The kit retains the stock Can Am Spyder suspension, but clearly uses a bespoke frame which locates the driver low down and between the front wheels. The engine is relocated behind the cockpit with a huge and functionless tail fin (Goblin claims it may help other road users see you) bolted to the top.

Like the Can Am, the WolfSpyder doesn't lean and presumably retains the incredibly restrictive stability control system, which is the only thing standing between the Spyder and lawsuits fun.

The WolfSpyder bodykit adds $19,995 to the Spyder's $15,449 base price and is registerale as a motorcycle. [Goblin via Autoblog.nl]

MAROTTI - a vision which has become a reality. This vehicle has been created just to bring delight, to feast your eyes on its appearance, achievements and ultra-sport driving.

Marotti is a combination of the cutting edge motorcycle and car technology which has resulted in the production of a vehicle as dynamic as a motorcycle and, at the same time, as save and easy to drive as a car.

It is equipped with a high-revolution Honda V4 engine of the total capacity of 750 cm3 and 100 hp placed in a steel and highly resistant to the damage frame. It impels the back wheel with a chain assuring required dynamics of the back axle.

Its sporty character is intensified by an extremely low center of gravity and aerodynamic shape of the bodywork equipped with additional elements for the air intakes and interior air flows such as a front spoiler, flat floor, and back stabilizers. Power-to-weight ratio amounting to about 4.4 hp/kg assures a good pick-up and very dynamic acceleration, whereas its low weight and sport tires result in achieving high speed while taking a turn.
Fun guaranteed!

Selected technical data:

* engine and gear box: Honda V4, 750 cm3, 100 hp at 11000 1/min, 6 speed sequential gearbox, electric reverse gear,
* proper weight: 440 kg,
* length: 3200 mm,
* width: 1800 mm,
* tires: front 255/45R17, back 275/45R17,
* suspension: front - double rocker arm, back - roller rocker arm, shock absorption system fully regulated,
* brakes: disk brakes without brake assist.

[Marotti via Autoblog.nl]

Trike Japan is a company that designs and manufactures trike conversions for some of the most popular motorcycles available in Japan. They decided to build this special Ferrari-branded trike to show off their new Suzuki Hayabusa Trike conversion. Dipped in Rosso Corsa and adorned by replica Ferrari F1 graphics, this trike definitely screams out Ferrari. Though, at the same time, it screams "I'm a tool" to anyone riding this abomination. While little information is given, we do know that it retains the stock Hayabusa 1300cc motor. At least it has some go to back it up.

Video Build Diary

We've Got No Clue What They're Saying, But She's Hot

[via carzi]

And unlike the 09 Challenger SE of Spin's dreams, you can only get this with a five-speed manual. Oh, and it's got A/C, a CD player and a push-button heater. Though they claim the goal is to sell 3,000 of them, we think they're going to do ten times that. American salesmanship with Chinese quality. How can you lose?

Upon approach, the Spyder is smaller in all dimensions than it looks in pictures. It's surprisingly low to the ground; the saddle is only a little higher than a Harley Fatboy, but nothing close to a BMW GS. From a styling point of view it's either love it or hate it. The bodywork is nicely sculpted, with fancy ducting around the front wheels and a carefully styled seat section. The headlight and windshield "pod" is the only part that looks a bit off, but in operation it makes sense. One thing I wasn't expecting was a Corvair-like trunk up front. There's enough room for your helmet and jacket or a bag of groceries or (shudder) a briefcase. Neat-o!

On the nuts and bolts side of things, the engine is a 998cc twin Rotax affair which also powers an assortment of Aprila models to great effect. The fat rear wheel is hooked up to a dual sided monoshock swingarm and is driven by is a carbon-fiber reinforced belt . The vehicle features linked brakes and an all-wheel ABS system. This bike/car also has stability control in the form of ignition cutout when you start doing something stupid. More on this later. Now things get weird. The double A-arm suspension up front is designed for Ackerman steering, self centering, and a pretty neutral kingpin offset. This means it's basically a car suspension up front and doesn't allow for leaning the vehicle into corners like a motorcycle. As a result, motorcycle purists think it's the work of Satan, while we're a little more pragmatic about it.

Hopping onto the Spyder is no different than onto a bike, except you can get on from either side without looking like a moran [sic]. The seating position is quite comfy and sort of like a cross between a rocket bike and touring setup. Your body is fairly upright while your feet are underneath. From a motorcycle rider's point of view, when driving the Spyder, there are a couple of things that are unsettling at first. The linked brake system is at the top of the list. The front brake normally offers 80% of total stopping power and is the first line of defense at your right hand. Here there isn't even a handle, just the twist throttle. All braking is done with the right foot, normally reserved for the weaksauce rear tire. This only causes temporary unease because after the first full panic stop, you can't help but praise your deity. On a motorcycle if you lock the front wheel you will go down unless you're very lucky. It's called low siding. I've done it and it's not fun.

Acceleration is smooth and controllable and the transmission is very fluid. Despite the displacement, the engine feels a little bogged down with an extra couple hundred pounds. So it's only about as fast as a modern 600cc rocket bike, which is to say still very fast. The engine note is delightful — a grunty howl with a dash of gear whine, however, I'm pretty sure a slip on can would really make it sound cool. Now the big question, cornering. If you've ever ridden a quad before you'll note cornering mechanics of the CanAm are almost identical. Hold onto both grips, keep your torso high, move your body around with your legs and use it like a lever against chassis roll. My first high-speed corner had me lifting the inside wheel and squealing the outer one. This machine is very predictable. The long wheelbase and well sorted suspension work together to soak up bumps that would unseat you on a motorcycle.

This all sounds like the makings of an ideal hooncycle, and in an ideal world it would be. However, I have one complaint. The traction control nanny is a bit of a killjoy. They need to dial it back from 11 to about 7. Half the fun of riding a quad, snowmobile or jetski is to let things hang out a bit —oversteer, play in the dirt, get squirrelly and in general have some fun. It seems that with the Spyder, just when things get fun (read: dangerous) the engine ignition cuts out the power and what you think is going to be a powerslide through the gravel turns out to be a sputtering plod through the gravel. Or when you really lean into a corner and get on the gas, the rear tire slips a little and that perfect apex you were aiming for disappears. Oh well. Lawyers.

To sum up: Not a motorcycle, not a car, something different. Maybe better. I'd love to have it for a week to test it as a daily driver. As effete as it may seem, the locking trunk is a huge selling point. Carrying a backpack full of stuff is a hassle and sweaty in the summer. Throwing the boat anchor out without worrying about locking up is really nice. Is it $15k nice? Nope, but once the other manufacturers jump into the market (Honda, Kawasaki, BMW... are you listening?) I suspect competition will have a nice effect on that problem. I can hardly wait to see what generation two looks like. – Ben Wojdyla

Related:
Can-Am Spyder Website Goes Live, Trike Fanatics Hearts Aflutter [internal]

I think Ralph Nader's infamous title is perhaps more apropos in this situation than in its original context. I first saw this contraption cruising Woodward during the Dream Cruise last summer, but couldn't seem to catch up to it. Now it's cornered quarry and far more dangerous than I'd thought. As mentioned, that's a blown GM 502 ci V8. The shock comes from the numbers: 700 hp and 733 lb-ft of torque. That goodness is running through a custom-built 200R4 transmission to a Ford 9" rear and 20" wide Mickey Thompsons. Yeah, that's more batshit craziness than most muscle cars with four wheels (and seat belts and a roll cage, and...). I can almost taste the sublimated June bugs just looking at it. – Ben Wojdyla

Related:
Can-Am Spyder Website Goes Live, Trike Fanatics Hearts Aflutter; all of our Autorama coverage [internal]

So the Can-Am Spyder is a bit of an oddity, and it was pretty much off everyone's radar, but we're on it like crazy on Congress now. The real deal grown up website is going live at 11:00pm which is like now and that means specs, new pics, maybe some vids, certainly some wacky marketing pitches. I can't promise I'll be posting the wacky goodness instantly since it's SaturdayFriday night and I'm lazy/half drunk, but I WILL be checking it out when it goes live, as all of you should too. Everyone should be a little bit psyched by tthe rollout of an all new niche, the motorcycle-automotive hybrid. Oh yeah, the possibilities for hyphenated hybridization are so exciting. – Ben Wojdyla

Can-Am Spyder [Can-Am (flash required)]

Related:
So That's What That Was: The Can-Am Spyder [internal]

All we know for sure is that trike's a Volkswagen. We're hoping and praying that the Stig is behind the mask. Or at least the Hamster. – Jonny Lieberman

Related:
Can We Get Some Zen Around Here? [Internal]

When pics of that unidentified trike — shot during a burn through Tail of the Dragon — hit earlier this year, the kids were abuzz. Had BMW taken over Volkswagen's GX3 mantle and built a three-wheeler for the sporting set? Turns out, as the New York Times reported yesterday, the mystery bike was called the Spyder, a product of the Sea/Ski Doo people, Bombardier Recreational Products of Canada. That company relaunched the Can-Am brand this year as a maker of ATVs and this thing. It's powered by a 106-hp V-Twin and comes with traction and stability control and antilock brakes, all for around $15,000. We'll know more when the trike launches officially later this week. – Mike Spinelli

A Tricycle for Adult Situations [The New York TImes]

[Can-Am Spyder Roadster]

Related:
Spy Photos: Was Ist Dis Trike? [internal]

Everyone's favorite Smoky Mountains motorsports photographer, Killboy, caught shots of an unidentified trike as it traversed the Tail of the Dragon, betraying its duty as a test vehicle by way of various manner of tech gear. Speculation on its origin ranges from a BMW skunkworks project to a KTM-Audi mashup for the weekend-racer set. Like the Volkswagen GX-3 concept, killed by VW legal before it made production, it's got two wheels up front and one in the back, but unlike the GX-3, it's got a far more bike-like seating position. We're sure there's more to come, but from whom? – Mike Spinelli

Mystery Trike Spotted: BMW? KTM? You Decide! [Winding Road]

Related:
Let the Old World Have Some: T-Rex to Attack UK; Ding-Dong the GX3 is Dead: Spawn of Moonraker Officially Killed [internal]

We've posted on the Kamikaze before, but caught it up close in all its questionable, Hayabusa-powered glory. The crazyass-crazy reverse trike features 400 horsepower from its modded bike motor, an overwrought paint job, plenty of chrome and thankfully comes with a wheelie bar. Somebody should challenge an Ariel Atom to a drag race in this thing. [Gallery]

Martino Motor Company

Related:
ayabusa-Powered Trike-Thingy: The Martino Kamikaze [Internal]

Those asymmetrically inclined Canadians who build the T-Rex trike are offering their creation to Londoners this week. They're hoping to win over Brits to their lightning-quick Kawasaki-powered trike, which they say can hit 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. The three-wheeler is powered by a 187-hp 1400 cc bike engine, inserted into a tubular chassis frame, with a carbon-fiber body dropped overhead. We'd imagine the lil' bugger will go over big in certain circles, like among the suicidal idle rich.

[via PistonHeads]

Related:
What?!: T-Rex in the Hizzouse [internal]

Ed Roth's more-awesome idea, embraced by many a wild and wooly ruffian without a care for fashion, the motortrike, is on its way back and we have The Motor Company to thank. The vehicles, developed along with Lehman Trikes U.S.A. Inc. of Spearfish, South Dakota (The Leader of the Three World! Best. Slogan. This Quarter.), will be Harley-branded and sold via H-D dealers. Fat dentists lacking an innate sense of balance are stoked.

Harley to develop three-wheeled Harley trikes [Reuters via Autoblog]

Related:
Trike Psych!: Piaggio's Three-wheeled, Backwards Scooter [Internal]

Visitor to the British International Motor show got a chance to see the latest in homemade, absolutely pointless (in a good way) transportation in the BykaTryka SK8. Surely the concept vehicle — angel investors take note — will fill a yet-to be recognized niche market, say, among drag-racing groundskeepers or biker gangs of very small, very nervous people with a penchant for popping wheelies. Either way, we're in for a few bucks.

Bykatryka

Related:
Trike Psych !: Piaggio's Three-wheeled, Backwards Scooter [internal]

VW's Malibu-based Moonraker program's first child has been officially euthanized. When it debuted at the LA Auto Show this past January, VW was rumored to be bringing it to production. According to Wolfsburg's man-in-the-States Adrian Hallmark, "It would not have been possible for us to build the GX3 with the purity that it required, at the price which prospective customers told us they would be willing to pay." Cantor Fitzgerald's Stephen Pope was more blunt: "[A three-wheeled car] smacks a bit of stupidity to me. Nice concept, thank you very much, but keep it in the design studio." There's a fine line between stupidity and genius. Just ask Ferdinand Pi ch. [Thanks to Lars for the tip.]

Volkswagen Drops 3-Wheel Car Plan on Legal Concerns (Update1) [Bloomberg]

GX3: Flies and Death and Stuff [Internal]