What is happening with trikes right now?

**ATCGENIUS** · 09-18-2006, 02:34 PM

I have heard from more than one source that 3 wheelers(all makes) are being slowly squeezed out of the existence. Here in TEXAS, the shops can't even work on 3 wheelers anymore. so that is now of course dealerships and bike shops, so is this a problem around other states? if they keep passing laws that keep people from having them fixed, then the problem of ATC's just go away. so they are slowly squeezing atc's out of the picture by attrition and not by more laws.

**Trimoto175** · 09-18-2006, 02:58 PM

yeah right now they are trying to completely ban three wheelers, well that is my understanding from the document anyways. If you do a search on here for CPSC you'll find some threads with the links to the goverment document that explains it all in detail. I'm writing a paper for college right now over it and it really pisses me off.. someone else said it on here and I totally agree with them: They'll have to pry my cold dead fingers from my handlebars if they want my trike. If I only knew what I could do to try to help stop this I would be on it in a second !!!

**ATCGENIUS** · 09-18-2006, 03:05 PM

thanks for the info, but are you saying they are going come pick up the trikes at our homes? this is the first i have heard of this.

**thefox** · 09-18-2006, 03:07 PM

Where have you heard that from? I doubt it is laws that keep shops from working on trikes. Try bringing any 20+ year old machine into a motorcycle dealer and the majority of them won't want to work on them.

**atctim** · 09-18-2006, 03:08 PM

was there really a "law" passed in Texas that said shops can not work on ATCs? I'd like to see proof of that. I would rather say it is probably stubborn dealerships that just plain don't want to work on them.

I really doubt they will ever be "banned" or "Outlawed". From reading the above mentioned threads - I can find no solid evidence that they will be illegal. They are just trying to pass law that says you can not manufacture them anymore (which is pointing at the China made minis). Find me evidence of them trying do do away with JUST ATC's and not some other form of ATVs as well.

**ATCGENIUS** · 09-18-2006, 03:16 PM

i was being a little over the top, i don't believe it is a law yet, but dealerships have always not been able to work on atc's since the ban(honda anyway). but now my friend owns a cycle shop here in texas was told to get the 3 wheelers out of the shop, insurance pressured him because of lawsuits, but he told me it is coming down from texas law that no ESTABLISHED cycle shop can work on them. now you will be able to work on them yourselves, and keep riding, but this is the first i have heard of a total ban on trikes. there is a lot of people that don't work on their own stuff, so their trikes are going to be basically dead.

**Sargon2112** · 09-18-2006, 03:47 PM

Hi guys

Here's a story from the southeast. I'm in the mountains of SC (yes, we have mountains!)... in the north-western corner of the state. Anyhoo, of the few public areas that 'allow' ATV's around here, there are now signs that strictly prohibit three wheelers. The same trails / roads that allow 4 wheeler traffic have these "no three-wheelers" signs on them. The signs have been up for about 2 years now. IF caught on these trails on a trike, you will be fined anywhere from 120.00 up... The same penalty as being behind a locked / gated trail or road.

Sad ain't it!? I guess the local Game Warden must have got his arse waxed by a trike one too many times!

Seriously though, it is getting progressively worse around here and I'm sure it's the same in most places.

The way they will 'ban' trikes is by prohibiting them like this. Sure, you can own it and ride it on private land, but all these pansy safety freaks will pressure all the designated riding areas into prohibiting our beloved trikes. Well all have to "pirate ride" at midnight like I already do... get your lights working guys!!

**ATCGENIUS** · 09-18-2006, 04:02 PM

so far it has not gotten to that point in texas, but i see the writing on the wall. if it is happening to you, then in time, it will happen to us to. thanks for your reply, i am trying to get all the info i can right now.

**ScottZJ** · 09-18-2006, 04:07 PM

Currently there arent any "laws" out there, its more like regulations that land owners, shop owners try to force. What I say do is tell EVERYONE you can not to ever shop at that dealer EVER again. Word of mouth is very powerful and could hurt them really bad. In fact the 3 wheeler "ban" as many call it has expired. Its truely sad that all the problems and issues the United States have, and they have to waste time dealing with 3 wheelers. Lets waste 4 million dollars to out law or push those with trikes but yet lets not clean up the streets of crime and drugs. Can you say hmmm wonder what this world is going to be like in the future.

**Darius1502** · 09-18-2006, 04:08 PM

ATC Genius,

What part of Texas are you from...I am in Houston.

Some dealers will work on them...others wont. I don't want any dumb dealer touching my trike for $120 per hour.

I can do it all anyway and if I need something done...(like pressing in a bearing...then maybe).

**Sargon2112** · 09-18-2006, 04:12 PM

ATC Genius,

I will snap a pic of one of these **** signs and post it within the next day or so.

**SYKO** · 09-18-2006, 04:13 PM

hmm.. thats intresting here in GA i havnt ran into any problems like that, also most of the dealers around here like my Trike, but like many others I would work on mine beforetaking it to a dealer and face there killer service rates

**ATCGENIUS** · 09-18-2006, 04:20 PM

I am right next to you, beaumont tx-90 miles. i don't have any of my work done from shops either, noone is going to do the job as good as i can and i have seen how they work on stuff in shops. i was talking for the masses of people that just want to sit and ride and not touch the bike. but that is great that there are still shops in houston working on trikes, so far i don't believe there is anyone working on trikes in this area, except for the guy working out of his garage. i have just picked up a 84 200s for $150, in great shape, but the guy could not get it worked on and he did not know what to do. i fixed it in a minute and it is my wife's favorite trike right now.

**ATCGENIUS** · 09-18-2006, 04:23 PM

sargon 2112, thanks for getting the pic, i can't wait to see it. that is crazy that 4 wheelers can ride the trails and only 3 wheelers can't. really sad.

**BigGreenMachine** · 09-18-2006, 04:24 PM

I don't take mine to any dealer. I can do all the work myself and don't want some lacky joyriding on my machine.

Thread: What is happening with trikes right now?

Thread Tools

What is happening with trikes right now?