How to Ride a 3-Wheel Motorcycle

Compared to a standard bike, 3-wheel motorcycles, also known as “trikes,” can present some challenges to the uninitiated. If you’re accustomed to motorcycle riding, you’ll have to adapt how you ride to suit a trike. Fortunately, this isn’t too challenging and we’ve gathered up some tips to help you. In fact, you may end up feeling like riding your 3-wheel motorcycle is a lot easier than anything else you’ve ridden!

Similarities

Trikes are, of course, quite similar to motorcycles in many ways. For example, they feel very similar to ride in terms of being out in the open air. Also, you operate them using handlebars and a throttle, not a steering wheel. The roar of the engine is probably going to be pretty familiar as well.

Taking Turns

One of the most challenging aspects of riding a 3-wheel motorcycle is how to take corners and curves. When you turn on a standard bike, you’re using your body weight and muscles to maintain your balance and lean into the direction of the turn. That’s just not possible on a trike, since you aren’t using your body to stay balanced: the trike is balanced on its three tires already. Turns on a trike end up feeling more like turns you make when driving your car.

So when you turn with your trike, you’ll need to make it wider to ensure you don’t hit other vehicles or run into a curb. You’ll want to slow down as you approach the curve or corner, then speed up when you’re departing it. Also, bear in mind that the wider portion of your ride is behind you, so account for that when you’re making a turn that’s narrow.

Coming to a Stop

Another part of riding that will differ when you’re on a trike compared to a motorcycle is braking. Trikes are bigger and heavier than motorcycles, so you’ll need to give yourself more time to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. You’ll also want to avoid braking harshly and instead take it slowly.

It may be beneficial to ride your 3-wheel motorcycle around your neighborhood or an empty lot where you can practice braking on your own terms so that you get a feel for how strong your particular make and model of trike’s brakes are. This, in turn, helps you to figure out the distance you’ll need to bring your trike to a standstill.

Stop by our dealership in Upper Darby, PA, today to view our current stock of new and used 3-wheel motorcycles for sale. Crossroad Powersports is proud to be your Pennsylvania trike dealer, serving the Philadelphia metropolitan area, as well as our neighbors in Wilmington, DE.