[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/the-weird-world-of-3-wheelers\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/the-weird-world-of-3-wheelers\/","headline":"The Weird World Of 3-Wheelers","name":"The Weird World Of 3-Wheelers","description":"When four wheels is too many and two wheels isn\u2019t enough Three-wheeled cars (or is it trikes?) have been around since the invention of the car itself and yet they still have an aura of mystique and novelty surrounding them. Three-wheeled vehicles are in a league of their own and sit between the realms of cars and motorcycles. They make the rules up as they go along with new novelties and experiences being explored with constant innovation. Want to drive […]","datePublished":"2019-10-18","dateModified":"2019-10-28","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/#Person","name":"Matthew Collett","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/","identifier":5,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/The-Weird-World-Of-3-Wheelers-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/The-Weird-World-Of-3-Wheelers-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/the-weird-world-of-3-wheelers\/","about":["Cars","LATEST CAR NEWS","MOTORCYCLES"],"wordCount":797,"keywords":["3-wheeled car","3-wheeled motorbike","3-Wheelers"],"articleBody":"When four wheels is too many and two wheels isn\u2019t enoughThree-wheeled cars (or is it trikes?) havebeen around since the invention of the car itself and yet they still have an auraof mystique and novelty surrounding them. Three-wheeled vehicles are in aleague of their own and sit between the realms of cars and motorcycles. Theymake the rules up as they go along with new novelties and experiences beingexplored with constant innovation. Want to drive a car that leans into turns like a motorbike? Want a bike that has the stability of a car? These things can only exist on three wheels and thanks to some forward-thinking engineers, they do! Let us take you down the rabbit hole and show you the weird, wacky and wonderful world of three-wheeled vehicles.Vandenbrink CarverOne of the most interesting cars you\u2019ll ever see and the most fun car you\u2019ll ever drive, if you\u2019re lucky enough to get a chance. Although the car is an eye-watering \u00a330,000 the experience you get to it is 100% unique. To describe the way it feels to drive one wouldn\u2019t compare it to a car or a motorcycle but rather, it\u2019s probably closest to feeling like being in a fighter jet.As you turn a corner, the entire cabin willtilt itself into the corner to make it feel as though you\u2019re a fighter pilotbanking in the sky. The quicker you turn the wheel, the further the cabin willlean meaning that you can control the amount of tilt to suit your liking. Yamaha NikenIf you\u2019re looking for a more open-top experience then Yamaha\u2019s trike bike should hit the spot. The Yamaha Niken is a big, beefy-looking motorcycle with one key difference. Having three wheels allows for riders to enjoy superior traction and stability all whilst preserving the feeling of leaning into corners, putting your knee down and going full-tuck.Although it\u2019s a little wider than thetwo-wheeled variant it is based upon, the Niken still manages to elegantlyfilter through traffic and carve through twisty roads. The worries of slipping,falling and watching your bike slide across the abrasive tarmac aren\u2019tcompletely eradicated but they are reduced significantly with this excellentthree-wheeler. Polaris SlingshotUnlike the Vandenbrink Carver, the PolarisSlingshot doesn\u2019t offer a bizarre novelty but instead, this stancedthree-wheeler focuses purely on speed and performance. The Slingshot is,essentially, a similar product to the Ariel Atom. It\u2019s an open-top,ultra-lightweight sports car that is optimised for breathtaking trackperformance. Built in Alabama, this American machine is powered by a 2.4-litre I4 engine which produces 173 hp and 166 lb-ft of torque. It may not sound like much but this little piece of fun only weighs 791 kg and does 0-60 mph in around five and a half seconds.The main appeal to this tripod, I believe, isthe stunning looks. Angular and aerodynamic fairings make the Slingshot standout even more than it already does and the \u2018tadpole\u2019 setup with one thick wheelat the centre of the back give this car a real futuristic feel. Morgan 3-WheelerThe Morgan 3-Wheeler (yes, that\u2019s 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, open-top sports car but instead of taking styling cues from modern supercars, the Morgan uses classic Morgan styling.It looks classic and it feels classic too withthe rumbling 2.0-litre V-twin S&S engine truly feeling like it was made 40years thanks to the noise and vibration. If you\u2019re looking for a refined andwell-tuned ride, you better look elsewhere. However, if you enjoy the stylingof classic cars and are looking for something incredibly unique than this maybe the one for you. Reliant RobinLast but certainly not least, we can\u2019t end this without mentioning possibly the most iconic 3-wheeler ever. It was incredibly popular and yet no one really knows what the people over at the Reliant Motor Company were thinking. Who thought putting a rather conventional car body on a delta 3-wheeler layout, where only one wheel is at the front, was a good idea?Well, as it so happens you didn\u2019t actually need a car license to drive the Robin before 2001 as it weighed under 450 kg and had three wheels instead of four. The vehicle was also taxed and registered as a motorcycle which meant that owners could save money each year by owning a Robin, simply because it had three wheels. Since the regulations have changed the ReliantRobin is mainly good for making us think of Del Boy\u2019s Reliant Regal and tippingitself over around bends. 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