Chris wrote:
ah the good ol 3 wheels of death
Not nice Chris, You've found the hot button.
The 3-W concept was not an overnight thing. It first appeared in the very early 70's and for many years was only one or two models in Honda's line. The original ATC 110 was most likely designed as an alternative to the 2-W Motorcycle in the California sand dunes. At one point there was a 2-W sand bike with huge flotation tires, but it was a flash in the pan.
As the concept developed the Manufactures played with various engines and suspensions. By the early 80's Honda had at least 5 if not 8 different models. Ranging from the Big Red which had little suspension to the 200x which was heavily suspended and developed about 35 HP, and would do 45 MPH on open road. There was one model beyond the 200x, the 250R. It was a 2-Stroke, Water-Cooled design that directly decended from the Elsinore/CR Motocross Bike. It only had one purpose, RACING.
The 3-W design had gotten a pretty bad rap and unfairly so, mostly due to stupid consumers and and over-active Big Brother.
3-W's design is much more stable than the 2-W design. Bikes are much taller and have a higher CG. The peg to seat distance is longer. 3-W's are quirky from a 2-W mindset as they do not handle in the same way. You lean in the opposite direction for starters. On a bike, a rider putting a foot down is normal. Try that on a 3-W or 4-W and at best you will destroy a boot. A 3 or 4-W can be barrel-rolled and a bike can only be laid down.
There are advantages and disadvantages to all three design concepts.
By the mid-80's the consumer craze was in full swing. The 3-W design appeared more user-friendly than a 2-W and people were ridding 3-Ws in ways and at ages they would not have considered on a 2-W.
In a side note the 4-W design came along, first as a mod kit for a 3-W. This increased the stability, and was a superior design that was quickly replacing the 3-W design, at least in the hare-scramble / woods racing circles.
About 86, the uproar started about how unsafe the3-W's were. I still feel it was mostly bad journalism if you considered the skill level and age of the riders. 3-W are not more dangerous than a 2-W. But because of the increased apppearance of stability people were using them in a more unsate manner.
No one in their right mind would allow a kid who couldn't touch the ground to hop on a 200cc 2-W are fly down the road. First off it would be physically impossible. But that was happening on 3-Ws. Dual ridership was another thing that was easier on a 3-W and was a contributing factor.
When the gov. got involved, I think the manufactures were not at all reluctant to agree to discontinuing the 3-w line. By that time they had three serious lines, 2-W, 3-W and the upcoming 4-W. The 4-W was winning the popularity contest and the end was coming for the 3-W design. A Gov. ban only sped the process and the Gov. took the rap for dropping the line.
The other thing that came out of the Gov. action was major push for Rider Education and Age Recommendations. These actions alone would have lessened the issues with 3-Ws. And IMO are about the only difference and the fact that the public is much more savy today.