Three Wheelin' With Custom Trikes 

You either love custom trikes or you hate 'em. Owners of trike motorcycles are truly passionate about their ride.

Did you hear the one about the Volkswagen that hit the motorcycle? That's the kind of thing you hear sometimes from some bikers about trikes. It's really not the right attitude, however. Some people need the stability of a three-wheeler to be able to ride. Others, especially petite women, don't feel secure trying to handle a big two-wheeler and still others just like the way it looks and rides.

Riding a trike is completely different than riding a custom motorcycle and even experienced riders need to get the feel of the differences. While a custom motorcycle is counter-steered, using body weight to change the center of gravity of the vehicle resulting in turns, the trike has to be steered. The turning radium is a lot different. Trikes tend to turn in about the same area as a 12 inch over custom chopper. You simply can't turn them on a dime. However, depending on the transmission, you may have a reverse in a custom trike.

There was a time that custom built trikes were really built by taking a Volkswagen beetle, cutting the front end off and replacing it with a motorcycle front end.

Creative artists actually left portions of the roof on, cutting it into artistic designs. While this method of making a custom trike is still as valid today as it ever was, there are many other techniques you'll see on the road today.

Some trikes are VW, but there is also a section for Harley trikes, Honda, Lehman, Boss Hoss, Centaur and others. Most of the pictures as of this writing were in Custom Built Trikes and Other Trikes. Some of the machines in these pictures will make you drool even if you never wanted to ride a trike before.

Lightningmotorcycles.com, the builders of the Lightning Motors V-8 Trikes is something to see as well. These huge steep custom trikes are pretty amazing. Even the hardest core Harley rider will admit there's a lot to be said for these rides.

Rat Race Productions, used to have a gallery of these radical custom trikes and they used to build some great two wheelers as well. You'll love looking at the ladies posed on the trikes, but you'll love the looks of the trikes almost as much.

Brothers of the Third Wheel, a triker's organization located at www.btw-trikers.org is another place you'll want to stop and see the many photos of trikes. There are some designer custom builds pictured and lots of trikes designed by those who ride. You'll see just about every type of trike at Brothers of the Third Wheel. You'll also see a lot of custom sheet metal work, some very well done, and some simply meant to hold the front of the custom trike onto the back.

If you love trike motorcycles, there are lots of trike meets around the country throughout the year. As some of us keep getting older and stiffer, it may not be that long before we have to consider the trike as an option. These machines also allow those who have survived a serious motorcycle accident the ability to get back in the wind without having to have full use of all their limbs. If for no other reason that "there but for the grace of God, go I", you have to respect the custom trike world.

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