I have just walked out of the "STEP Class", Sidecar/Trike Education Program, being offered here in Florida. Saturday morning and checked in, people were interested in the Stallion. Started the classroom session, all about handle bars and controls, and the safety gear we are required to wear. The gear consists of gloves, long sleaves, long pants, eye wear, helmet, and over the ankle boots. After an hour and half, we headed outside for track exercises.
All seven trikes, and two sidecars are ready to go. Then they tell me that the Stallion will not be allowed to participate, I'll have to use one of the school's trikes. One other rider was not allowed to use his Harley with the Adventurer setup, sort of like training wheels. It's been ten years since I was on a bike, I asked if I could take the trike I would be using, a Rocket 250, around the track and get used to it. They said no. I did say that if I wanted to ride a trike, I would have bought one, and not have bought a Stallion!
Not being in the best of shape, by the end of Saturday's program my knees and feet (had to wear their boots), were in agony. After class I spoke to one of the directors of the Evergreen Safety Council, they wrote and administer the "STEP". He said that the reason for the Stallion being disqualified was that it was to long and could not stay inside the lanes that the program was using. The course layout is based on specs from the National Highway Administration.
The entire reason for my taking the class was it has to be taken to get my "trike" endorsement on my liscense. My main reason was to learn what safety issues they could teach m, as they related to my Stallion. The response I got was, just roll with the program, get your endorsement, and go ride your Stallion. Well if the Stallion is not qualified to be in "STEP", how LEGAL is it to be driven on the road? Keep in mind, if you are involved in an accident any sharp lawyer can find out that your trike endorsement does not cover the Stallion. That being the case, do you even have a valid liscense? The state of Alabama does not, at this time, honor a Florida trike endorsement.
This is a big can of worms, on the bright side the owner of Florida Motorcycle Training of Lake County, In. is currently working with Florida to give trikes like the Stallion a place in "STEP". This morning in conversation about the situation, Angie Washo, said that she would welcome working with Jeff Vey, President of TMS, the maker of Stallion. She has also told me that when it is all settled, I'll be contacted to come in and take the class with my Stallion.
So as of today, I don't have a valid liscense to ride my Stallion. So not wanting to take the chance of a ticket my Stallion, will sit and gather dust. Since I drive for a living, I will not put my CDL, at risk. I'll trailer to the class again when Angie calls me.