The Trivio is a 3 wheel design prototype that takes the idea in many directions: comfort, fun, travel and sport each a bit different and modified slightly depending on the specific application. With the current crop of three wheelers coming out, more designers seem to be focusing their attention in that direction and we’re sure to see some interesting concepts.
The Trivio has an external bar on each side to protect the riders in case of a crash, something not present in current designs. Rider position varies somewhat, a standard upright position in the comfort and travel versions, more forward in the fun and sport versions. The travel version has hard bags plus a pretty slick tilting canopy that covers the riders for weather protection.
When you look at the designs here, you get the feeling that the 3 wheelers are really a different category of vehicle altogether, not just a modified scooter or motorcycle. The buyers of these trikes may not be from your usual market segments, and like the Can Am Spyder, aiming at folks who might not have any intention of buying a two wheeler but who might try one of these, looking for the fun of a motorcycle but not willing to take what they perceive to be risks or discomforts of various sorts.
These design variations on an Aprilia theme come from Matteo Bertanelli and Andrea Pelotti of Design Innovation in Italy. It isn’t clear from the translation whether this is just a design exercise or something beyond that. I do like the looks of this, though, and it is sure to be just the beginning of some of the really cool designs to come.
Another image and links below:
Link: Cyberscooter via Motoblog.it
Link: Design Innovation
Related: Piaggio MP3
Related: Can Am Spyder
todd says
Pretty cool but it’s still just a concept rendering, not a prototype. I don’t know where all the hype over three wheelers is coming from all of a sudden. They have always been a compromise from what I’ve seen.
-todd
chris says
it’s only a compromise because of it’s perceived stability issues. a motorcycle has some pretty serious stability issues until it’s rolling. then it works just fine. provided you lean through the corners. a TILTING three wheeler gives the best of both. it’s stable at a stop, leans through a corner to take advantage of some relatively complex physics, and if it’s enclosed can offer all of the convenience of a car, with the added performance and fun of a decent motorcycle. now these “static” three wheelers don’t make a whole lot of sense to me in a transportation sense. for fun, sure, but a scooter or a small car seems like a better choice for the kind of travel they offer.
Sean says
If they lean, then they work. Ever seen Rossi slide his face along the pavement on the telly? That’s because the more you turn, the harder you have to lean to keep the centre of gravity exactly above the downward force. Basic stuff anyone who has ever ridden a motorcycle or bicycle, but these guys seem to get it wrong all the time. The same effects are felt in a car, even, with regard to torque roll (I could be wrong, but this is my interpretation of this buzz word), and even simple things like the groceries rolling to the other side of the car. When turning at high speeds, gravity essentially changes. Alright. Physics lesson done.
Why are three wheelers like this not so smart? Because they don’t keep the weight squared over all three wheels. More weight goes to the outside wheels in a turn, and then you get the Hollywood two wheels action going on. Make it tilt and it works, if you don’t then make sure it can’t turn too hard or too fast.
So why the hell do we keep getting these three wheelers that don’t tilt?
Alejandro says
Whether the reverse trike tilts or not is really more dependent upon the width of the vehicle. A narrow reverse trike like the one above should tilt, as it needs to or else it will tip over easily. However, a reverse trike with a large width should be designed to have a low center of gravity and not tilt. A non-reverse trike that doesn’t tilt with a large width will actually out perform a tilting reverse trike, as it is more akin to a sports car (Lower center of gravity, larger traction patch, etc). For example, the T-Rex is non-tilting reverse trike and has excellent handling characteristics. To tilt or not to tilt is more dependent on the designers intention. The trivio looks like it would be a fun and interesting ride. It would allow some whether protection on bad days and make the ride a bit more safe. Cool pics either way.
todd says
Tilting or not one of the main reasons why I hop on my bike in the crisp dark hours of the morning is to shave time and gas off my commute. If a three wheeler can do neither (can’t fit between cars), then what’s the point? I mean, really, how often do we really go out for a sunday ride and want it to be in an inclosed 3-wheeler? Ok, let’s say it’s raining, or snowing even, and you’re reaping the benefits of an inclosure and the stability of three wheels. Would you dare to care if it can out handle a Honda Civic? Would it get better mileage?
The last I looked, you can buy both a dependable used bike and dependable used car (50-50 use or so) for less than a few grand. If fun is all you have to go on to sell one of these then it better be the ride of your life.
-todd
Sean says
True, relative width IS important. However, a non reverse trike has several dangerous attributes to it. The first is that in a sharp turn, they’re more likely to go flying. That’s why the American government banned off road three wheelers from sale or use. I agree with todd’s sentiments though, I personally like the idea of three wheelers but I would like the tilting aspect. Just because, as the Hamster from Top Gear said, it’s like being in a miniature road going fighterplane. And I like that idea.
Aaron says
FYI about large contact patch and traction. What Alejandro says about large contact patch and increased traction is correct, but not for the reason that most think. Friction is only based on two things, the force normal (perpendicular) to the road surface, and the coefficient of friction between the two materials touching (rubber and road). The size of the contact patch has nothing to do with it. So putting a wider version of identical tires on a car will not increase traction. Why it does eventually help traction is because with a larger contact patch the weight supported per square inch is lower so you can use a softer rubber compound (higher Coefficient of Friction) with the same wear rate as the harder rubber and smaller contact patch. So the contact patch size alone doesn’t increase traction. You have to take advantage of the lower PSI it results in and use softer, stickier tires too before you get the traction advantage.
noodle says
I would buy an Aprilia 3-wheeler if it used the MP3 technology (the bike leans and the wheels aren’t any farther apart than the width of the handlebars) and if it used the PiaggioCo 850 engine-tranny combo and if the design was completely different and interesting. Quite frankly, I’m BORED with the limited styles of bikes that are offered.