I'm confused. What's the etiquette with a Can Am 3-wheel thing?

[FJRider]

That sounds reasonable, but how can you allow a car which does not need to be fitted with seat belts when all others do??

Cut one wheel off ...

[Daffyd]

That sounds reasonable, but how can you allow a car which does not need to be fitted with seat belts when all others do??

I wouldn't make too much noise about it... some shiny arse in Wellington will change the rules. They have to be seen to be doing summat, y'know.

[Corse1]

Any interaction is with the rider, not the machine, surely. And people ride those things for a variety of reasons...all of which are much the same as the reasons for riding 2 wheels. So why would you even ask?

Interesting thread this, I have ridden one and yeah be good to explore the boundaries of these three wheeled machines. They could be a lot of fun..............which is why we ride two wheel bikes.....right?

Are we segregating those on three wheels from those on two?? whats the difference between these and a trike also allowed at bike rallies etc? Wind in your face and all that. I dont like it when bike riders refer to cars as cages...come on they are a necessary mode of transport getting from A to B for the hum drum life of most people. People who ride Spyders do so for the thrill and getting away from normality. I agree with MSTRS and treat them like any other bike rider as interaction with the "rider".

Dont think I would choose three wheels over two though.............just saying

[Big Dave]

Whatever they be, they are bloody good fun once you get the mojo of it.

[FJRider]

Dont think I would choose three wheels over two though.............just saying

Many that ride them ... no doubt thought the same. Life often throws a few curve balls .... and two wheels may not be an option. If a Spyder/Trike fill's the gap ... so be it ...

[Corse1]

Many that ride them ... no doubt thought the same. Life often throws a few curve balls .... and two wheels may not be an option. If a Spyder/Trike fill's the gap ... so be it ...

Yep totaly agree with that. My time hasnt come yet but I aint getting any younger
Ive seen disabled people (if by bike accident or otherwise) riding the spyder and I can only say "Way to Fuckn go!!"
What ever spins your wheels and I am not the type of person who will tell anyone else how to enjoy THEIR life.

Curve balls eh! thats what lifes all about. I would have liked the curve ball of winning 27mill last night.

[Ocean1]

I have a mate with one of these - it is great in the sand dunes

Funny, Mrs O's got horribly confused in the sand at Riversdale, had all 4 computers arguing about what the fuck was going on and what the fuck the boss wanted. On the other hand you could nail it at any speed in gravel and the back would hang out 6 inches. No more, and no less.

Here is one though: If it is registered as a car, why does it not have to be fitted with seat belts, and why do you not have to use them?

Somewhere behind the actual regulations is a protocol that talks about either/or seatbelt/helmet. Having said that white trash reckons you don't actually need a helmet, either...

I know people who ride Spyders because they no longer feel able to support the weight of a motorcycle, yet they do not want to give up the (almost) riding experience.
So there...

Yes. I know a few who physically can't ride bikes any more, for one reason or another and see spyders as a second chance.

[sootie]

Spyders (& probably Trikes generally) are really strange to follow. I ride in groups quite a bit, and when one of these things suddenly appeared all the two wheeled riders complained!
After a while you start to anticipate the lean, by watching the rider in front. I don't thinkgroup riders even realize what they are doing. Spyders corner almost dead flat like a car, and if you are the following rider, you tend to underestimate the bend curvature! I have got used to it now, but initially it caused a few headaches!

[FJRider]

Somewhere behind the actual regulations is a protocol that talks about either/or seatbelt/helmet. Having said that white trash reckons you don't actually need a helmet, either...

You only need safety gear if you fall off ... or crash.

Kb'rs are too good to do that ...

[Dangsta]

Yeah I guess my question wasn't so much about whether they are fun to ride (which I'm sure they are), it was more about what you generally do when you come across one on the road. Would you wave, would you hang back a bit or would you treat it like a car and zip by it if you get an opportunity? What's the etiquette for something that's not a bike but not a car? I found myself a little confused sharing the road with one today and just wondered what y'all do.

[schrodingers cat]

Treat it like a Harley...

[davereid]

A trike is a motorcycle.

A Robin Reliant is a car.

No doubt the NZTA can pay themselves $200k each a year and still be confused about the difference.

At least they haven't yet worked out a way to charge you an admin fee for each time they can't decide, but I am sure there is a fees revision project being worked on right now, to find a way to charge you for them thinking about it. (Cost recovery of course, no profit motive.)

A Can Am is IMHO a motorcycle.

An expensive, slow, wide, hard to park motorcycle. But a motorcycle nonetheless.

Maybe when my balance gets as bad as my judgement I will get a trike. Not quite yet though.

[FJRider]

Yeah I guess my question wasn't so much about whether they are fun to ride (which I'm sure they are), it was more about what you generally do when you come across one on the road. Would you wave, would you hang back a bit or would you treat it like a car and zip by it if you get an opportunity? What's the etiquette for something that's not a bike but not a car? I found myself a little confused sharing the road with one today and just wondered what y'all do.

Harley riders don't wave ... and they have two wheels (usually/apparently) ...

I wave to cars too ... if the urge gets me ...

It's a free country so wave if you want. DON'T if you don't want too ... But don't whinge if nobody waves too you ...

[caseye]

SLOW! they are not. I sincerely hope they're still around when and if it comes time to give up my 2 wheels, cause I'd have one like a shot,even before a trike I reckon.

[Ocean1]

I found myself a little confused sharing the road with one today and just wondered what y'all do.

Whatever suits, dude.

And as usual, whatever you do tells the other guy something about you.

A Can Am is IMHO a motorcycle.

An expensive, slow, wide, hard to park motorcycle. But a motorcycle nonetheless.

Be mildly interesting to see if your sportster would be that slow. Straight line or curved ones.

Tell you one thing, don't follow one too close, they out-brake anything road legal I've ever played with.