Three-wheeled cars (or is it tricycles?) have been around since the invention of the automobile but they still have an air of mystery and novelty surrounding them. Three-wheeled vehicles are in a class of their own and sit between the automobile and motorbike sectors. They make rules as they go along with novelties and experiences being explored with constant innovation.
Do you want to drive a car that corners like a motorbike? Do you want a bike with the stability of a car? These things could only exist on three wheels and thanks to some forward thinking engineers, they did! Let us take you down the rabbit hole and show you the weird, wacky and wonderful world of three-wheelers.
Vandenbrink engraver
One of the coolest cars you’ll ever see and the coolest car you’ll ever drive, if you’re lucky enough to get the chance. Even though the car costs £30,000, the experience you get is 100% unique. To describe the feeling of driving, one would not compare it to a car or a motorbike but rather, it is perhaps closest to the feeling of being on a fighter jet.
When you turn a corner, the entire cabin tilts into the corner to create the feeling as if you’re a fighter pilot flying through the sky. The faster you spin the wheel, the more the cabin tilts, meaning you can control the tilt to suit your preferences.
Yamaha Nickel
If you’re looking for a more open experience, Yamaha’s three-wheeled bike will be suitable. The Yamaha Nickel is a big, beefy-looking motorcycle with one key difference. Having three wheels allows riders to enjoy superior traction and stability while still retaining the feel of leaning into corners, putting their knees down and riding tight.
Despite being slightly wider than the two-wheeled variant on which it’s based, the Nickel still manages to elegantly sift through traffic and tackle twisty roads. Worries about slipping, falling, and watching your bike slide on worn asphalt aren’t completely eliminated, but they are greatly reduced with this awesome three-wheeler.
Polaris slingshot
Unlike the Vandenbrink Carver, the Polaris Slingshot offers no exotic novelty, but instead this upright three-wheeler focuses entirely on speed and performance. Essentially, the Slingshot is a similar product to the Ariel Atom. It’s an ultralight, open-top sports car optimized for breathtaking track performance.
Built in Alabama, this American machine is powered by a 2.4-liter I4 engine that produces 173 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. It might not sound like much, but this little piece of fun weighs just 791 kg and hits 0-100 km/h in around 5 and a half seconds.
I believe the main selling point of this tripod is its stunning appearance. The angular and aerodynamic fairings make the Slingshot stand out even more than it already does and the ‘tadpole’ design with a thick wheel in the middle of the rear gives this bike a true sense of the future.
Morgan 3-wheeler
The Morgan 3-wheeler (yes, that’s the official name) is very similar to the Slingshot in concept but not in design. Like the Slingshot, the Morgan is also a 3-wheeled, convertible sports car, but instead of taking its style from modern supercars, the Morgan uses the classic Morgan design.
It looks classic and feels classic too, with the rumbling 2.0-liter S&S V-twin engine actually feeling like it was built 40 years ago thanks to the noise and vibrations. If you’re looking for a refined and well-tuned ride, it’s best to look elsewhere. However, if you like the look of classic cars and are looking for something extremely unique then this could be the one for you.
Robin is trustworthy
Last but not least, we can’t end this without mentioning the most iconic 3-wheeler ever. It was extremely popular but no one really knew what the people at Reliant Motor Company were thinking. Who thought it was a good idea to put a fairly conventional body on a 3-wheel delta layout, with only one wheel at the front?
Well, you actually didn’t need a car license to drive a Robin before 2001 because it weighed less than 450 kg and had three wheels instead of four. The bike is also taxed and registered as a motorcycle, which means owners can save money each year by owning a Robin, simply because it has three wheels.
Since the regulations have changed, the Reliant Robin mostly reminds us of Del Boy’s Reliant Regal and flips itself around the turns.
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