Motorcycles have the potential of serving as sensible utilitarian vehicles, but reverse trikes like the Can-Am Spyder and Polaris Slingshot epitomize impractical recreational vehicles. While enclosed motorcycle-powered three-wheelers typically cater to a slightly more affluent demographic than standard two-wheelers, this example boasts a far more accessible price tag while still offering much of the raw performance and canyon carving fun offered by the Slingshot and other enclosed reverse-trikes. Powered by the fuel injected water-cooled motor from a 2005 Yamaha FJR-1300, this reverse-trike is built around an all-aluminum frame and weighs in at a reported 1,500lbs. Though it lacks some of the factory-clean appearance and frills offered by more expensive manufacturer-built reverse-trikes, this home-made example was supposedly expertly assembled and is simply one seriously cool ride at a much more reasonable price-point.
Shockingly, the current owner/builder opted to use this example as his/her daily driver following his/her retirement, and as a result has been fitted with various components and accessories to make it a slightly more practical road-goer. Two large water-tight Pelican cases are fixed to the back of the trike. Halogen headlights units with high mounted LED driving lights, LED signals, LED running and brake lights have all been added to this one-off three-wheeler. A high mounted LED brake light ensure drivers of trucks and SUVs will see the low-profile vehicle. Furthering this is the under carriage lights mounted beneath the frame. The reverse gear on this example uses a dedicated electric motor that is controlled via remote-control on the trike’s key-fob.
The FJR power-plant is married to a five-speed sequential gearbox and has been given a Power Commander and K&N Filter to up the trike’s performance. Ventilated disc-brakes have been installed all around to offer a decent bite, with the brake bias valve located in the cockpit where the stock FJR-gauges are also located, along with a few other pieces of supplementary instrumentation including a satellite speedo and radio. Fittingly a radar detector is included, as the seller puts it: “you will need it.” The cockpit houses two bucket-seats with what look like five-point harnesses. The gas tank appears to be mounted between the luggage and seats, and though somewhat hobbled together, this still looks like a pretty well-built custom.
The seller points out that this example is not a kit or an “amateur project,”, having been built by a “Jouneyman machinist/welder/fabricator/designer/motorcycle road racer, with 40+ years experience.” Also pointed out in the ad is the fact that this example requires nothing more than the rear wheel being fitted with a touring-compound tire for it to become a bonafide drift-toy, suggesting this thing boasts a good deal of power. Since it has been built, the seller has put 75,000 miles on it while using it as a daily driver and aside from a front wheel bearing issue and a failed ignition switch – both of which are relatively quick and easy fixes – this example hasn’t had any issue in its time on the road. The paint has received its share of blemishes and chips in that time, but I imagine this example is for someone more concerned with performance than appearance.
This sale also includes a spare engine and transmission with ten thousand miles on them. The spare power-plant was purchased to replace the existing one, but according to the seller it still runs great so why fix what ain’t broke. Also included is a spare fuel tank and a handful of other spare parts. The ad also says the seller is willing to sell this example without the spare engine, and is even willing to remove some of the non-essential “frills”, which would bring this already attainable reverse-trike’s price down even further.
You can find this street-legal, custom-built, ’05 Yamaha FJR-1300-powered reverse-trike for sale on craigslist in St. Louis, Missouri with a price of $8,999