Three wheelers

[richard]

Are these subject to the same as a motorbike? Do you need a licence, tax etc. A friend is considering buying a Honda 3 wheeler and I said I didn't know so would ask on his behalf on this forum

Thanks in anticipation

[PeteC]

Interesting question and sure to get the MIB brains smoking. Below is 3 wheel also, what is it a car a motorcycle or a 3 wheeler? Pete

images.jpg (8.88 KiB) Viewed 803 times

[richard]

Motorcycle

[Albie Quick]

in UK Traffic Law a motorcycle is defined as having 'less than 4 wheels' and being under a certain weight. The Reliant (photographed) fell into this category and so became popular because the owner only paid motor cycle road tax etc. I wouldn't hazard a guess as to how it would be classed in Thailand but my guess is that the outcome would be influenced by who was driving, (riding), it.

[Dannie Boy]

in UK Traffic Law a motorcycle is defined as having 'less than 4 wheels' and being under a certain weight. The Reliant (photographed) fell into this category and so became popular because the owner only paid motor cycle road tax etc. I wouldn't hazard a guess as to how it would be classed in Thailand but my guess is that the outcome would be influenced by who was driving, (riding), it.

That explains why Del Boy (Only Fools and Horses) had one, he was always looking for a cheap option!!

[lindosfan1]

I once towed one of these 50 miles when it broke down, I had a cortina estate and we had gone fishing together but they broke down. When we got back the 2 in the robin they were white with fear. I had forgot it was a 3 wheeler and had towed them at my normal speed round the roundabouts, and bends apparently they were having to lean to counterbalance to stop the robin from turning onto its side.
Took them weeks to talk nicely to me
I was reminded of this when Jeremy Clarkson drove one on top gear he kept rolling it it. very funny.
But they IMO are not very safe.

[STEVE G]

Back in the eighties, you could drive a Reliant Robin on a motorbike licence although I think you had to gate out the reverse gear or something of that nature.
A friend of mine used to have one of those for winter commuting and a Kawasaki Z1300 which I think was a bit faster!
He once gave me a lift home in it in the snow and it was lethal as there were two wheel tracks rutted along the road and the front wheel wouldn't stay in the middle so you ended up going along crabwise, jumping from one side to the other.

[caller]

That Clarkson sketch was brilliant - well worth another showing!

[NOKYAI]

Richard, I looked into these last year.

No Tax/ Licence needed. you can do a search for Honda Giro

Chris

[Big Boy]

That Clarkson sketch was brilliant - well worth another showing!

I've watched that video a couple of times since posted, and it got me wondering - how to Tuk Tuks not suffer the same fate? Surely, they must have a much higher centre of gravity, which must make them even more vulnerable.

Over the years I've been with some crazy Tuk Tuk drivers, but never felt as though the beast was going to roll.

[Rob W]

Richard, I looked into these last year.

No Tax/ Licence needed. you can do a search for Honda Giro

Chris

I have seen a few people wobbling along on 3 wheel scooters in town I guess ridden by people who have never ridden a scooter before, looked very dangerous as not only did they have no road sense but where travelling very slowly.
just because they are slow and dont need a licence does not meen you cant be killed on them.
and they look like they are made out of lego.

Rob.

[Bristolian]

That Clarkson sketch was brilliant - well worth another showing!

I've watched that video a couple of times since posted, and it got me wondering - how to Tuk Tuks not suffer the same fate? Surely, they must have a much higher centre of gravity, which must make them even more vulnerable.

Over the years I've been with some crazy Tuk Tuk drivers, but never felt as though the beast was going to roll.

There needs to be even left-right weight distribution for the Robin to be balanced. The left-right weight distribution is about 50-50, but when there is a driver and no passenger, there is no counterweight to balance the car. When the car brakes or turns, it would turn over on the side where the driver is. With the Tuk Tuk the weight distribution is generally better, with the driver seated in the centre. If you ever watch one with an excessively large customer sitting to one side of the passenger seat you will see the same tendency to roll

In the similar way to the famous Spike Milligan – “A sure cure for seasickness is to sit under a tree”

A sure way to stop a Reliant Robin from rolling is to walk

[Nereus]

That Clarkson sketch was brilliant - well worth another showing!

I've watched that video a couple of times since posted, and it got me wondering - how to Tuk Tuks not suffer the same fate? Surely, they must have a much higher centre of gravity, which must make them even more vulnerable.
Over the years I've been with some crazy Tuk Tuk drivers, but never felt as though the beast was going to roll.

There needs to be even left-right weight distribution for the Robin to be balanced. The left-right weight distribution is about 50-50, but when there is a driver and no passenger, there is no counterweight to balance the car. When the car brakes or turns, it would turn over on the side where the driver is. With the Tuk Tuk the weight distribution is generally better, with the driver seated in the centre. If you ever watch one with an excessively large customer sitting to one side of the passenger seat you will see the same tendency to roll
In the similar way to the famous Spike Milligan – “A sure cure for seasickness is to sit under a tree”
A sure way to stop a Reliant Robin from rolling is to walk

Yes, that is a big part of it. But the centre of gravity in the vertical plane is also affected by the position of the weight above or below the pivot point. If a large part of the weight can be kept low down, coupled with a relatively wide wheelbase, then it will require a high angle of tilt before the centre of gravity passes the point where the car will tip over, 3 wheels or 4.

Many years ago Land Rover used to claim that the vehicle woulld "slide" sideways crossing a steep slope, rather than tip over. Having operated them in VERY steep country I can say that they were correct. The driver will normaly "chicken out" long before the car tips over!

[richard]

Many years ago Land Rover used to claim that the vehicle woulld "slide" sideways crossing a steep slope, rather than tip over. Having operated them in VERY steep country I can say that they were correct. The driver will normaly "chicken out" long before the car tips over!

I can vouch for that. Years ago I worked in Zimbabwe and had a long wheelbase Landrover. Almost impossible to roll it. All the newbies who had gone for a Discovery rather than a LR always had difficulty when off road driving in the bush

[usual suspect]

The Honda Giro X Richard has a 2-stroke engine in it..could be the same lump they fitted in their 'sit-n-screws' about 6/7 yrs ago..the motor (if over 3 yrs old) may need an overhaul or at least re-ringing..? These bikes have a quirky system where the pivot on the rear axle locks in the upright position when stood still/not moving..it IS a machine that can put a smile on ya face I think..555!