Do you think Trikes are Safer than Bikes?

[BIG AL]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>ben721364</strong>
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<div class="message">"it also depends on who is in control of the trike,..." True enough but this applies equally to a motorcycle.</div>

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</div>I agree with you 100 percent :yes:

[ThirdWheel]

Definitely trikes are safer.. I have never dropped my trike after a night of bar hopping and drinking!! Just remember to put Velcro your jacket and backrest.

[ricle41]

I have been reading this with interest, as I "laid down"; or better said "crashed" my two wheeler twice in the past 15 months. Neither accident was considered to be the "rider's fault" either by the other bikes in my group, nor the highway patrol.<br />
<br />
Both times, I was operating below the posted speed limit, very much within the range of my abilities, and the painful results were the same as if I had been speeding, racing, doing stunts or being stupid. The simple fact was that circumstances on the (1st) slid the bike from under me, and on the (2nd) forced me to take evasive action into the ditch.<br />
<br />
Either accident, probably would still have happened on a trike, but in my own mind, I know I would have been safer and probably survived without injury if I had the stability of three wheels. I know there would also be accidents that three wheels might not have been an advantage, but I have been in similar circumstances in a car and I have never seen the time when four wheels were a disadvantage.<br />
<br />
It probably depends a lot on the person and driving habits, etc. but believe me I am going to feel much safer on my trike. Like others, "I have ridden two wheels for 20 years and have never laid one down". A year ago I could say that, but never again.

[Gorilla]

As they say there are those that have and those that are going to. Glad you came out okay. My only lay down was from someone turning in front of me many years ago. I believe if I had more experience or training back then (1978) I may have not had to. Not seriously hurt so I learned the hard way. I still ride my trike with the same defensive skills as I did with 2 wheels.

[tomg]

I am the proud owner of the first blue stallion made and also the one who got T-Boned by a car. The stallion needed a new coat and rear wheels, steering wheel and it is back on the road running great. Had I been on my 2-wheeler, I probably would have lost a leg and/or worse. I also wear a helmet (all the time) and it had a couple of big smacks on it as well which saved me from further injury.<br />
tomg

[Puff]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>John Luciano</strong>
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<div class="message">I have tried to raise a wheel off the ground and have yet to succeed. I have actually squealed my rear tires on a corner. If it tips over anything would.<br />
I know someone that tipped over a T bird. <br />
The Stallion is maybe a little more safe as you legs are protected and you are more in a seated position .<br />
Honey sleeps on the back of mine on long trips.<br />
HAS anyone made there trike go up on 2 wheels? I would be interested in knowing this.</div>

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</div>I'm with you John. I can't comment about the stability differences of the Stallion simply 'cos they're isn't any in Australia to my knowledge. As for lifting a wheel on mine (DFT kit conversion), like you, I've squeeled a tire when I've cornered fast around a right-angled corner, but on the twisties I can push my trike through the corners as fast as a bike, and have never once felt unstable.<br />
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This very issue bothered me when I was building the trike, because the universals on the drive shafts actually bind when I have the rear lifted off the ground during servicing. I found this a concern during the build and emailed DFT with pics and questioned this problem... Their reply stated:<br />
<i><font color="Blue"><br />
Interferance with no load is normal. When loaded, that <br />
condition will not happen.

Have no fear. This condition <br />
exists on all units in our manufacture.<br />
<br />
If your normal ride conditions require that you do not <br />
intend on having both wheels on the ground at all times a <br />
limiting device is suggested.<br />
<br />
Should under normal conditions, a wheel is lifted high <br />
enough to go beyond standard movement, the open differential <br />
will come into play and reduce power to the system. At that <br />
moment, the bike will resume position.</font></i><br />
<br />
Not actually filled to overflowing with the response and not being related to Robbie Maddison, I didn't think I would ever have both wheels of the ground while I was riding... Suffice to say that I've clocked up considerable distance since completing the build and so far it hasn't been a problem. <i>(phew, I've got typist's cramp now<img src="images/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Frown" class="inlineimg" />)</i>

[Bob Witte]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>John Luciano</strong>
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<div class="message"><SNIP>....I have tried to raise a wheel off the ground and have yet to succeed....<br />
HAS anyone made their trike go up on 2 wheels? I would be interested in knowing this.</div>

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</div>Assuming you mean the front wheel, while I haven't done it myself (and likely never would!). I am reliably informed that a nitwit friend of the owner of our first Hyosung GV650 trike did it several times. You can see trike examples at: <a href="http://www.thetrinitytrike.com/cruiser/GV650/index.html" target="_blank">Trinity Trike</a> The bike in question is the darker blue one.<br />
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My friend Peter's Trinity 1200cc Sporty 4 speed is another. He's told me he routinely "lifted" the front when he got on it.<br />
<br />
Bob Witte<br />
<a href="http://www.TheTrinityTrike.com" target="_blank">The Trinity Trike</a><br />
<img src="images/smilies/grin.gif" border="0" alt="" title="big grin" class="inlineimg" />

[Nauga Mok]

Pulling a wheelie is no problem with my Ultra/Roadsmith. Can do it on cue in 1st gear. Just run it up to about 3200 rpm, slack off to about 3000 &amp; give the wick a GOOD twist &amp; presto -- instant air under front wheel. Now, it doesn't point at the stars, but it does get it off the ground about 6 - 8". It's probably not the best thing to do because I'm sure it stresses the heck out of every part in the drive train. <br />
<br />
NM

[grimm]

safety and the illusion of safety are two completely different things. <br />
<br />
visibility? <br />
response: ok, i'll give you that one. i feel that trikes are more easily noticed than bikes and for that reason only would i consider them a safer machine. <br />
<br />
forgetting to put your feet down while coming to a stop? <br />
response: really? <br />
<br />
hazardous roads and/or road conditions? <br />
response: we all have to maker a judgement call as to what is safe to ride on and what isn't. just because a trike can ride on sand/gravel/big rocks without tipping over doesn't make it safer. like i said, it's a judgement call and if a bike comes across a road like that, he/she needs to decide whether he should go down that road or find an alternate route.

example: a big ass 4x4 can overtake rocks, boulders, streams, etc while a toyota yaris cannot. does it make it safer? not at all. the yaris will simply find an alternate route and get there to see the 4x4 tipped on it's side due to taking on an obstacle that it couldn't handle. the ability to do something does not make it safer. on the contrary, it may cause a bit of overconfidence in thinking that just because you can do it, that it is safe to do so. just because you can doesn't necessarily mean that you should. <br />
<br />
a bike enables you to use the laws of physics to negotiate the roads. Newton's three laws of motion explain why. when a bike maneuvers a turn, the bike is leaned into it allowing the angle and weight of the bike to exert counter pressure on the road and get through easily.

a trike is not capable of doing so. we have to steer through turns and without the ability to lean, the inside tire wants to rise up. basically, a bike uses physics to it's advantage where as a trike works against physics. i'm not a professor or anything so if i'm wrong please help me understand why.<br />
<br />
i mean no disrespect to anyone's opinions and am only stating my own. please do not be offended. <br />
<br />
grimm

[ben721364]

<b>Regarding 2F/1R trikes,</b> I owned a Grinnall Scorpion 111 and have test driven a T-Rex. Based on that experience, I can attest to the fact that both have considerably greater stopping power and stability than any trikes and most cars that I have driven. They do however, have their drawbacks. Rear visibility is less, they are so low to the ground that other motorists tend to misjudge closing distances, they can be a pain to get into and out of, and they do cost a pretty penny.<br />
<br />
As you say the Stallion rider and pillion sit a bit closer to the ground than on GL1800 and K LT trikes. Assuming an equal track and wheelbase coupled along with equal suspension engineering and execution, tires, etc. the lower seat height <b>should</b> contribute favorably to stability. The Stallion has one of the same negative features of most trikes, too much tire surface for the weight and wheelbase. Large tires exacerbate hydroplaning on wet surfaces. The shorter the wheelbase and the less the weight, the more severe this "fault" is.<br />
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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>Mattel</strong>
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<div class="message"><i><font color="SeaGreen">(This is a copy of my tech article for your comment. I placed this copy here on this thread in addition to the tech article section because we started this dialog and I wanted your comments.)</font></i><br />
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Are Stallions Safe?<br />
<br />
I wanted to give my opinion on the safety of a Stallion.

I would invite other Stallion owners to chime in with their experiences. <br />
<br />
I believe most if not all trikes are safer than motorcycles due to the additional wheel. Without motion, or a third load bearing device (i.e. kickstand or leg) all two wheel motorcycles will fall and subject themselves to damage. Even with motion, loss of traction of one wheel usually results in a fall and the amount of damage to motorcycle and driver depends on the velocity, density / abrasive qualities of the surface they come into contact with, along with a host of other mathematical calculations, and fortuitous luck or bad luck.<br />
<br />
I have ridden motorcycles, and in my opinion it is not a question of if you will drop your bike, it is a question of when. You must constantly be on guard, and it is a stress that is not present when riding a trike. I am sure you can test this for yourself, just ask all your friends that own motorcycles how many times they dropped, or laid down their motorcycle. Than compare it to the amount of times a triker rolls their rig. <br />
<br />
This is not to say that motorcycles do not have an advantage in other areas, such as an ability to lean into turns, and some sport bikes can even take turns faster, or transverse uneven rugged terrain. There are pros and cons to everything.

<br />
<br />
When it comes to Trikes, I believe Stallions are one of the safer trikes <br />
I am not aware of any safety data that compares trikes to motorcycles. If you are able to find any I would appreciate it. I believe all trikes are safer, and the insurance companies are able to charge us the same premium as our two wheeled brethren claiming they have no data to use to provide a discount. The arguments I have heard from some insurance companies allude to a common theme that crash data just lists the vehicle as a motorcycle, whether it is two or three wheels. I believe this is a weak argument, considering over 70% of all motorcycle crashes are one vehicle, they involve only the motorcycle. The insurance companies will have to face this issue in an honest manner during the next few years with the manufacture of whole trikes like the Stallion, T-Rex, V-13R, and the new Harley Davidson trike. These vehicles can be tracked and used as a comparison for claims against other two wheeled motorcycles.<br />
<br />
Although I do not believe we have any T-Rex or V-13R members, I do believe they are comparable or they may even excel above the Stallion in safety as well as price point. The T-Rex has a full roll bar cage, and I have seen videos of insane driving in an attempt to prove its safety. The V-13R is just being introduced, and I do not believe there is enough information to form an opinion at this time.<br />
<br />
Let’s compare Stallion’s to other traditional trikes:<br />
By traditional trikes I am talking about two wheeled motorcycles that are converted to trikes. Similar to the discussion above, I am just listing the pros and cons of safety, traditional trikes have pros over the Stallion's cons in safety or other areas, and I invite your comments in response.<br />
<br />
Stallions Safety Pros:<br />
1.

Low center of gravity: <br />
Stallions sit low to the ground. Take a look at the race car design when you lift the body off and you will see most of the steel frame just inches above the pavement. Wheelies are out of the question with the Stallion. With 155 h.p. the distribution of the weight makes wheelies impossible. When driving, you have to work hard to get one rear wheel to come off the ground, most of my attempts only resulted in chirps when taking banked sharp turns at high speeds. I was impressed when I hit patches of gravel in turns with little or no loss of traction.<br />
<br />
2. Super wide car tires:<br />
There is no way around not seeing the amount of square inches of rubber sit on the ground. The Stallion comes stock with supper wide car tires in the rear, and a front tire that is just as wide as any dark sider’s rear car tire I have ever seen on a Gold Wing.<br />
<br />
3. Good Daytime Visibility: <br />
The Stallion’s size exceeds most traditional trikes, and comes standard with driving lights.

Stallions are larger than a Smart Car, and are easy to see. They may not have as much chrome as a traditional trike, but I would argue the unique large profile of the Stallion makes it easier to see during the day. <br />
<br />
4. Wedge like form / Wedge Metal frame:<br />
The wedge design of the Stallion may allow it to be deflected off objects instead of crashing into them. This grazing will dissipate energy in a crash, reducing the amount of impact force. The Wedge design is not just in the exterior fiberglass, it extends into the sturdy metal tube frame. The wedge form is not a guarantee that a frontal crash like a tee bone will be avoided, but it means a higher percentage of crashes can be reduced due to the higher probability of deflecting he direction of the Stallion due to it’s shape, and the fact that the front wheel is not the first thing to come into contact in a crash.<br />
<br />
The heavy duty wedge metal frame also provide a substantial amount of protection from objects that extend into the ground like polls, trees, guard rails. In these situations it will be more likely that an off center hit will cause the Stallion to glance off the object instead of immediately stopping it. In a crash the key is to dissipate energy as slowly as possible.<br />
<br />
5. Heavy fiberglass body:<br />
As stated in the last section, the key to reduce injury is to dissipate energy.

The 2008 and some 2009 Stallions have a heavy hand laid fiberglass body. This body can provide a substantial amount of protection during a crash, or from road debris or other road hazards. The newer 2009 Stallions have a lighter plastic body that will also provide protection to the rider.<br />
<br />
6. Larger Body:<br />
The large overall size of the Stallion provides a greater visibility than a motorcycle, and some smaller trikes, but it may be comparable to larger trikes that are in the same class. During the daytime, this large size leads to greater visibility, and at night the large car tail lights also work well. The large rear trunk, and all the metal under the body provide good protection from a rear end collision. A seat back is standard on the Stallion, and it will provide more protection by keeping the drive in control of the trike after impact. Side impact protection may vary depending on the height of the object or vehicle that is impacted. The lower the better on the side of the Stallion, with object that are at ground level being the best.<br />
<br />
7. Lights:<br />
The lights on the Stallion will offer protection in the form of visibility.

The driving lights work in concert with the headlight to allow oncoming motorists to quickly identify you as a vehicle, day or night. The large car tail lights are bright and easily seen. The front headlights may be comparable to other trikes, and some custom trikes that are chock full of lights and LED’s may even surpass the stock Stallion in this area. <br />
<br />
8. Breaking:<br />
Although the Stallion does not have anti-lock breaks, it does have four oversized disk breaks. The Stallion can stop on a dime. The large oversized tires provide a lot of traction during breaking, and if you lock up the breaks it does not drift to one side, it keeps a straight line. Abrupt emergency breaking on a two wheeled motorcycle is challenging, and can be disastrous for the novices. I cannot compare breaking on other trikes, but most motorcycles that have been converted to trikes are utilizing the front breaking system that was designed for a lighter motorcycle.<br />
<br />
Traditional Trike Pros:<br />
I cannot write this article without acknowledging traditional trikes have a higher seating position that allows them to see further ahead or over smaller vehicles. I also cannot leave out the fact that most traditional trikes have chrome, some of them have lots of chrome.

Chrome has sparkle on sunny days, and that sparkle gets you noticed. There are too many different styles of traditional trikes to be able to make a definitive list of other good safety features they may have. Honda recently came out with an air bag for the Gold Wings, and many manufactures have anti-lock breaks. Finally, traditional trikes are often decked out with aftermarket lighting which increases visibility at night time.<br />
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Conclusion:<br />
I have listed out some of the reasons I believe the Stallions are safer than motorcycles and even some traditional trikes, but the largest factor of safety resides in the rider and the drivers of the vehicles that surround you every day. No matter how safe you drive, you are at the mercy of the other drivers on the road. Please don’t confuse my intention of illustrating the safety aspects that I see on the Stallion with a belief that it is better than a traditional trike or motorcycle. Each and every vehicle has pros and cons, and some are a better fit than others. The key is to understand the pros and cons to decide which one is right for you. No matter what you drive, drive safe and enjoy the ride!</div>

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[Nauga Mok]

I saw something recently (maybe it was here) about what cage drivers see & don't see. Almost ALL other cages are wide -- meaning horizontal lines like the bumper, rear glass, etc. They are a recoginazable hazard to other cages. Bikes are primarily verticle lines, therefore NOT a hazard to cages -- unless you count power poles that jump out into the middle of the street. Trikes have width, therefore horizontal lines that are more recognizable to cage drivers. The article recommended more horizontal lines on bikes would make them more visable. From this aspect, trikes are safer. I'm not sure I completely agree with this opinion, but it does have some merit.

NM

[magusjinx]

Having your 2-wheeler fall over while motionless is a bad thing ... First of all it puts scratches on it ... Second it is embarrassing, which is bad enough with friends seeing it happen but if you are still standing close to it and it hits the back of your legs you can end up laying under it ... :eek:

But it is good for at least an 8.5 on the face-plant scale ... You just have to remember to have your arms outstretched when you land ...
















I wonder if anyone ever ran a trike in the Baja 500?

[noyfb22]

Voyager keeps me riding. I know in my case, its much safer for me. Lost both legs 8 years aga, implanted defibulator (heart is shot), failing kidneys, open heart surgery 15 years ago and sooo much more wrong, too much to mention. Bike keeps me alive and kicking. Love to get on and hate to get off.

Barry

[Nana]

Barry, thank goodness for the trike!!!!! I love that you are out there living life to the fullest rather than sitting home feeling sorry for yourself! Sounds like you wear a big grin every day

[trike lady]

Yes:yes:, trikes are much safer than bikes; trikes tend to be seen in traffic because of their size and most drivers treat mine in traffic like a small car when changing lanes, the drivers don't 'squeeze in' and try to share the space:eek:. For shorter riders who just have to have a larger bike full well knowing it is not for them can benefit from a trike and be safe:yes:. Trikes are better for trailer towing. Trikes are fun and attention getters.
Thank you,
Trike Lady

[tfdeputydawg]

I know someone that tipped over a T bird.

Just for your info-and this has no bearing on this thread but, thought you should know-modern cars have been designed so they will not turn over unless they are "tripped". In other words, if you're spinning/sliding, unless you hit say a curb or you leave the road and the ground is soft enough for a tire to dig in, you are not going to turn over. Not the same for many SUV's!

[triwinggirl]

I own a trike because i am unable to ride 2 wheels more than 30 min. with out losing my lunch. Broke my ear.

Always wanted a trike with my name on the plate since i was little.

Now back to the topic, are trikes safer than 2 wheels,:yay::wtg::ohyes:

[skuuter]

Yes, to "Safer than a 2-Wheeler"...."my "WHY" opinions"...

(1) Less prone to the Parking Lot Drop

(2) Better Visibility to Automobiles/Other Bikes (The Dragon)

(3) Brake/Clutch/Engine/Trans Failure

(4) Road Debri

(5) Critters

Having Ridden/Drove Stallions and Trikes, I'm not sure I "personally" find the Stallion a better handler...even with Trike Ride School endorsements, I still find my Trike more nimble in the super tight stuff....a 2-wheeler even more so.....with some experience under my belt now, which do I prefer.....I'm a TRIKER.......:yay::wtg:

[bounder04]

YES! I am new to trikes after riding 2 wheels for over 16 years and I must say WE feel much safer on a trike!!! Of course, getting older may have something to do with it.

[nineon3]

Well I will problely make some of you mad but it is true. You are only as safe as you ride. does not matter if it is a Trike or a bike. it is the rider that make it safe. with that being said. I think over all the trike are safer as far as when it come to other driver. they see trikes and want to get a better look at them. as for the Stallions anyone that can afford one is going to be carfull with it LOL that why a lot of us build our own trikes. and we know how hard it will be to rebuild it so we are carfull too.lol. Ride safe and KEER it on three
TIM(9)