At the Tokyo Auto Salon, held last weekend, this custom 3 wheel scooter was shown, based on a Yamaha Majesty. It’s called the “Hagane” and the original Japanese article notes the display suggested they would be producing this, possibly later this year. I can’t really figure out who actually did the work, was it a custom shop, was Yamaha involved in any way? No matter, the tilting three wheel concept seems to be spreading.
It doesn’t look bad, better than some I’ve seen, and it has all of the stability advantages of three wheels plus the improved turning capabilities of a motorcycle with the tilt. This is bound to catch on with more custom builders just as I suggested it would. I’m curious what we’ll see next.
Link: ScooterScoop via Motoblog.it
Related: Tilting 3 Wheelers – Potential Custom Direction?
More photos below:
Chacoura says
Yep! The 3 wheel is having his 15 minutes. And look what’s in the news here today:
http://www.enbeauce.com/detail-actualite.asp?ID=3474
Looks like a T-Rex, behave like a T-Rex, but they call it a G-2. It’s a kit you can buy and put whatever 1000cc motor in it you like, or the electric motor they propose now. Not too sure what to think of it.
kneeslider says
Chacoura,
That looks exactly like a T-Rex in a sort of build it yourself form. If the T-Rex company isn’t behind it, they are sure to get upset. It looks to me like they’re trying to gain market share and this is another way to get the product out. Interesting.
Here’s the link directly to the G-2
chris says
okay, three wheelers are great. tilting ones even more so. but has anyone seen any clear cut explanation as to how they achieve the whole tilting AND level riding all while having a stable-non-binding suspension system? i’ve figured out a few of them, even came up with my own version, but i’ve yet to come across a simple diagram of a mechanical style tilting trike. if anybody’s seen one – please let me know. based on what i know (admittedly not much) on the subject of tilting trikes – this particular scooter would have some stability problems.
GenWaylaid says
The article Chacoura linked to seems to be saying the G2 is made in Quebec. So is the T-Rex, so I would strongly suspect their involvement.
The numbers given for the electric version look very interesting. It’s like half a Tesla roadster, with similar performance. The range is 175 mi or so, which is probably fine, since this type of vehicle probably doesn’t see many long trips anyway.
I have to say I’m amazed with the finish of the Yamaha three wheeler. It really looks like it’s supposed to be that way. Considering that tricked-out foot-forward scooters are a big thing in Japan right now, something like this could become quite popular there. By the way, the lines of the bike suggest that the base vehicle was a Morphous rather than a Majesty.
Alejandro Martinez says
I am very suspicious of the steering mechanism, as it is a handlebar setup with two front tires. This means you don’t get enough rotation out of the handlebars for a proper setup of the two front tires. Either you have to have the two front wheels closer together, or you will either have the steering to slow at low speeds or too fast at high speeds, meaning that the vehicle is twitchy on the highway. I happen to know this from experience. All the reverse trikes with traditional handlebar setups with two front tires don’t work. You need to use a steering wheel, or go exotic with a variable rate rack and pinion.
Either way, looks like reverse trikes are taking off. I would like to see a company actually make one, rather than tease us, aka the GX3.
Chacoura says
I went to see the guys of G-2 this morning at the auto-show here in Montreal, looking for 1 fake T-Rex, but I found 2, almost side by side. The first I saw was from them: http://www.silenceinc.ca/. They use a real T-Rex and put an electric motor in it, but they are a distinct entity from T-Rex.
The other one from G-2, as said, is a kit you can customize as you will. They got in trouble with T-Rex over allegation of use of parts from actual T-Rex, cast and documents from T-Rex. T-Rex won in court over the use of their brand, but lost over the idea of a kit who looks like theirs but don’t pitch as if.
At least, it’s what I understand of it. I made a crapy video of the G-2 you can see there: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPY48abR9zI.
Sorry for the use of this space with my thing. Won’t happen again.
todd says
Chris, as far as I understand, the tilting is done by the driver. I think most tilting trikes have some sort of speed sensing lock that keeps the kit from tilting until you’re over 5 or 10 mph, at which speed you should be able to balance it yourself. When you turn, you lean and the trike leans with you.
-todd
OTTO MANN says
THIS IIS THE ONLY SCOOTER . THAT I EVER LOVED OR LIKED . NOW BUILD IT.
Dan the man says
Well what can they build it for? the T-Rex sells for 45k+. I saw a much more affordable tilting trike online the other day heres the link http://www.theautomoto.com/ it flips the two wheels to the back and has 1 wheel upfront and it sells for only $3,800.00 now thats a cool vehicle most folks can afford.