In 2008, Harley-Davidson tried to make the trike go mainstream by introducing the Tri-Glide. While it was a great attempt, it didn't quite catch on like the company wanted. Polaris Industries, though, may be the one who makes the trike cool. They recently introduced the Polaris SlingShot, a roadster with three wheels. Unlike the standard trike that has one wheel in the front and two wheels in the back, though, the SlingShot uses the rarely seen configuration of two wheels in front, one wheel in back. This along with its sleek, almost futuristic look makes it stand out from the pack.
When they were first created years ago, trikes were popular mainly with the older bikers and retirees because they were more stable. Those who had difficulty keeping their balance or holding a standard motorcycle upright loved them because the three wheel configuration made it much easier to ride. The SlingShot, however, is set to attract a new generation to trikes.
The price is also a key factor. Harley's Tri-Glide Ultra is priced at $33,000. That's out of the price range of many younger riders and is one reason why they're not selling to the demographic outside of the middle-aged man. The SlingShot, however, is priced at less than $20,000. This makes it much more attractive to many people who are considering trikes. Harley, of course, has tried to match this by pricing their Freewheeler trike at around $25,000. The Spyder by Bombardier is even cheaper, with its basic model priced at $15,000. However, it's not anywhere near as powerful as the SlingShot with its 2384 cc engine.
If you've never ridden a trike before, the SlingShot may be the one to win you over. You may even find yourself on thecheapplace.com buying trike patches to add to your jacket.
