Daily motorbike news, views & reviews
Three-wheeled motorcycles are called trikes and they are gaining in popularity among older riders who can no longer manage a two-wheeler. Scottish comedian Billy Connolly is a devotee of the trike. They come in various forms with two wheels in front or back. There are customs, roadsters and conversions. There are also the traditional bikes with sidecars, called an “outfit”. MotorbikeWriter road tests trikes and outfits for performance, handling, value, comfort and economy.
The 2017 range of Ural sidecars have received some electronic upgrades, cosmetic styling improvements and some striking new colours including Terracotta Metallic. We caught up with Ural Australia spokesman Mat Hodge while in Walcha last week and he showed us the new Ranger in Terracotta Metallic he had just put together from the packaging crate. …
Can-Am has celebrated 10 years of the Spyder with a party for nearly 3000 Spyder owners, including 18 from Australia, and the launch of its 10th anniversary gold edition models. The 10th anniversary party in Canada at the weekend was the single biggest gathering of Spyder owners in the history of the brand that launched …
The long wait for Harley-Davidson trikes, including the new hot-rod Freewheeler (pictured above), is finally over for Australian riders. The Tri-Glide Ultra will cost $50,995 rideaway and the Freewheeler $40,250 when they arrive in Harley dealerships from October 2017. Harley-Davidson Australia and New Zealand boss Nigel Keough says the lengthy delay has been in securing Australian Design Rule compliance. …
These Tri Pod cars are registered as a motorcycle in a motorcycle category vehicle (L cat), have a motorcycle engine, accelerate like a motorcycle, weigh the same as a Harley and are bought by motorcyclists. They are even designed and built by a motorcyclist, Andrew Hutchison of the Sunshine Coast. Yet most people would consider …
Many riders think riding a sidecars or “outfits” would not be fun and that they aren’t even motorcycles. However, these two videos may change your view on outfits not being fun to ride. The first shows some of the gruelling tests the two-wheel-drive Ural outfits are put through in their native Russia. The second is …
As North America takes over Australian distribution of Ural sidecars, the former boss heads north to Alaska, Canada and the Pacific Northwest to test the rugged vehicle. Ural Australia GM Clare Mailler assures customers that it’s business as usual as the North America distributor, Irbit MotorWorks of America (IMWA), takes over distribution. She says they will …
While Can-Am has dropped the base model RS and RSS three-wheel Spyder roadsters from their 2017 line-up, the F3 range has expanded with the release of two new models – F3 LTD and F3 Daytona 500 Edition. This comes as BRP is reported to be considering also making motorcycles as it did in the 1970s when it was …
The long wait for Harley-Davidson trikes in Australia, including the new hot-rod Freewheeler, could soon be over. Harley-Davidson Australia and New Zealand boss Nigel Keough says the lengthy delay has been getting Australian Design Rule compliance. “Australia has a unique set of compliance issues and we’ve been working through them for several years now; long before I …
Ural has no new models for 2016, but is working on improving the quality of its three models including new off-road engine mapping suitable for Australian conditions. Ural Australia claim that the world’s only sidecar motorcycle factory still operating is now focussing on raising the quality control of parts and improving assembly procedures. “Ural starter …
The growing demand for trikes has yielded some interesting conversion kits such as this new one from Tilting Motor Works that converts most Harley-Davidsons into a reverse trike with two wheels up front. The base unit costs about $US10,000 while a roll-over stabiliser increases the price to $US13,000. The Tilting Motor Works conversion kit includes …