Front wheel Measurements between a Motor Bikes and Trikes

[MikeK]

Hi All,

I just come across this article from a UK site stating )Is the Yamaha Niken a trike? No, it’s a motorcycle. The DVLA classes it as such, and it rides just like any other motorcycle. It is NOT a trike. The wheels are too close together to be classed as a trike for a start.( Does anyone know the inside and outside measurements from front wheel to the other front wheel of the Niken and does anyone know what are the measurement rules between a motor bike and a trike across the front wheels. Please state your country of origin, as it may differ between countries.

Kind Regards

Mike

[HGP61]

UK, I think the wheelbase measurement between the wheels on the same axle is 600mm more than that it's a trike less than 600mm it's a bike.

[MikeK]

Thanks HGP61, I came across some info about the Niken, it said between the tyres was 410mm and the tyres are 120mm each so that totals 650mm so an axle of 600mm sounds just about right.

[HGP61]

There will be a regulation somewhere about where the measurement will be taken from, probably centre to centre between the wheels.

[MikeK]

[MikeK]

Hi HGP61, yep understand what you mean by the centre to centre measurements, measuring the width of the tyres is not a very accurate way to go about it.

I added that last image of a Kawasaki Patent that I found in an article by Bennetts back in January 2021. I thought you might find it interesting considering the tilting mechanism has been moved from the top of the bike to in between the wheels, in this design they use existing suspension of a bike, although the forks appear a lot closer together.