... doesn't that make it a quad?
When does a motorcycle stop being a motorcycle? The debate has been an
on-going one for a while now, especially with the introduction of an
increasing number of three-wheel models. The actual definition of a
motorcycle involves two wheels, an engine, but no pedals. Yet, we’ve
come to include leaning three-wheel vehicles in a broader definition of
motorcycles—but definitely not the Can-Am Spyder! Now, Kawasaki
talks of adding a fourth wheel into the mix. Is the Geen Team trying to
one-up Yamaha and its Niken or does it actually believe in the utility
of a four-wheel bike? Either way, we’re confused.
In an interview with Italian publication Motociclismo,
Marketing and Sales Director Sergio Vicarelli and Technical Director
for Kawasaki Italy Giovanni Poli confirmed they have a “four-wheel
project in the works.” Kawasaki is no stranger to quads, but if this is
what it was, I don’t believe it would have been relevant to mention it
in an interview discussing motorcycles, right? A Kawasaki quad wouldn’t
be any big news, however, a four-wheel motorcycle would be.
Not
only that but the two gentlemen even confirmed that “the project” was
coming to the market in the near future. They didn’t expand any further
on the matter (understandably so) so many questions remain, the first
one being: why?
Kawasaki has toyed with the idea of a 2+-wheel motorcycle, notably with the introduction of the Concept J prototype
which surfaced for the first time in 2013, at the Tokyo Motor Show.
Patents filed in 2018 also point to the development of a wheel-tilting
system, not unlike Yamaha’s.
Either Kawasaki
strongly believes in the purpose of the fourth wheel or it’s letting its
engineers flex by creating a leaning four-wheel bike, like Yamaha did
with the Niken.
A sort of “we do it because we can”. We’ve discussed that very
scientific tests done by a racer have seemingly given some truth to
Yamaha’s statement that the Niken’s third wheel adds more grip and
stability. So a fourth, I guess, adds even more? Is there such a thing
as too much grip? Or too many wheels?
At this point,
they could also add a frame around the rider. Oh, and maybe a sort of
belt contraption that secures the riders to his seat. And why not bags
that fill up with air when a crash is detected? Oh, wait...
So we now have four wheels in the works. What about five? Does anybody want to try five? Honda? Suzuki?
