• Articles
  • Motorcycles for Sale
  • Motorcycle Parts
  • Motorcycle Manuals
  • Models
  • Collectibles
  • Contact

The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Rungu Juggernaut 3 Wheel Electric Reverse Trike Leans with a Difference

By Paul Crowe

Rungu Juggernaut electric fat tire reverse trike
Rungu Juggernaut electric fat tire reverse trike

There are so many new electric bicycles coming out it’s hard to keep up, but this one is different with the addition of twin front tires on a bike that is designed to lean in the turns, but I guess the Rungu guys didn’t get the memo about leaning multi wheelers because the front wheels here don’t lean independently. When you lean in the turns, you simply lift the outer wheel.

When you turn the Rungu Juggernaut, the outer wheel lifts
When you turn the Rungu Juggernaut, the outer wheel lifts

Evidently you get used to it, after riding for a bit the wheel lifting in the turns is just the way the bike works and you no longer notice it. I thought it was interesting because when reverse trikes started to appear on The Kneeslider, a common critique was that the outer wheel would lift in turns, as in the photo above, though actual experience from riders on leaning multi wheers shows that doesn’t happen, but in this case it certainly does because it has to.

Rungu simply mounted two forks side by side that work in parallel, no leaning mechanism involved
Rungu simply mounted two forks side by side that work in parallel, no leaning mechanism involved

The bike itself was designed to get out on to the beach into the soft sand or through snow or wherever a normal mountain bike would bog down. You pedal to start moving, but there’s a throttle to assist up hills or in the soft stuff where you might walk a regular bike. There’s no kickstand because of the third wheel and the electric motor can get to 35 mph on the flat. It can go about 15 miles on electric power alone or about 30 miles when used to assist. Of course you can pedal alone all you want.

Sandy beaches or anywhere normal mountain bikes have a tough time
Sandy beaches or anywhere normal mountain bikes have a tough time the Rungu keeps on going

There’s probably a point where the weight penalty of the extra hardware necessary for a leaning mechanism isn’t justified in a trike like this, you would be using electric power all the time and the range would be radically reduced, after all you already have an extra fork and wheel, but instead of a wider stance and non leaning turns, this one narrows the wheel separation and lifts one while it leans. Logical choice. Interesting concept.

The Rungu Juggernaut comes in around $6800 as shown here and it would be fun to try it out, in fact it would probably be a lot of fun, period.

Rungu via Popular Mechanics

Posted on October 30, 2017 Filed Under: Electric motorcycles, Three Wheel Vehicles Tagged With: electric, electric bicycle, electrikes, Juggernaut, Rungu


-- Subscribe to The Kneeslider --

Be the first to know when something’s new!


Be sure to check out The Kneeslider’s motorcycle models listings.

Your purchases through ebay links on The Kneeslider may earn a commission for this site.




« Russell Sutton’s 14 Cylinder Yamaha XV Radial Engine Meets the Neighbors
1948 Harley Davidson Panhead Resto Mod »

Comments

  1. Charlie says

    October 30, 2017 at 9:57 am

    The Rungu is a narrow focus bike that balances where a pedal bike can’t. Ultra low speeds and “slogging” conditions. It’s unsettled at most speeds, as it takes a good rider to get used to the way the bike tips. When it tips, it doesn’t just lift the outside tire. By tipping, it changes the dynamics entirely, as you now have only the inside wheel to turn with, making the arc path different. Going faster makes it easier, but it’s a lot like making a race tire work. Go faster and brake harder to heat it up. Take it on faith it will work.

    For its focus, it works, and I suppose would be nice. I’m not its market, so I can’t say if there’s enough appeal to make it something more than a neat build that answered one man’s question.

    Ignoring that, it certainly looks nicely done, and it’s creative without being overly complicated to get its job done. That alone has an appeal in the design simplicity.

  2. Justdoesn't Matter says

    October 30, 2017 at 10:01 am

    Gee, if the problem to this solution was to avoid getting bogged down in sand/mud/whatever, and given the non-articulated front end, and considering the obscene price tag…why didn’t the builder add the extra rear tire for more flotation AND consistent traversing during leaning??

    • Charlie says

      October 30, 2017 at 11:03 am

      1. Four tires wouldn’t lean well and with a narrow track like that, it wouldn’t corner well.
      2. Laws limiting access to “Bikes Only.” Three wheelers are still classed as bikes, and four would be something else (atv?) and could be banned on the beach.
      3. One hub motor is a simpler build (and narrower between the legs) than a mid mount motor at the pedals, to say nothing of adding an axle and splines/hub and making the motor a through shaft, or synch’ing two motors, one of them needing to drive backwards or have a “lopsided” design if they both aren’t inboard.

      The price isn’t that obscene if you look at the price for good electric bicycles. You can get cheap stuff and build one that will wear out fast, but for a durable one with a decent battery and controller this isn’t terrible. I don’t know what the spec of his electronics are, so if he’s gone with bottom dollar stuff, yeah, it’s over priced. For reference, a good (not top of the line) fat tire bike like this from Bull’s will run you $4500 or so. A cheap one from Rad will run $1,200. The difference is in the components.

  3. Bob says

    October 30, 2017 at 9:05 pm

    …or get a fat tire trike like the ICE “Full Fat”, Trident “Terrain”, or AZUB “Fat”.

    I’d also think that adding a whole new front end adds a LOT more weight than the leaning mechanism. Heck, the leaning mechanism is pretty much the same structure with a lot of bearings thrown at it (With great care and precision, of course).

    There’s still a lot to be said for leaning 2 wheelers.

Subscribe to The Kneeslider

Be the first to know when something's new!

Search articles on The Kneeslider


Do You need motorcycle parts?

Everything from normal maintenance items to hard to find out of production parts, look here first.
Be very specific for best results! Use part numbers if you have them.


Be sure to check out The Kneeslider’s new motorcycle parts listings.



Your purchases through ebay links on The Kneeslider may earn a commission for this site.



From The Kneeslider Archives

Nembo Motociclette inverted 3 cylinder motorcycle engine

Nembo Motociclette Inverted 3 Cylinder Super 32 Rovescio Motorcycle Engine

Hossack Ducati 800

Norman Hossack Engineers a Trellis Front Suspension on a Trellis Frame Ducati 800

RSS What’s happening on HorsePowerSports

  • DeLorean Motor Company is Coming Back with an Electric
  • Ford Shares Open Source CAD Files for 3D Printing Truck Accessories
  • If You Need a New Car, Buy an Old One Instead

Motorcycle Engine Powered Cars

Copyright © 2025 · The Kneeslider · Website by Crowe Computer Services
US Army veteran owned and operated
This website proudly Made in the USA!
Made in the USA