Tricycle moto. Three-wheeled cargo motorcycle: characteristics, description

HARLEY-DAVIDSON TRI-GLIDE ULTRA

Engine:

Power:

Dry weight:

Seat height:

t RUB 2,430,000

BUSINESS CARD

This is a real chrome-plated royal throne, with a limber resembling the protection of a firing point and the dimensions of a small car. Tri-Glide looks more than rich and impressive, but it leaves you no chance in city traffic. You will have to stand with everyone with a significant look, as if it gives you pleasure to swallow the exhaust of the surrounding cars, and take comfort only in the fact that the cameras of smartphones of the entire stream are facing you.

UNDOUBTED BENEFITS

In the conditions of city traffic, lanes and narrow parking lots, Tri-Glide turns into a tormentor. Just look, you will forget and hook someone with the stern, or even roll over in a sharp turn - no multi-link suspensions and other amenities are provided in the trike, so it turns reluctantly and terribly. However, on a suburban highway, the trike has no equal: the outboard 1.7-liter engine perfectly pulls the chariot, tenaciously holding on to the asphalt with three points of support, and the stability and stability of the device allows you to fall apart in a comfortable leather saddle as you please. At the same time, the passenger is not forbidden to even take a nap.

CAN-AM SPYDER RS-S

Engine:

V-shaped, Rotax

Power:

Dry weight:

Seat height:

from 999 000 rub.

BUSINESS CARD

"Damn, what was that?" gasps the startled layman as a creepy, squat creature rushes past him, like something out of a sci-fi blockbuster. Muscular and lean, this device is the very embodiment of swiftness and drive. True, in traffic jams it is also not particularly clear, but in more or less free traffic, Spyder allows you to hooligan cleaner than any hot hatch. Fortunately, motorists, having seen a tricycle in the mirror, readily take it aside to see the miracle car.

UNDOUBTED BENEFITS

It is important to trudge in the middle row, bathing in the admiring glances of others, is unlikely to succeed: the tricycle provokes, if not for annealing, then, in any case, for a peppy riding style. The combination of weight and a revving engine makes it possible to turn the device into a natural rocket, and a semi-automatic gearbox and automatic clutch allow you to once again not be distracted from maneuvers. And, believe me, they are lightning fast - in terms of handling and steering, the Spyder cannot keep up with any motorcycle, and even more so a trike: perhaps only a real spider is capable of changing direction so rapidly.

As big, respectable, and wonderful in its own way as the Tri-Glide is, the Can-Am Spyder wins our award of sympathy for the boldness, energy, and safety with which we fly into yet another sharp turn.

In a situation of economic crisis, small business owners are thinking about how they can save money and not lose profits. For most business companies, the transportation of goods is the main item in the cost estimate. If we are talking about small-sized and not too heavy loads, then the ideal option would be to switch to three-wheeled motorcycles, the so-called tricycles or trikes.

Tricycle: specifications and description

A tricycle is a vehicle with three wheels. In simple terms, this is a modified motorcycle. Tricycles are vehicles having a wheelbase consisting of 3 wheels. These include tricycles, bicycles, cars and scooters. To drive it, the driver's license must indicate category "A" or "B1", the choice of category depends on the weight and number of passenger seats.

A tricycle designed to carry cargo first appeared in Italy in the fifties. The most famous model is Piaggio A.P.E. They remained the most popular model of tricycles, successfully maintaining a high bar in European markets. These trikes are actively used in the flower trade, for their transportation, in courier services and many other organizations.

An analogue of Piaggio APE in the USSR was considered scooter "Ant", produced from 1960 to the end of 1995. The scooter has been exported to more than 20 countries.

In addition, the USSR actively used sidecar motorcycles. They were used by the police, rural doctors, postmen and many other categories of workers. A whole family of motorcycles with a sidecar occupied a crucial position in the market.

There were craftsmen who made DIY tricycles, equipping the rear axle with two wheels. The design was, although not particularly practical, but it was perfect for use in the village.

In Asian countries, tricycles are used as cargo and passenger transport and are called "Knock Knock".

Tricycles can be divided into two types: cabin and cabinless. A tricycle equipped with a cabin can be used until the deepest autumn and even at the beginning of winter. Modern models of cabin tricycles are equipped with a windshield, a stove, wipers and a comfortable passenger seat. This makes a small agile trike almost a complete analogue of small cars like Daewoo Matiz. However, the maintenance of a tricycle is several times easier and cheaper.

In many countries, the tricycle is the most affordable means of transportation for both passenger and freight transport.

The use of a tricycle in cargo transportation

The load capacity of most tricycles varies from 250 kilograms to one ton. They can be like all-metal body, and covered with an awning. The possibilities for this vehicle are endless. The trike can be used as a passenger taxi, but is most often used in cargo transportation. It is used in small businesses to transport flowers, products, goods, documents. The scope of their application directly depends on the carrying capacity of the tricycle.

Their main advantages are low cost and low fuel costs. On average, with a load of one ton, a tricycle consumes no more than 4 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers. With the same parameters, a truck consumes about 9 liters per 100 kilometers. A three-wheeled motorcycle, with due respect for the maximum load capacity, can easily cope with the same tasks that a truck can handle. However, the use of a trike will significantly reduce the cost of fuel and the purchase of trucks.

If you need to transport goods or products with a total weight of up to one ton, then the tricycle is ideal for this and will save a round sum that can be spent on other needs.

It's very common to see a wide variety of motorcycles on the roads that allow you to move around on two wheels, something cars can't do. This type of transport has been firmly established in the daily life of people for quite a long time, so the next model on the road will not come as a surprise to anyone. Bikers hold their own gatherings and full-fledged motorcycle races, even motorcycle races are arranged. But this only applies to two-wheeled models. But what about three-wheeled motorcycles? Are they popular? Is it possible to often find something like this on the street?

What it is?

Many people will not be able to answer not only the question about the popularity of this vehicle - they, quite possibly, do not even know what three-wheeled motorcycles are, for them this is a real shock. However, the modern world is an unusual place, so you should not be surprised if you find a motorcycle with three wheels instead of two. As a matter of fact, this is its main difference from an ordinary motorcycle - it has one more wheel. However, you should pay attention to the fact that three-wheeled motorcycles are far from the most popular name - you can even say that it is a little incorrect, although it is still acceptable. In fact, such vehicles are called tricycles, which is quite logical and sounds much better. But the younger generation, who likes to borrow foreign words, is much more likely to use a trike to refer to such a vehicle.

Prevalence

Three-wheeled motorcycles are today an extremely common mode of transport only in some countries. For example, in the United States of America, you hardly surprise anyone by appearing on the road on a tricycle. Also, of course, trikes are a popular vehicle in Japan, which is always ahead of the rest in new technologies. Moreover, the Scandinavian countries are also gradually starting to use tricycles on a permanent basis as a standard means of transportation. There are not so many trikes in Russia at the moment, but you can easily get one of them - they are just used mainly for entertainment, extreme trips and so on. So far, the widespread distribution of the tricycle as a standard vehicle is not expected, and in the near future the tricycle will be a rare guest on Russian roads.

Two driving wheels

It's time to figure out what a tricycle can be. In fact, there are not so many options, but the most common of them is transport with two rear driving wheels and one driven front. This is a great design that allows you to achieve both high speed and excellent stability. Such models can often be found both on the roads in standard traffic in countries where this type of transport is common, and in other places as recreational vehicles. However, before you go to buy or rent a tricycle, the photo is a must see. The fact is that two wheels are far from always leading.

One driving wheel

This type of tricycle looks a little more strange. The fact is that, unlike the previous one, this trike has one drive wheel located at the back - and there are two wheels at the front. This is far from the most comfortable design, but it looks really impressive, which is why it is purchased in order to impress people on the street.

Children's and other tricycles

However, you should pay special attention to other tricycles that may interest you. For example, everywhere on sale there is a three-wheeled motorcycle for children, which is a controlled miniature car on three wheels. It serves as an ideal entertainment for both children and their parents. However, if you wish, you can pay attention not only to motorcycles on three wheels, but also to tricycles, which are, in fact, tricycles. These are also extremely interesting designs that you might like. Again, they can have different wheel arrangements - two wheels in the back and one in front, or vice versa. Very often, in such tricycles, the driver takes a reclining position in order to comfortably pedal and observe the road, as well as to maximize the convenience of this vehicle. As a matter of fact, you will have a lot of choice, no matter which tricycle you decide to choose for yourself, and also if you forego emissions and gasoline and opt for a tricycle. It remains to be hoped that this fashion will also come to Russia, so that unusual vehicles can be seen on the roads of the country.

The first car in the world was three-wheeled. At present, tricycles are slowly but surely ceasing to be exotic and are returning to roads and garages. It would seem, why return tricycles that are firmly established in the “moto” environment to the auto industry, but in the 21st century, three-wheeled cars can significantly squeeze their four-wheeled “brothers” .

At almost any auto show, crowds of people invariably gather at stands with three-wheeled cars. If earlier manufacturers used tricycles only as bait, now, apparently, they will seriously take up their production, and the reason for this is trivial competition.

Cugno's steam car at the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris
A tricycle (trike) is a three-wheeled vehicle with wheels that are symmetrical with respect to its median longitudinal plane. The concept of "tricycle" is applied to a wide range of vehicles: cars, motorcycles, bicycles. Two driving wheels are most often at the rear, but on some designs they are located in front.

Tricycles appeared simultaneously with the locomotive and the car. The first tricycle was a steam cart for transporting cannons and shells, which was tested in 1769. It was invented by the French engineer Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot. The speed of movement of the Cugno steam cart was about 4 km / h and it could only move for 12-15 minutes, since there was not enough steam for more. For further movement, the cart had to be “refueled”, that is, pour water into the boiler and make a fire under it so that the water boils. There was no own firebox in the "car". But the steam cart made an impression on the military leadership of France, and the inventor received a reward of 20 thousand francs and an offer to develop a more advanced design.

Cugno's next development was more powerful, more than six meters long, weighed about three tons, had its own firebox, a bronze 50-liter boiler and two cylinders.

Leon Serpolle (left) on a steam tricycle
Now it was not necessary to build a fire under it, and the cart could move continuously at a speed of 5 km / h. During testing of the new design, an accident occurred: the rear wheel jammed. Kyuno lost control, and the cart broke through the wall of the house at a speed of 4 km / h. Following the first failure, the second one followed - his patron, the Minister of War, fell out of favor at court, and all further work to improve the new vehicle was curtailed. Everyone forgot about the cart, and it stood for 20 years somewhere in the backyard. In 1794, the Museum of Arts and Crafts was established in Paris, and Cugno's steam cart took its place of honor there. You can still see her there today. In the homeland of Nicolas-Jose Cugno, in Lorraine, a monument was erected to him, and the image of his cart became the emblem of the French Society of Automotive Engineers.

Throughout the 19th century, steam cars improved, they began to be created as not only public, but also personal transport. An example of such a car is the three-wheeled steam engine of Leon Serpolle. Instead of a firebox, the Serpolle tricycle was equipped with a kerosene burner, and the water boiler turned into a coil. This allowed to reduce the amount of water used and the engine warm-up time. In addition, Serpolle installed elastic tires on the tricycle and used a cardan drive in the car's transmission. But another time came, and gasoline-powered cars triumphed over steam engines. The steam car had to give way, although they continued to be produced until the end of the 30s of the XX century. Karl Benz built his first petrol tricycle in 1885. The crew on three bicycle wheels was designed to carry two passengers and worked on a gasoline four-stroke internal combustion engine. The total weight of the tricycle was 263 kg, of which 100 kg is the weight of the engine, which had an evaporative cooling system, i.e. the car had to be filled with petrol and water. The rear wheels were driven by a belt and chains through a simple differential. Fuel from a 4.5-liter tank entered an evaporative-type carburetor, then through a spool valve into the combustion chamber. The spark plug of its own design was energized by a Ruhmkorff coil.

Tricycle Karl Benz 1886

The working volume of the engine was 954 cm3, and its power was 0.9 hp. at 400 rpm, on a good road it was possible to accelerate to 14 - 16 km / h. For industrial production in 1886, Benz installed a 1.7 liter engine with a power of 2.5 hp. and a two-speed gearbox. This engine power was enough to accelerate the car to 19 km / h. In the automobile museum in Munich (Germany), visitors can observe one of the three-wheeled Benz cars that have survived to this day. At the beginning of the 20th century, thousands of cars were already on the roads, but they were too expensive for ordinary people. And enthusiastic designers returned to tricycles again, because they were structurally simple (often did not even have a reverse gear) and were subject to minimal taxes like motorcycles. So Henry Morgan in 1909 built for himself a single-seat car with a tubular frame, a Peugeot V-twin engine, a two-stage chain gearbox without reverse gear and an independent candle suspension of the front wheels. Henry Morgan called the new car "Morgan Runabout" ("Runner") and was not going to mass-produce it. But numerous orders from acquaintances forced him to reconsider his plans. Having borrowed money, he bought the necessary equipment and in 1910 launched small-scale production. And in 1915, Morgan became Britain's largest automaker, by which time a four-seater family model was already being produced. In Britain, Morgan tricycles were loved for tax breaks for motorcycles, light weight and good dynamics.

Morgan Runabout 1912

In 1919, the Morgan Aero car appeared. The motorcycle V-shaped engine was installed in front and was not covered by a hood. In 1920, a windshield was installed on it and the rear was made more streamlined. Since 1923, Morgan Aero has been produced with brakes on all wheels, and since the beginning of the 30s, the car has already had a three-speed gearbox with reverse gear. Sports modifications of the car - "Morgan Aero Sports" and "Morgan Aero Super Sports" were very popular with racers. In the USSR there were tricycles called motorized carriages. They were developed after the Great Patriotic War at the Kiev Motorcycle Plant (KMZ) for the needs of the disabled and distributed through the social security system, which is why the country was called “invalid motorized carriage”. They were made only with manual control and without a heating system.

Motorized stroller SMZ-S1L

In 1952, in the Soviet Union, at the Serpukhov Motorcycle Plant (SMZ), the production of the SMZ S-1L tricycle was launched, which replaced the KMZ K-1V tricycle. The new motorized carriage had a metal body with doors and a canvas folding roof, and the steering wheel was of a motorcycle type. There was also no heating system, lighting was provided by only one six-volt headlight, and a loud noise emanated from a 125 cm3 two-stroke engine. Also, the disadvantage of the Soviet tricycle was poor cross-country ability in mud and off-road due to small diameter wheels. The advantages include only the ease of repair of a motorized carriage. In the 30s, tricycles were produced in England, in which all three wheels were in the same plane. They were intended exclusively for the army. Currently, there has been a revival of interest in tricycles, they are gradually ceasing to be exotic. When riding a tricycle, the skill of maintaining balance is not required. Many manufacturers have designs for these machines…. The Japanese company Honda created the "Stream" model, in which the rear wheels remain perpendicular to the road when cornering, and the body tilts like any motorcycle. The stability of such a model on the turn turned out to be quite high.

In some Asian countries, motorcycle taxis and auto rickshaws are produced.

By the way, a motorcycle with a sidecar, in which the wheel is driving, also belongs to tricycles, these are Dnepr-12 (USSR), BM8-R75 (Germany), FN-1000-125M (Belgium). Asymmetric design and some racing 500cc motorcycles with a sidecar. They have a common frame, and the engine is mounted on the side, next to the third wheel. This design eliminates one of the disadvantages of a symmetrical tricycle. The fact that the tricycle lays three different tracks is considered its significant disadvantage, since off-road patency is reduced. The asymmetrical design of the tricycle has only two gauges.

In Italy, Japan, tricycles-microtrucks and tricycles-delivery vans are produced today. In 1997, Mercedes-Benz introduced a three-wheeler in Frankfurt

In 2002, the American company Corbin Motors released a hybrid car and motorcycle Merlin. Merlin's appearance is original, he has no doors, the driver simply steps over the side and sits in a chair, or rather "half lies down". The design of the car differs from the usual three-wheeled scheme, Merlin has two wheels in front and one in the back. The speed of the car is 210 km/h.

Los Angeles-based Venture Vehicle has developed a vehicle called the VentureOne. This is a two-seater tricycle, also a hybrid of a car and a motorcycle. Length - 3.6 meters, width - a little more than a motorcycle. The car for daily trips in city traffic turned out to be economical and agile.

Fuel consumption is only 2.4 liters per 100 kilometers, and the maximum speed is 160 km/h. The main body of the machine can tilt 45 degrees to either side, while the rear block, where the power plant and rear wheels are located, remains perpendicular to the road. The tilt of the hull is controlled by the hydraulic system Dynamic Vehicle Control (DVC), which was developed by the Dutch company Carver Engineering.

Crowds of people always gather near stands with three-wheeled cars at auto shows. Tricycles predict a great future. Small size, good performance and relatively low prices give reason to think that this is possible.

A cargo motorcycle is a three-wheeled vehicle designed for use as a light weight transporter. These units require registration with the traffic police and a driver's license of the appropriate category. Next, consider the characteristics and features of the most popular tricycles.

general information

The three-wheeled cargo motorcycle is not a special novelty in the field of transport. Similar samples have been known since Soviet times (Ant, Dnepr, MT with a sidecar). However, modern modifications of domestic brands and foreign analogues have made a huge leap forward. First of all, it concerns the power unit, functionality and additional equipment.

Small vehicles can be equipped with a flatbed or tipper body, have reinforced suspension with leaf springs or be equipped with car tires. Variations with a cab have been developed. The power of the power unit varies between 11-18 horsepower, and fuel consumption is about 3-5 liters per hundred kilometers.

Cargo motorcycle "Ural"

Tricycle "Ural Hercules" is a modification of a heavy motorcycle, designed to transport various goods. Technique proved to be excellent on any road surface. At the same time, the unit can carry loads up to five hundred kilograms. Design features allow it to be used on construction sites, warehouses, trading depots and in agriculture. Removable sides allow transporting oversized materials. Driving a vehicle does not require a category C license.

The domestic cargo motorcycle has the following technical parameters:

• length / width / height - 2.53 / 0.85 / 1.3 meters;
• fuel tank capacity - nineteen liters;
• maximum speed threshold - 70 km / h;
• power unit with a pair of cylinders - 745 cu. cm, 40 horsepower;
• starting system - mechanical and electric starter;
• gearbox - four-speed block with reverse gear and;
• brakes - front disc, rear - hydraulic drum type;
• suspension unit - telescopic design at the front and spring version at the rear.

In addition, the unit has a microprocessor ignition system and cardan final drive.

Cargo motorcycles "Lifan": description

The St. Petersburg company offered consumers a cargo-type tricycle called "Lifan". The vehicle is an analogue of the Chinese version of the LF-200 ZH3. The equipment is designed to transport small-sized cargo weighing up to 275 kilograms. The cargo motorcycle is equipped with a four-stroke gasoline engine with a working volume of 200 cubic centimeters and a power of seventeen "horses". The multi-disc clutch assembly is placed in an oil bath. The start of the power plant is carried out by means of a kickstarter or electric ignition.

The tipping body of the vehicle is made on the principle of a dump truck, which speeds up the unloading of bulk materials. The modification under consideration is economical, practical and light in weight. Due to the presence of folding sides and compact dimensions, "Lifan" is perfect for use in the agricultural sector. Safety is ensured by a drum-type brake unit, and the tank capacity is enough to cover 170 kilometers without refueling.

Characteristics

Tricycle "Lifan" has the following parameters of the technical plan:

• power unit - single-cylinder four-stroke engine (volume - 197 cc, air cooling);
• gearbox - five-speed manual transmission;
• clutch assembly - multi-plate element;
• fuel tank volume - 11 liters;
• weight - 305 kilograms;
• length / width / height - 3.2 / 1.25 / 1.4 meters;
• fuel consumption per 100 km - 6.5 liters.
• body - a dump truck with folding sides.

Cargo motorcycle (tricycle) "Lifan" has a number of advantages. These include free access to the engine, several color schemes, affordable price and ease of maintenance.

Tricycle Spark

Consider a few more cargo motorcycles from different brands. Let's start with a brief overview of the Spark model. The modern tricycle with a body SP125TR-2 is very popular due to the possibility of using it in the agricultural sector to move small loads. The drop-side tipper unit is equipped with a four-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled gasoline engine. It has a power of twelve horsepower at 7000 rpm and a working volume of 125 centimeters cubic.

Characteristics:

1. The mass of the apparatus is 280 kilograms with a maximum carrying capacity of 0.5 tons.
2. Length / width / height - 3.26 / 1.23 / 1.27 meters.
3. Transmission - cardan type.
4. Brakes - drum mechanism.

The features of the vehicle include the presence of sides, reclining on three sides.

Foton FT-110ZY

This brand is widely represented in the domestic market. The tricycle of the series in question has an original design, has an affordable price and good performance.

• power unit - a motor with a volume of 110 cubic centimeters and a power of 8 horsepower;
• fuel consumption - about three liters per hundred kilometers;
• load capacity - up to 200 kg;
• top speed - fifty kilometers per hour;
• gearbox - four-speed unit with reverse and reverse.

There are also more powerful versions in the Foton line, which differ in engines, transmission and payload.

New "Ant"

The reanimated model of the famous Soviet tricycle was made by Soul. A copy of the legendary "Ant" has the following abilities:

• engine - four-stroke motor;
• volume - two hundred cubic centimeters;
• power - 16.5 horsepower;
• five-speed gearbox equipped with reverse gear;
• there is a lightweight cardan shaft;
• suspension - double spring system;
• oversized body;
• improved optics;
• reinforced front fork.

In addition, cargo three-wheeled motorcycles "Ant Soul" are equipped with a self-tipping board, can transport up to seven hundred kilograms of cargo, are easy to maintain and repair.