Best Trike Suitable for Street Use

[emmie357]

I want to do something similar myself... but I think in NY you would need to get a custom motorcycle shop to issue you a new VIN, or maybe there is a way to apply for one yourself, but you would need to re-title it as a custom motorcycle.

The fact that you can take a motorcycle and throw a trike kit on it is where I think you can do something. Take a properly titled, street legal enduro/dual-sport, and use that frame for a trike conversion. I've been thinking about a 600-650 enduro bike trike conversion, just to ride around town and get to the trails on the other side of town without cutting across everyone's property.

I've seen some builds of CR500's to trikes, and crf450's to trikes, just start with an enduro. From what I've read a 350x swinger will bolt right onto an xr600 (someone chime in if I'm wrong...)

[El Camexican]

Here you go, problem solved

[slashfan7964]

I want to do something similar myself... but I think in NY you would need to get a custom motorcycle shop to issue you a new VIN, or maybe there is a way to apply for one yourself, but you would need to re-title it as a custom motorcycle.

The fact that you can take a motorcycle and throw a trike kit on it is where I think you can do something. Take a properly titled, street legal enduro/dual-sport, and use that frame for a trike conversion. I've been thinking about a 600-650 enduro bike trike conversion, just to ride around town and get to the trails on the other side of town without cutting across everyone's property.

I've seen some builds of CR500's to trikes, and crf450's to trikes, just start with an enduro. From what I've read a 350x swinger will bolt right onto an xr600 (someone chime in if I'm wrong...)

Like I said, taking an existing bike and making it a trike is not what I want to do. I want to take a 200X, 350X, 250SX or 250R and make it street legal.

I know it's going to be a bit of a hassle against the DMV but I'd be willing to be I can make it happen.

[tblumer]

I'm highly skeptical of the whole "plunking down $25 to get a vin" thing. I've registered several classic street legal Honda Mini Trails and always get the run-around from the people at the DMV. I'd recommend going to some out of the way DMV office. At the big one here in Syracuse they can't be bothered with taking a few extra minutes to do any research.

[Mosh]

~ It's cheap on gas and is very fuel efficient
~ Motorcycles are overrated and everyone has one
~ It's not your typical big bad Harley ridden by some jackwagon in leather with a girl who has a tramp stamp
~ Trikes are badass and stylish

~ I want to look cool
~ You simply don't see trikes everyday and to see one on the street is absolutely unheard of
~ It has a manual transmission (unless I get an SX)
~ They provide a comfortable ride
~ Bolt on a set of tires and your on your way to the trails
~ It's legal in New York according to the DMV
~ Turns heads
~ Reliable

1~ It's cheap on gas and is very fuel efficient =True
2 ~ Motorcycles are overrated and everyone has one...= False....If overrated why does "everyone" have one?
3~ "It's not your typical big bad Harley ridden by some jackwagon in leather with a girl who has a tramp stamp..."= Ridiculous assessment... This is no different than an anti ATV person saying everyone with a 3 wheeler is a hick, sister marrying,hillbilly, moron...Asinine statement made by you that is completely hypocritical, that I take offense to, and I don't own a Harley or a chick with a tramp stamp..
4~ Trikes are badass and stylish...=TRUE...On dirt
5~ It's relatively quiet in comparison to a lot of motorcylces..=FALSE..Some motorcycles are more quite than cars or ATV's
6~ I want to look cool...= OK..I highly suggest you check out the "EDOG sunglasses thread" then....
7~ You simply don't see trikes everyday and to see one on the street is absolutely unheard of.. = False. I see trikes everyday..And on the street? at 79.95 each for tires that will wear out so quick your head will spin, maybe there is a reason for not seeing them on the street?
8~ It has a manual transmission (unless I get an SX) =FALSE...Any machine you have to mechanically shift makes it a manual, or Semi auto..
9~ They provide a comfortable ride.. = True.... As with a car, truck, or motorcycle I suppose..especially with passengers.
10~ Bolt on a set of tires and your on your way to the trails.. WTF? And where will these extra dirt tires be kept while road riding? A trailer perhaps?
11~ It's legal in New York according to the DMV.. = Maybe? Uhm..Coming from a state that generally has some of the strictest laws in the nation, I would have to see more research on that.
12~ Turns heads, =TRUE towards a cell phone to call the cops.
13~ Reliable= Plausible...anything 25-30 years old can be kept reliable if proper maintenance and operation practices are in effect..


Did I miss anything else? Oh yeah actually there is.

If you get resistance from your local DMV for the idea..You can thank "Real Trike enthusiasts" like this guy for that resistance.

[slashfan7964]

I'm highly skeptical of the whole "plunking down $25 to get a vin" thing. I've registered several classic street legal Honda Mini Trails and always get the run-around from the people at the DMV. I'd recommend going to some out of the way DMV office. At the big one here in Syracuse they can't be bothered with taking a few extra minutes to do any research.

They have no problem issuing a VIN for that price if it passes initial inspection.


@ Mosh

You make some fair points but it isn't going to deter me from attempting to make it happen. Especially as I've seen similar things on the street before. Like I said I'm going to push it.

[just ben]

They have no problem issuing a VIN for that price if it passes initial inspection.

It's 250.00 bucks for the inspection and it's non refundable. It's the same inspection they put salvage vehicles through. But you seem to have all your ducks in a row so good luck! Let us know how it works out!! Once again,in NY a vehicle that has been designated as an off road vehicle CANNOT be registed for on road use,no matter what mods have been made to it. You are correct that you can pay to apply for a vin. However, for a home built machine. Not for a modded machine that already has a vin .If you think you are smarter than the DMV and can pull one over on them I would suggest trying The Warsaw office.They are not as busy as the Batavia office and will have the time to explain why you can't fulfill your dream.

[slashfan7964]

It's 250.00 bucks for the inspection and it's non refundable. It's the same inspection they put salvage vehicles through. But you seem to have all your ducks in a row so good luck! Let us know how it works out!! Once again,in NY a vehicle that has been designated as an off road vehicle CANNOT be registed for on road use,no matter what mods have been made to it. You are correct that you can pay to apply for a vin. However, for a home built machine. Not for a modded machine that already has a vin .If you think you are smarter than the DMV and can pull one over on them I would suggest trying The Warsaw office.They are not as busy as the Batavia office and will have the time to explain why you can't fulfill your dream.

They can't do anything if I build a un-VIN'd frame myself now can they Because technically it's not a Honda anymore, even though it's a carbon copy and therefore has no assigned VIN number. It would be Honda powered and would look like one (using Maier plastics and decals), but it wouldn't actually be a genuine Honda. At that point I'd show them the trike without the paint so they know it's custom. As far as I know, there is no law against that, and the trike was built with intention of being road legal. I appreciate the good luck wishes though.

I'm well aware of what would/can happen, and simply put, if I didn't think it was possible, I wouldn't be pressing the issue here

As far as Batavia over Warsaw, Batavia is much closer and I've street legal go-carts around so it can't be that hard.

[just ben]

I've street legal go-carts around so it can't be that hard.

Almost anything is considered legal on the rez. It doesn't mean it's ny legal. so what I gather is you plan to take a Honda built frame,grind the numbers off and pass it off as a custom street machine? again ,even a custom machine has to go through the salvage inspection. They are very finicky. anything that has a number on it you better have proof of ownership for. It's not like the dnv just passes out vin #'s and you take it to your buddies shop for an inspection.

[El Camexican]

As someone who fantasized about having a street legal trike when I was 15 here are a couple more points you may want to consider before you start spending time and money. They were enough to deter me. Well, them and a lack of electrical skills needed to wire signal and brake lights to a 250R. I also seem to recall believing that if I could have gotten said trike on the road that Farrah Fawcett would have been unable to resist me.

- Backing out of parking spots will be a pita
- There is nowhere for passenger pegs on a trike
- I doubt anyone would sell you insurance
- It would take no more than two guys with a lack of morals to make your ride disappear from where ever you leave it parked.
- Your tires will likely toss a lot of stones, so you’ll never be certain if the guy asking you to pull over wants to check out your ride or exchange insurance information (or worse).

If that isn’t enough, try envisioning yourself approaching an intersection at a comfortable speed between a couple of cars, the light is green and all three of you are planning to turn left. As you enter the turn at 20mph suddenly the car in front stops for a jay walker that decided to run across the street. Do I need to explain what happens to the guy hanging off the left side of the solid axle trike trying to keep all three tires on the ground while stopping hard for the car in front of him?

[slashfan7964]

As someone who fantasized about having a street legal trike when I was 15 here are a couple more points you may want to consider before you start spending time and money. They were enough to deter me. Well, them and a lack of electrical skills needed to wire signal and brake lights to a 250R. I also seem to recall believing that if I could have gotten said trike on the road that Farrah Fawcett would have been unable to resist me.

My father is a master electrician. I'm sure he will have no problem helping me wire in that stuff and I'll add a battery if needed. Turn signals aren't necessarily required...we have hand signals for a reason. The taillight already has a brake light function anyways. My X does anyways. Not to mention all my friends and colleagues who do this stuff daily. Not a problem.

- Backing out of parking spots will be a pita Not worried about it
- There is nowhere for passenger pegs on a trike I don't plan on taking anyone with me
- I doubt anyone would sell you insurance I have a friend who is a State Farm agent. Not a problem.
- It would take no more than two guys with a lack of morals to make your ride disappear from where ever you leave it parked. True. This is a big one that's for sure. At work, it will be put away (not left outside). Anywhere else I either won't leave it or won't be going to any place I can't keep an eye on it.
- Your tires will likely toss a lot of stones, so you’ll never be certain if the guy asking you to pull over wants to check out your ride or exchange insurance information (or worse). I plan on carrying said information with me, possible in a container of some sorts. I am also armed 24/7 so if they try to pull a fast one they will be regretting it.

My response to this is the text in bold.

If that isn’t enough, try envisioning yourself approaching an intersection at a comfortable speed between a couple of cars, the light is green and all three of you are planning to turn left. As you enter the turn at 20mph suddenly the car in front stops for a jay walker that decided to run across the street. Do I need to explain what happens to the guy hanging off the left side of the solid axle trike trying to keep all three tires on the ground while stopping hard for the car in front of him?

I don't plan on running around the city with it, but I do see your point. It's still not enough to make me not want to do this though. If something happens to me, so be it. I'm only going to live once and I'd rather die doing something I love than living life without having done something I've always wanted to.

[ColtonGG33]

Turn signals aren't necessarily required...

Thats weird. Around here if you dont have working turn signals you will get pulled over and get a warning or fine

[slashfan7964]

Thats weird. Around here if you dont have working turn signals you will get pulled over and get a warning or fine

Being an inspector myself the law says after 1980 they have to be there unless it wasn't built with them. Ill likely out them on to be safe though.

[atc300r]

Thats weird. Around here if you dont have working turn signals you will get pulled over and get a warning or fine

What I was told if the signal lights where on the bike they had to work . If they didnt work you had to remove them to use hand signals. I know people that took the serial # tag from one vehicle and installed it on another vehicle . They used vehicles of the the same body styl and close in years. Example 94-02 chevy s10.One of my friends bought a motorcycle from someone that lost the title it was a yamaha he got the title from a junked bike and registured it. This bike had several owners after that . The only thing is if the police ever checked the serial # of the paper work it wouldnt have matched the bike. But they risked it.I told them to apply for a lost title.Like Ben said you have to have proof of ownership of every part on you trike.Even if you build the frame yourself.

[slashfan7964]

What I was told if the signal lights where on the bike they had to work . If they didnt work you had to remove them to use hand signals. I know people that took the serial # tag from one vehicle and installed it on another vehicle . They used vehicles of the the same body styl and close in years. Example 94-02 chevy s10.One of my friends bought a motorcycle from someone that lost the title it was a yamaha he got the title from a junked bike and registured it. This bike had several owners after that . The only thing is if the police ever checked the serial # of the paper work it wouldnt have matched the bike. But they risked it.I told them to apply for a lost title.Like Ben said you have to have proof of ownership of every part on you trike.Even if you build the frame yourself.

It wouldn't be all that hard. All I'd have to do was save/print off online receipts for each part.