Are the 3 wheeled motor cycles (Trikes), safer than the 2 wheeled ones?

Question

The 3 wheeled ones seem to be used mostly by older people but they look safer to ride to me. Less chance of going down when hitting rocks or oil slicks. Lets say a car cuts you off, would it be easier to avoid the accident on a 3 wheeled trike or a 2 wheeled bike? Then the trike would be more visible to car drivers too, right? What about rain and snow? better stability on a trike right?

Answer 1

The only way a trike is safer would be in slow traffic because it will not tip over on you. It is harder to avoid an accident on a trike because you can't jump between cars to get out of the way.

Cars do not see bikes or trikes!

In CA you do not need a motorcycle license to ride a trike.

Answer 2

I would say so.

Answer 3

No, but if you are disabled then riding a regular motorcycle is impossible or very difficult.

Answer 4

trikes are better if you have a hard time balancing but when turning it is much more dangerous to turn at high speeds with a trike than a standard two wheeled motor vehicle

Answer 5

OK let's get some facts... Trikes are much safer on sand, gravel, and in rain because of their three wheel stance. NO chance of 'going down'. Modern conversions have stablized the platform to where they are difficult to flip without riding like an idiot. My wife of over 50 rides a Goldwing trike and has been at 80 mph going to Daytona (taking a hand off the bars to sip a drink) -and ridden in the North Carolina mountains -having NO problem keeping up with or out running traffic (except crotch rockets). She drives hard and fast and has never lifted a rear wheel. Trikes are much more visable than bikes by virtue of there size and have little problem with being cut off. And anyone dodging between cars to avoid an accident needs to revisit the safety course.

Answer 6

Older and Handicap  people can ride Trikes when they can not ride two wheels.

Answer 7

Not really. The trike is much MUCH easier to FLIP.

Answer 8

Trikes have some advantages,  The stop quicker, for one thing, and yes, they are more visible and those factors may make them a little safer since most mc wrecks are caused by cars turning left.  Some older folk ride them if they have problems holding up two-wheeler.

Very few people can handle a trike well, though,  and they are not as maneuverable as a two-wheeler.