Bombardier draws up an enduro trike

There are a few three-wheelers that are widely available these days – Can-Am’s Spyder lineup is the most wide-spread, but Piaggio has their leaning MP3 scooter and Harley-Davidson has a trike in their lineup. There are several companies making conversion kits for motorcycles as well.

However, all these machines have one thing on common – they’re streetgoing only. And, inventor and angel investor Charles Bombardier (grandson of Joseph-Armand Bombardier, the founder of BRP, Can-Am’s parent company) would like to change that.

On his website, Bombardier has some sketches of a new machine he’d like to see on the market, called the Trail Trike. It’s set up the same way as the Can-Am Spyder, with two wheels in front and one in rear. The similarity should be no surprise; Bombardier says the idea for the trike came while he was working on the Spyder project with Can-Am.

Bombardier wants to see this machine come to market as a street-and-trail three-wheeler, ideally powered by a two-stroke direct injection engine and with a CVT transmission. The Trail Trike would have two output shafts that powered all three wheels; he doesn’t say whether he’d plan to have the machine with selectable three-wheel drive, or whether the unusual drivetrain would always be engaged.

To centralize mass and improve handling, Bombardier says the front disc brakes would be mounted inboard. He’d also like to see the machine include an automatic stability control system, and he wants to include a “carving seat,” that would allow the driver to lean with his seat when taking turns.

It’s worth noting that this concept is Charles Bombardier’s; so far, BRP has not been involved with it, so Spyder fanboys should cool their jets. Even if it does come to market, there’s no guarantee this machine would bear a Can-Am badge.

However, it’s a natural progression in the evolution of the modern trike, and it could create some interesting changes in the adventure riding market.

While you’re at his website, take a look around – there are some other cool concepts on there as well, like the Splitcycle and the Motosphere.