The All-Terrain Three-Wheelers

THE ALL-TERRAIN THREE-WHEELERS

Meet Honda's ATC And Sperry-Rand's Tri-Cart. They're Absolutely Crazy. The Better You Get, The Worse They Get... Which Can Be Fun.

IT'S DEBATABLE whether the motorcycle world has been waiting breathlessly for the balloon-tired motor-powered tricycle. Nevertheless, two of these machines, claiming all-terrain capability, have made their debut.

As a class of machine, the Honda ATC and the Sperry-Rand Tri-Cart are fun and games. But the joys of riding these contraptions are not the same as those of motorcycling. A dirt motorcycle is a relatively nimble creature that becomes more and more nimble, proportionately, as the rider’s skill develops. Contrarily, the better a rider gets on a three-wheeler, the more cumbersome, if not hairy handling, his mount becomes.

With motorcycling comes pride of accomplishment. With three-wheeling, ATC or Tri-Cart style, the pride of accomplishment comes in smaller doses, and the satisfaction of mind winning out over matter lasts about as long as that which follows a hot session on the bumper car track at the Long Beach pike.

But anyone can ride the little devils. Even with a non-functioning inner ear. Having a triangular base, they can’t fall over on their sides. At least not when they are sitting still. And they do exhibit remarkable climbing ability.

Honda’s ATC consists of a 90-cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine in a pressed steel frame, which drives the fiberglass-shrouded back wheels through a locked rear axle. Front and rear suspension is rigid, but the ride is made soft and oozy by the 22-11 Ohtsu tires, which are inflated to only 2 psi!

The rider sits on a comfortable motorcycle-type seat with his feet in stirrup footpegs, and steers with a handlebar. Rear braking is available both through a right-hand foot lever and the left handgrip. The throttle is operated by squeezing the lever on the right handgrip. The “On-Off” switch is at thumb’s reach on the right handgrip.

After starting the engine with a spring-return pullcord, the rider merely has to stamp the ATC into gear and then gas it. An automatic centrifugal clutch does the rest, even to the point of releasing momentarily as you shift through four gears. The transmission has a dual range lever, so there are eight speeds forward—four low ones for steep going and four for faster speeds on easy terrain.

So, briskly away you go, popping mushy wheeliesr until you arrive at the first bend, and it doesn’t want to. Then, by dint of heavy muscle on the handlebars, a judiciously applied throttle, and body lean to the outside of the turn (against all logic), it turns. Wheewoo, the inside wheel is in the air! As one of us remarked, “It’s the first time I’ve ever been excited at 10 mph.”

But the Honda is fun, despite its histrionic aspect, and does several of its appointed duties rather well. It climbs stairs. It jumps logs. Or butts them out of the way. It has excellent flotation on the sand. And with a rope tied to its hefty rear grab handle, the gearing is so low that it could probably extricate a Sherman tank from the La Brea tarpits. Finally, it is so well made and tough that it is nearly indestructible—an important feature, considering the numerous roll-overs to which it will succumb.

The Sperry-Rand people, in spite of their computer and aircraft guidance systems background, have come up with much the same pudding, albeit in a slightly smaller and more skittish package.

Sperry-Rand’s Tri-Cart shows its aerospace heritage with such design features as a monocoque, aircraft-type body which incorporates the chassis, seat and fenders. The gas tank, which holds enough fuel for about five hours of operation, is located at the top of the engine compartment. When the Tri-Cart runs out of fuel, it may be lifted up on the left side and fuel from the reserve tank will flow into the main tank to get you back to camp. Lifting it up is quite easy since the total weight of the vehicle is only 225 lb.

A tough, reinforced fiberglass body resists the bending and flexing strains (gasp) the Tri-Cart sustains, and provides extra strength and impact resistance for lower maintenance and operating costs. An occasional wash and waxing brings the fiberglass back to its original brilliance.

One of the most outstanding features of the Tri-Cart is its engine. Manufactured in Germany, the Rockwell JLO 2 2 7-cc single-cylinder two-stroke is really the ticket for this machine. A power output of 11.0 at 6000 rpm is claimed, and although torque figures aren’t published, they must be astronomical. The Tri-Cart pulls away from a stop with amazing elan, even when starting up a hill with two aboard. A Donaldson, quiet-tuned muffler undoubtedly helps provide the abundant torque, and keeps the sound level down to an unobjectionable level. This is an important consideration when riding (driving?) the Tri-Cart in the proximity of others.

Power transmission is accomplished via a Salsbury Model 500 speed-sensitive automatic clutch which drives a V-belt to a jackshaft. Final drive is via a motorcycle-type chain to the live rear axle. The clutch begins to engage at engine speeds slightly over idle. This makes it necessary to park the Tri-Cart next to a tree or a wall to keep it from taking off when starting from cold. Starting is accomplished using a pull cord like an outboard motor.

A single-disc brake on the rear axle provides swift, sure stops by raising the control bar. The squeeze-type throttle and engine stop switch are also located on the control bar.

Riding the Tri-Cart was something really different, and many varied reactions were obtained from our staffers. It was generally agreed that power, speed, traction (via the 14.5-16 rear tires) and stopping qualities are all outstanding, but the lack of shock absorbers and the inherent instability of any threewheeled vehicle are downright minus points. In order to negotiate a left-hand corner, it is necessary for the rider to lean out as far as possible to the left, if he is traveling at any speed, in order to keep from tipping over. And if you run over a bump in the middle of a turn, things really get interesting in a hurry. It is also quite impossible to keep one’s feet in the stirrups when traveling over rough ground. This caused some anxious moments during our tests. On smooth surfaces the Tri-Cart is quite good, but its ungainly manners in rough going (in spite of the ultra-low pressure tires) make it necessary to exercise caution.

Both Honda ATC and Sperry-Rand Tri-Cart are easy to ride, and great for off-the-road beginners. Even a child can ride one. But he’d better wear a crash helmet. And use a great deal of self-restraint.