Is it a car, is it a motorbike!

[001 Neville]

Saw this at the Autospectacular and the owner is actually based in Timaru, so I might check this out for a ride sometime. What do you think?







\

http://www.carverexperience.co.nz/video.php

[021 Chad]

Would startle the hell out of you if you saw one on the road I bet!

There seem to be a few 'car things trying to be bike things' coming out these days.

Related yarn actually: I parked up in the MOTORCYCLE parking at the local mall and as I'm taking off my gloves, some 'cool dude' in a singlet, baggie shorts and sandals rocks up on a canam trycicle with VERY loud pipes. He then proceeds to 1000010 point turn to try and park next to me in the MOTORCYCLE parking bay! Obviously theres no way in hell he's going to fit as the thing is probably bigger than a smart car.
After a few attempts he gives up holding up the traffic and parks in a CARPARK, which the trike fills rather easily on it's own I might add.



At least the item above has a roof. I think I would like to try one to see how it goes, you wouldn't catch me DEAD on a Canam though!

[001 Neville]

Did you check out the video clip, Chad?

[021 Chad]

Looks like a lot of fun.
You wouldn't want to park one side on to a slope and have it 'roll' like that. I reckon that would be a hair raising experience.

[001 Neville]

They seem to be able to tilt it like that for a demo of the 45 degree angle, but normally will only tilt during driving when the controls are turned sharply, as shown by Richard Hammond on the TopGear clip.

I'm not sure what it will feel like, and could well be a cause for motion sickness for the passenger, like a rollercoaster. It is in the driver's interests not to cause that effect as he needs to get out before the passenger can!

Yes, it has a removable roof, and room for a passenger, but no space for any luggage which is why the one in Dunedin had a Unigo attached to the back - a one-wheeled trailer!

What's a Canam?

[021 Chad]

What's a Canam?

Canam Spyder.
From my perspective it's a bike for people who don't like anything about bikes, bar the open air motoring.


^Typical owner base pictured.

[001 Neville]

Oh yes, I have seen those.

As you say, might as well just have an open top car like a Caterham Seven since you can't travel the places bikes can go, so all the disadvantages with only the open air riding as an advantage. Get wet like motorcyclists too!

There's a big Kawasaki motorbike in the local dealer has been converted to a trike, so the same issues there too! I spotted it more because the regn plate is something like .... ?OPEL .... and I have pics somewhere, but can't find at the mo..... oh, just found them! POPEL it is!

[021 Chad]

Yeah I don't really understand the one in front two behind trike crowd either.

[001 Neville]

In this case, they apparently dropped the bike and the wife said she wouldn't go back on until they had another wheel ... so they did ... and now the novelty has worn off so it is being sold.

[021 Chad]

Those back wheels look like something you'd find on an AC Cobra.

[127 Gordo]

Good call, Chad - imitation Halibrand magnesium wheels as found on a SC427!
With some of the trike models out there (anyone else note the use of a stereotypical 'plump' American on the Can-Am?) I'm surprised there isn't more of a market for a small, smart convertible with a fold down windscreen - like the old style English 'sports car'.

[001 Neville]

Good call, Chad - imitation Halibrand magnesium wheels as found on a SC427!
With some of the trike models out there (anyone else note the use of a stereotypical 'plump' American on the Can-Am?) I'm surprised there isn't more of a market for a small, smart convertible with a fold down windscreen - like the old style English 'sports car'.

Like this one, you mean? Even has a decent engine!
http://www.opelforum.org.nz/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=901