The Three-Wheelers Keep Coming
Yamaha seems pretty intent on making leaning trikes a thing. The company recently patented a new one called the 3CT. RideApart spotted the European patent which shows several detailed images as well as some unique information about the bike.
The 3CT is more of a scooter than a motorcycle, and broke cover as a concept vehicle at 2018 EICMA. It’s part of the manufacturer’s push towards mobility solutions. I’m not particularly against three-wheeled vehicles, nor am I a motorcyclist who dispises scooters, but I don’t like this thing. I think it’s ugly.
I’d love to see one manufacturer make something that doesn’t look like some kind of handicapped mobility scooter they have at the grocery stores near me. Every time I look at the images of this thing that’s what I see. Maybe I’m the only one, though.
Anyway, RideApart says the 3CT will likely have a 292cc engine. That mill should be good for 28 hp and 21 lb-ft of torque, which honestly isn’t too shabby. I have no doubt the 3CT—if it’s made into a production vehicle, which it seems it will be—would be a killer commuter vehicle. It could even be kind of fun on a twisty road. With that said, I don’t see people lining up to buy these things.
As far as the images go, they show a vehicle very similar to the concept. However, Yamaha had to add some lights and mirrors and whatnot to make it street legal.
A 3-wheeler with a center stand? Am I missing something?
Look up Piaggio MP3 and you’ll see the same thing, which came out came out at lest a decade ago. It is also a scooter in 300/500 cc guises with leaning front end. Piaggio is the parent company for Aprila, Vespa, Moto Guzzi, Gilera, and Derbi.
Al is right, it’s just a Piaggio MP3 clone, the most advanced design of this type is the Quadro 350S, the front tilting mechanism of the 350S is far superior to anything else on the market and better looking as well. When they turn out a design with the 350S front mechanism and it looks more like a bike, I maybe interested. I may also point out that the front wheels shouldn’t be that wide, that your can’t do some lane filtering.