CONFUSION

Confussion

I know in Arizona it is still considered a motorcycle, That is what is on your title. They go by CC's here they don't care how many wheels. They are accessories. Also since we build Quad Harleys we found out by calling all 50 states the quads are road legal in 40 of the 50 states. We also built the Hannigan Quad for a couple that live in Arizona, they love it.
 
Nothing will be answered in this thread but. In that nhtsa document it states designed it doesn't say modified. When we inspected vehicles we had a guy who updated the suspenion on a f250 he wanted to change the vehicle weight rating. Didn't work the serial number kept kicking it back to a f250. Got the state involved they said didn't matter what he did it would remain what the serial number said it was. So if you are stopped and they run the numbers it will comeback as a motorcycle.
 
Interesting topic and discussion.

I'm in Pennsylvania (and ride a Vstar with a Voyager Conversion registered and inspected as a motorcycle) and this is the current definition of a Motorcycle:

"Motorcycle." A motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and:

(1) designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground; or

(2) designed to travel on two wheels in contact with the ground which is modified by the addition of two stabilizing wheels on the rear of the motor vehicle.

The term includes an autocycle.

Then again, the Hannigan 4 wheeler might be this .... also in the Pennsylvania code under Vehicles... LOL.

"Human organ delivery vehicle." Any vehicle which is used or intended to be used and is maintained or operated for the purpose of transporting human organs or human tissue on an emergency basis.

Here's the link if you want to look:

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/75/00.001.002.000..HTM

EDIT:

I might add that there is a reciprocity law that would let you use motor vehicles legally registered in other states. That's why you don't get pulled over with out of state plates if your vehicle doesn't meet registration requirements. Safety? Yup, probably going to talk to the nice man in the car with flashing lights. :)
 
Last edited:
In the end, I wish the HANNIGAN Quad was an option for people to choose in every place that falls under the flag of the USA. PLEASE, name the 10 states that prohibit the HANNIGAN Quad from public roadway use!!!!!!!
 
Insurance

Just wanted to add our Insight on this regarding a serious accident in 2014 that we had in Michigan on an 1800 with an Etrike kit. The police were called, all reports just ignored the trike kit, "The motorcycle was traveling at the speed limit" etc etc. They didn't care how many wheels we had at all. Where we ran into issues was with the insurance company, who obviously didn't know what they were insuring. We changed insurance co. after the settlement.
 
It all comes down to the extremely litigious society that we exist in. Should a fatal crash involve one of these four wheeled vehicles, that began its existence as one with two or three wheels, the lawyers will tear into the event as if it was the Ethel & Julius Rosenberg nuclear secrets spy trial again. Mark my words, the NHTSA definition will come into play, the legal point that Federal Law supersedes state, city, county, municipal law and so on. This would even be true if Honda started to factory generate a product that duplicated the Hannigan 4 wheeler.

Remember what this whole four wheel issue is rooted in. SAFETY of people. Standards like mandating seat belts, air bags, crumple zones, 5 MPH bumpers front & rear, and on and on. The federal government wants it's safety guidelines for cars OBEYED. And one of the delineating markers that divides motorcycles, trikes and cars from one another according to federal mandates, is the number of tires/wheels in contact with the ground while the vehicle is on the road. And our system can yield amazing decisions.

In New York a burglar fell through a sky light of a residence that he had targeted for his crime. He was seriously hurt. The homeowner's insurance company PAID the burglar a huge figure in a settlement. They obviously FEARED what a jury trial would result in, regarding a pay out to the FELON.

Bernie Getz shot four young attackers.

The JURY verdict: Bernie was found NOT guilty of shooting the attackers, SIMULTANEOUSLY the same jury found Bernie GUILTY of unlawfully possessing the gun that he used to protect himself from the attackers!!!!! So it was fine to shoot the teenagers, but it was a felony to have a gun in your possession to use to shoot them!!!!!!!!!!

I pray that NO ONE has trouble of any sort, as a result of the vehicle that they choose to operate on the public roads.
 
Slingshot

And THAT is exactly the question that I ask. HOW can these Tow-Pac or similar equipped,

otherwise typical, motorcycles, legally be allowed to be classified on their registrations as

motorcycles, even though they operate on four contact points with the ground, as every

common car/automobile does? Here in Florida I've seen Polaris SLINGSHOTs with a mod-

ification to their rear end which replaces the single rear wheel/tire with a PAIR of wheel/

tires installed centrally, their inner sidewalls no more than a few inches apart.

Here in Minnesota for purposes of registration and licensing, the Slingshot is classified as an automobile. Specifically they call it an autocar or something like that so that technically you only need a regular operator's license with no endorsements to drive one.
 
Here in Minnesota for purposes of registration and licensing, the Slingshot is classified as an automobile. Specifically they call it an autocar or something like that so that technically you only need a regular operator's license with no endorsements to drive one.

Welcome To Trike-Talk, Evan...:wave4:...And here in Jersey its the same...And if you have a roof' windshield and seat belted in a helmet is not required ...
 
Confusion

Here in ont of you add a rear section or front section to a motorcycle they class it as modified and if u can get ins the price is extremely high so unless you buy a manufacturer trike canam/Harley/Polaris you can expect insurance issues
 
Here in ont of you add a rear section or front section to a motorcycle they class it as modified and if u can get ins the price is extremely high so unless you buy a manufacturer trike canam/Harley/Polaris you can expect insurance issues

Randy........Welcome to Trike Talk........:clapping:..........
 

Welcome to the Trike Talk Community

Join our vibrant online community dedicated to all things Trikes! Whether you're a seasoned rider or just starting out, this is the place to share experiences, tips, and stories about your three-wheeled adventures. Explore modifications, maintenance advice, and rides, all while connecting with fellow trike enthusiasts from around the globe

Forum statistics

Threads
55,271
Messages
786,010
Members
22,736
Latest member
4spen@Proj2
Back
Top