor ...

* HM Vehicles Free-way (1979 to 1982) *

Honda Gyro The Honda Gyro is a family of small, three-wheeled motorcycles sold primarily in Japan, and often used for delivery or express service. These vehicles are tilting three-wheelers. They combine a tricycle's stopped & low-speed stability with a lean ...

* Indian Dispatch-Tow(1930s) * Indian Tri-Car (circa 1907)(Hendee Manufacturing Co.) * JZR Trike models *

Krauser Domani The Krauser Domani is a motorcycle based, 3-wheeled vehicle developed by Michael Krauser and powered by BMW, built for sale in Japan and Europe. The vehicle looks like a motorcycle with a sidecar attached, however unlike the former, the "sidecar ...

Lambretta Lambretta () is the brand name of mainly motor scooters, initially manufactured in Milan, Italy, by Innocenti. The name is derived from the word Lambrate, the suburb of Milan named after the river Lambro which flows through the area, and whe ...

Lambro (1949-1972) * Lurquin-Coudert (1906–1914) * Mercedes-Benz F300 Lifejet Messerschmitt Kabinenroller

Messerschmitt KR175 The Messerschmitt KR175 microcar (1953–1955) was the first vehicle built by Messerschmitt under its 1952 agreement with Fritz Fend. In concept, although not in actual design, it was, in principle, a development of the Fend Flitzer invalid carri ...

(1953–1955) (

Messerschmitt Kabinenroller The ''Messerschmitt Kabinenroller'' (Messerschmitt Cabin Scooter) was a series of microcars made by RSM Messerschmitt from 1953 to 1956 and by ''Fahrzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH, Regensburg'' (FMR) from 1956 to 1964. All the Messerschmitt and FMR ...

) *

Messerschmitt KR200 The Messerschmitt KR200, or ''Kabinenroller'' (Cabin Scooter), is a three-wheeled bubble car designed by the aircraft engineer Fritz Fend and produced in the factory of the German aircraft manufacturer Messerschmitt from 1955 until 1964. History ...

* Minneapolis Tri-Car * Misc Custom Chopper trikes * Misc. Moto Guzzi Triporteurs *

Morgan 3-Wheeler The Morgan Motor Company announced that they would launch the 3 Wheeler in 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show. Technical The 3 Wheeler was initially said to have a Harley-Davidson ''Screaming Eagle'' V-twin engine and a Mazda 5-speed ma ...

(pre-war productions) * Moto Guzzi Trialce * Corbin Sparrow *

Norton Big 4 The Model 1, more commonly known as Big 4, was a Norton motorcycle made between 1907 and 1954 in various forms. With , it was the largest and most powerful side-valve engine in the model range and with plenty of low end torque was mostly used t ...

(mc w/ sc) *

Peel P50 The Peel P50 is a three-wheeled microcar originally made from 1962 to 1965 by the Peel Engineering Company on the Isle of Man, and then from 2011 to present. It was listed in the 2010 Guinness World Records as the smallest production car ever m ...

(minicar) (1962–65) * Piaggio Ape (1947– ) *

Reliant Robin The Reliant Robin is a small three-wheeled car produced by the Reliant Motor Company in Tamworth, England. It was offered in several versions (Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3) over a period of 30 years. It is the second-most popular fibreglass car in history, ...

(1973–2002) *

Reliant TW9 The Reliant TW9 (i.e., Three-Wheeler 9), also known as the Reliant Ant, is a small, front-engined, rear-drive, three-wheeled truck that was produced from 1967 until 1987 by Reliant Motors in Tamworth and then by BTB Engineering in Leeds, Engla ...

(1967–1987) * Rollfix-Eilwagen *

Scott Sociable The Scott Sociable was an English automobile manufactured from 1921 to 1925 by the Scott Autocar Company of Bradford, Yorkshire, an offshoot of the Scott Motorcycle Company. During World War I Alfred Angas Scott had made sidecar machine gun ...

Sinclair C5 The Sinclair C5 is a small one-person battery electric recumbent tricycle, technically an "electrically assisted pedal cycle". It was the culmination of Sir Clive Sinclair's long-running interest in electric vehicles. Although widely described ...

(1985) * Spirit of America Formula Shell LSRV. (jet engine) *

Tatra 49 The Tatra 49 is a model of vintage three-wheeled motor vehicle made by Czech manufacturer Tatra. It was developed with an aim to offer a reliable commercial car at the lowest possible cost. It shared some parts with the Tatra 12 and Tatra 30. ...

(1929–1930) *

Triking Triking is the common name for the Triking Sports Cars, the United Kingdom based manufacturer of the 3-wheeled Triking Cyclecar, located in Hingham, Norfolk, formerly in Marlingford, Norfolk.The A-Z of Three-Wheelers A definitive reference ...

(1970s-) *

Twike The Twike (a portmanteau of the words ''twin'' and ''bike'') is a human-electric hybrid vehicle (HEHV) designed to carry two passengers and cargo. Essentially a velomobile with an electrical hybrid engine, it can be driven in electric-only mode ...

(TWIKE 1986+) * Velorex (1950s–1971) *

Utopian A utopia ( ) typically describes an imaginary community or society that possesses highly desirable or nearly perfect qualities for its members. It was coined by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book ''Utopia'', describing a fictional island society ...

(1914) *

Westcoaster Mailster The Westcoaster Mailster was a small three-wheeled vehicle used for mail delivery by the United States Post Office Department during the 1950s and 60s. They could haul 500 pounds of mail, including large parcels, versus the 35-pound limit of a foot ...

21st century

* AEV 311 EV * Ape Calessino 200 (new production) * Aptera (solar electric vehicle) *

Arcimoto Arcimoto is an electric vehicle company headquartered in Eugene, Oregon that manufactures and sells the Fun Utility Vehicle, or FUV, a tandem two-seat, three-wheeled electric vehicle. They also sell van-variations on the design "Rapid Respond ...

* Bombardier Can-Am Spyder (2007–) * Brudeli Leanster 625L * Carver *

(1996–) * Campagna V13R * CityEl (1987–) *

Elio Elio is an Italian male given name. Origin A name of dual origin, Elio is primarily a revival of it, Elio, label=none (Helios), the Greek god of the Sun. it, Elio, label=none derives, through the Latin ''Helius'', from the Ancient Greek Ἥ� ...

E-Series *

P models (prototypes) *eTuk USA (2015–) *GG Taurus *Hannigan BMW 1600 Trike *Hannigan Harley-Davidson V-Rod Trike * Harley-Davidson Street Glide Trike (2010–) *

Harley-Davidson Freewheeler The Harley-Davidson Freewheeler is a motorized tricycle introduced by Harley-Davidson in August, 2014 for the 2015 model year. It is designated the FLRT. It has a 1,690 cc displacement, air-cooled, V-twin engine with torque and a six-speed t ...

(2015–) *

Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra Classic The Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra Classic is a three-wheeled motorcycle manufactured by Harley-Davidson and introduced in the 2009 model year. Its model designation is FLHTCUTG. History The Tri Glide Ultra Classic is the first three-wheeled m ...

(tilting) * IRIS * JZR Trike models *

Kymco Kymco (an acronym for Kwang Yang Motor Co, Ltd ()) (stylized as ''KYMCO'') is a Taiwanese motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. With approximately 3000 employees, Kymco produces over 570,000 vehicles annually at its factor ...

CV3 (2018–) *

(new production 2010s) * Myers Motors NmG *

(2010– ) * Peugeot Metropolis 400i *

Piaggio Piaggio & C. SpA (Piaggio ) is an Italian motor vehicle manufacturer, which produces a range of two-wheeled motor vehicles and compact commercial vehicles under seven brands: Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Derbi, and Scarabeo ...

Ape Apes (collectively Hominoidea ) are a clade of Old World simians native to sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia (though they were more widespread in Africa, most of Asia, and as well as Europe in prehistory), which together with its sister g ...

(1947– ),

MP3 MP3 (formally MPEG-1 Audio Layer III or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III) is a coding format for digital audio developed largely by the Fraunhofer Society in Germany, with support from other digital scientists in the United States and elsewhere. Origin ...

(2006–) *

Polaris Slingshot The Polaris Slingshot is a three-wheeled motorcycle. ''"this is most certainly not a car, and it's also not a motorcycle by any stretch of the imagination"'' The first edition of the model was introduced in 2014 as a 2015 model. Specifications ...

* Quadro 350S three-wheel scooter * Rewaco RF-1 Trike * Roadsmith Trikes * Scorpion P6 *

Stimson Sting The Stimson Sting is a three-wheeled car designed by Barry Stimson. Available as a kit car, it was introduced in the UK in 2002 and continued in production until 2007, although only one was built in that time. It has two wheels at the front and tw ...

(2002–2007) * Tanom Invader TC-3 * Terracraft Supertrike * Tilting Motor Works Tilting V-Max Trike * Tokai Challenger *

Toyota i-Road is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on . Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 ...

(2013) * Traverston Striker * Tri Pod GII by Mynrva (2012-) Bandit 1250, ZX14R based *

* Trirod F3 * Twisted Trike * Uno III * Vanderhall Laguna trike VW GX3

* Veemo by VeloMetro Mobility – Fully enclosed, pedal-electric trike, regulated as an electric bicycle in North America. * Venom SS * Venom X *

Volkswagen GX3 The Volkswagen GX3 was a concept car created by ''project Moonraker'', which was initiated by Stefan Liske, former director of group product strategy at Volkswagen. The GX3 was first shown at the 2006 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show. It was conside ...

(concept trike) * Yamaha Niken – trike with the

Yamaha MT-09 The Yamaha MT-09 is a street motorcycle of the MT series with an liquid-cooled four-stroke 12-valve DOHC inline-three engine with crossplane crankshaft and a lightweight cast alloy frame. For 2018, the bike is now designated MT-09 in all ma ...

engine, for European and Asian markets * Yamaha RX1 snowmobile custom conversion to street trike *

Yamaha Tricity The Yamaha Tricity is a tilting three-wheeler motor scooter made by Yamaha Motor Company. It is part of Yamaha's LMW (Leaning Multi Wheel) offering along with the Niken. Three Tricity models have been developed: 125, 155, and 300cc models. Th ...

ZAP Xebra The ZAP Xebra was an electric car launched in May 2006 in the United States market by ZAP corporation. It is classified legally as a three-wheel motorcycle in some jurisdictions, and is available in both sedan (model SD) and pickup (model PK ...

(2006–2009) * ZTR Trike

Miscellaneous

Another idea is the flike, a sort of flying motorcycle/helicopter.

Whike Whike is a brand of recumbent tricycles with a sail, manufactured in the Netherlands. First released on 5 June 2008, it has a sail and can reach speeds up to with wind speeds of 4–5 bft (). It can be legally used on both bike lanes and ...

are sail-powered trikes, which may or may not be motorized depending if one considers a sail to be a type of motorization. There is another arrangement of three-wheel, with the wheels in a line; this is so far pretty rare.

Motorcycles with two sidecars

Motorcycles with sidecars often have three wheels, but there has been some use of two sidecars (one on each side of a motorcycle, not a sidecar that seats two which is another thing). In one case the use of flexible type sidecars allow the center-line motor bicycle wheels to stay on the ground, and providing adequate handling

Gallery

File:Trike.3.arp.jpg, Rewaco trike in the UK File:Himeji-Oshiro-Matsuri 2010 149.JPG, Krauser-BMW Domani, incorporating elements of both cars and motorcycles File:Himeji Oshiro Matsuri 085.JPG, Domani trike File:Can-Am Spyder RSS (01).jpg, Can-Am Spyder from the front File:JSH314.JPG, Can-Am Spyder from the rear File:Heinkel Trojan 153 BW 3.jpg, Heinkel trike-car File:Wdog Polaris Slingshot.jpg, Polaris Slingshot File:GyroUP-MRDroofed.jpg, Honda Gyro UP File:Moto Guzzi Lastenkrad.jpg, Moto Guzzi vehicle File:Choper2.jpg, Custom chopper trike File:R1200C trike rear.jpg,

BMW R1200C The BMW R1200C was a cruiser motorcycle made by BMW Motorrad from 1997 to 2004. BMW manufactured 40,218 units, including a smaller engine version, the R850C, which was produced from 1997 to 2000. The R1200C was BMW's attempt to tap into the cru ...

aftermarket conversion to a trike File:Harley Davidson Tri Glide taken 2013.jpg, Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide

References

External links

{{Commons category, Motorized tricycles Lists of motorcycles Three-wheeled motor vehicles