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1984 Zoe Zipper

In 3 Wheels, Japan by AbhiLeave a Comment

In 1983, Zoe (rhymes with Maui) Products of California licensed a three-wheeler from Mitsuoka Motors of Japan. The Zipper featured a 49cc Honda engine (5 horsepower) paired with a CVT with an electric reverse gear. Zoe claimed 45 miles per hour and 112 miles per gallon.

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1984 Tritan A2 Aero Car

In 3 Wheels, America by AbhiLeave a Comment

No, it’s not really a motorcycle. But that’s how it was classified because of its three-wheeled nature, and we’re going to run with it. The Tritan A2 was notable for having an incredible drag coefficient – just 0.15. Compare that to a period Toyota MR2, which had a Cd of 0.35. Amusingly, the only commercial “success” the A2 had was …

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Boxer Mashup: A BMW /6-Swapped Sidecar Rig

In 3 Wheels, Custom, Germany by Gray Van DykeLeave a Comment

With their broad power bands, smooth torque delivery, and unfailing reliability, boxer engines have long been a natural first choice for sidecar platforms. BMW’s start with three-wheeled rigs was during the second World War, and, Ural – their Russian counterpart – is one of the few marques that still offers them fitted from the factory.

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1961 Harley-Davidson Servicar Custom

In 3 Wheels, America, Custom by AbhiLeave a Comment

Produced for nearly 40 years, the Servicar was a three-wheeler HD produced in an attempt to further expand their target customer base during the Great Depression. One of their selected targets was automotive mechanics, so this bike was designed to allow mechanics put their tools in the rear storage box to make house calls. It also had a tow hitch, …

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Camera Platform – 1995 Honda CB1000 With Sidecar

In 3 Wheels, Custom by AbhiLeave a Comment

Built with a 1995 Honda CB1000 (also known as the “Big One”) and a 1996 Mighty Mover 2 axle trailer, this is an interesting sidecar that’s been built specifically for filming tracking shots. The seller states that it has been used in “numerous commercials, film, and television productions” – I’m not sure what a non-industry rider would do with it, …

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497 Miles – 1986 Honda Gyro S

In 3 Wheels, Japan, Less than 5k by AbhiLeave a Comment

Introduced in 1982, the Gyro series of scoots are three-wheelers (one in the front, two in the back) where the body is able to lean up to 40 degrees compared to the rear axle! GYRO is actually an acronym, which stands for “Great Your Recreation Original”. Well, the translation’s not great, but you get the idea. The initial designs were …

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The Widow Maker – Jet-Powered Trike

In 3 Wheels, America, Custom by AbhiLeave a Comment

In 1972, EJ Potter (also known as the Michigan Madman) showed off an incredible trike in Lakeland, Florida. Doing his best Dr. Strangelove impression, EJ basically straddled a Fairchild J-44 jet engine on wheels. It was a short lived experiment – the 1,200 hp rolling jet engine was claimed to have crested 200 mph before it crashed at 120 mph …

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1966 Pannonia T5 with Duna Sidecar

In 3 Wheels by AbhiLeave a Comment

Pannonia was a Hungarian motorcycle manufacturer that produced over a million bikes between 1954 and 1975 – in addition to a whole bunch of four wheelers. While their range of motorcycle engines included a boxer twin and a vertical twin, the most common motor they built was a two-stroke single as featured in this T5.