Jay Leno tries out an neat 3 wheel articulating trike conversion kit

[VanRiver]

I have to confess, I really enjoy Jay Leno's Youtube series...and today I stumbled upon a episode he did highlighting a small company here in the USA that build front end full articulating kits to turn your bike into a 3 wheeler but without losing all the lean a feel of a 2 wheel motorcycle.

 

Another interesting part is the creator of this new conversion kit put it on a V-Max when he was first designing it and set a land speed record at Bonneville salt flats in the "3 wheel motorcycle" category even beating out the big Motorcycle Companies who were also competing. So it is not just for Old guys with bad knees wanting to stay riding bike heavy bikes but also for cornering, speed, and performance too!

 

It is rather a long video, but watching Jay and the guy who created it go for a ride is cool to see the full front-end articulation in action....it is at the end part of the video.

 

Edited July 25, 2016 by VanRiver

[cowpuc]

Yea,, I always liked that Jay Leno feller,,, seems like one of us only with a WHOLE LOT OF MONEY TO PLAY WITH

 

Years ago I drove Ford Festiva's - always had a blast with the little buggers.. Even had em for go carts for the kids - lots of fun.. I always said if I had the time and money I would like to turbo one out or stick a big motor in one just for kicks.. Seems like that thought had no sooner crossed my mind than Leno was showing off his "garage" one day on TV and there sat a Festiva with a big motor stuffed in it - he actually mentioned that it was one of his funnest cars..

 

GREAT video Riv - THANKS FOR SHARING!!

[Yammer Dan]

Love it when he told about the guy tailgating him on his Rocket bike. He couldn't get him to back off! Then he noticed the guys plastic on the front of his high dollar car melting!!!

[VanRiver]

Hey @cowpuc here is the episode dedicated to Jay's Festiva Shogun. One interesting fact, the Ford SHO high performance engine that is stuffed into this little box of FUN was actual designed by Yamaha! Probably a Venture motor with 2 additional cylinders glued on!

 

Those little Festiva's sure look like fun! Like you said, just like driving a go-cart! Your kids were sure lucky!

 

[videoarizona]

Read somewhere last year that Yamaha is selling an articulated scooter for urban riding in the Philippines. Had similar front end but the wheels were closer together. Same suspension idea though......

 

Good idea for us "older" riders! Guess $13k installed isn't bad. Wonder how that will work with our fairings??

[cowpuc]

:sign yeah that:,,,, :You_Rock_Emoticon:RIV!!!

 

thats the one Riv = wayyyyy cool!!! Should have known Mom Yam would have had her fingers in there somewhere - she seems to be involved in ALL the cool stuff ..

Those were such fun little cars, even with the little stock motor. One of my daughters who is out in Sacramento - drove one of mine back and forth to College (about a 1 hour drive from our home) years ago. She also worked for Hospice at the time and would spend her "off school" hours doing in home care for them. She put over 60k miles trouble free (other than brakes - they put brake pads on em about the size of a MK1 1st Gen) on that little car in less than a year chasing around in it - AMAZING little vehicles. Below is a shot of her little go getter on its way to the scrap yard with a total of 290k miles.. Ohhhh the memories:missingtooth:..

 

,, did it again Riv - ... Got all excited and my fingers took off like a V-Max modded Azzi ..

[Dragonslayer]

Cool

[cowpuc]

That VideoAz cut the line Riv - my "",,,, :You_Rock_Emoticon:RIV!!!"" is suppose to be pointing at your post about Jay's Festiva and not at Vaz's post about ticulating scooters (although I do find his post about ticulating scooters interesting,, maybe cause I am getting a little more mature like David ).. I think we need a line cutting little icon thingy around here to match our icon thingy..

 

Did I ever tell you guys I love those little icony things - just having access to those is worth every dime of our club dues,,,, ,, ,,, and - as the saying goes = getting to and with them around here is PRICELESS

[Guest Jamsie]

Piaggio has a scooter with 2 front wheels , tilting and tilt lock. very popular in france and italy . i have seen a few locally here in the uk, can ride on a car licence if test was taken before 2014 otherwise need full bike licence .

They then made a 400cc scooter with a wider track and a front brake, getting it classed as a 3 wheeled car

you can full lean them at walking pace through a puddle of water and not slide, try doin that on a RSV or GW

http://www.cycleworld.com/2014/07/07/2015-piaggio-mp3-500-abs-first-ride-three-wheel-scooters-review-photos

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/first-rides-tests/2009/june/jun1009-scooter-law-says-is-a-car/

Edited July 25, 2016 by Jamsie