ENTER ZIP CODE CITY, STATE Top 10 dealers in Irvine, CA 92618 Dealer list will default to the Kawasaki headquarters location if your location is undetectable. Enter your zip code to find dealers near you. Request A Test Ride available at this dealer: hours, departments and more + more dealer info - less dealer info DEL AMO MOTORSPORTS OF ORANGE CNTY SANTA ANA, CA 92705 650 W KATELLA AVE B & M LAWN & GARDEN KAWASAKI 2801 E MIRALOMA AVE available for test ride DANA POINT JET SKI DANA POINT, CA 92629 LONG BEACH, CA 90807 - less dealer infoThe document you are looking for may have been removed or re-named. Please contact the web site owner for further assistance.HomeAutomotive PurchasingRV DealersOhioLake CountyMentor RV & Motorhome Dealerships in Mentor, Ohio RV Dealers in Mentor, OH These RV Dealers service the following towns and cities RV Dealers in other cities Published on May 13th, 2013 |

Op-Ed: Elio Motors Thinks it Can Sell This 3-wheeler. Earlier this week, Troy-based manufacturer Elio Motors introduced more than 20 key suppliers who will be key contributors to the production of the three-wheeled vehicle we featured back in January. Despite industry heavyweights including Altair Engineering, IAV, and NEWTECH 3 involve, a claimed 84 MPG fuel economy rating, a (dubiously anticipated) 5-star safety rating, and a starting price of just $6,800, I think Paul Elio’s little endeavor will fail.Elio Motors will utterly fail, completely fail, and embarrassingly fail. Why should you believe me? First, you need ignore the big-name suppliers. That’s a smokescreen put out into the newsosphere by Paul Elio’s PR people. All it really amounts to is “Altair Engineering is willing to take my money.” I can walk into a Firestone tomorrow and buy 20 sets of tires, but that doesn’t mean Firestone is in any way “backing” my backyard supercar endeavor, savvy?

With that out of the way, let’s get to the heart of why Elio’s “cars” will fail. Elio’s “cars” aren’t cars. motorcycle track days lakesideNot as far as the DOT or your local DMV is concerned, anyway. motor scooters for sale omahaSee, tipping the scales at less than 1500 lbs. and with only 3 wheels underneath them, Elio Motors’ three-wheelers are, in legal terms, motorcycles. motorcycle repair morton ilThat’s why vaporware specialists like Elio build three-wheelers in the first place: they don’t have to meet the same stringent, hyper-expensive safety and emissions standards as cars, and aren’t subject to the same rigorous tests. In addition, motorcycle manufacturers aren’t held to the same level of legal responsibility that car companies are, even in hyper-litigious countries like the good-‘ol US-of-A.

SO, to be clear, premise 1 in my argument is: Elios Motors’ “cars” are, in fact, motorcycles. I can already hear you asking, “So, what?” You’re right, of course. Premise 2: Many states require motorcycle helmets. Premise 3: No one wants to wear a motorcycle helmet inside “a car”. Because Elios are motorcycles and no one in their right mind would want to wear a motorcycle helmet inside one of these “cars”, Elio won’t be able to sell any of these “cars” in states that require motorcycle riders to wear helmets. This simple, helmet-based reasoning doesn’t take into consideration other factors, either, factors like … the cost to insure one of these motorcycle the impact riding a motorcycle might have on the driver’s insurance the additional costs and hassles involved in obtaining a motorcycle license … and the fact that (sort-of) three-wheelers like the DeltaWing have effectively proven that the Elio is built backwards.

Combine all those things, (probably) insufficient funding, and a design aesthetic that makes Genuine’s Lemonhead look tough, and Elio has all the earmarks of a losing deal. Do yourself a favor and keep your hard-earned money as far away from Elio as possible. © 2014   Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc. Back to Top ↑First Name*Last Name*Email Address* No other manufacturer offers the value the Big Tex offers its customers. However, having a good product is only part of the equation. Along with unsurpassed trailers, Big Tex offers an unparalleled three year warranty. Click the button below to find out more information. Big Tex Trailers has over 400 dealers across North America and select International locations to help you find the right trailer. Learn what’s new at Big Tex Trailers Corporate Offices. We are always updating new products and attending new events.The V13 R Roadster Trike is Campagna Corporations second foray to its very unique product line. 

Campagna (pronounced Camp-agnyah like Las-agna) a Quebec Montreal-based company released the T-REX, a high-strung three wheeled track beast with a 1,400cc Kawasaki 4-cylinder predator in 1995.   The V13R Roadster Trike powered by a Harley-Davidson/Porsche V-Rod 1250cc engine. The Revolution family V-Twin produces 125 hp and 84 lb-ft of torque, and it’s connected to a 5-speed sequential gearbox. Its power-to-weight ratio of 9.47 lb/hp is close to that of a Porsche Boxster S. Compared with the T-REX, it rides on a longer wheelbase with its stretched-out swingarm, and bit longer overall. Almost identical in width and height, although the V13R weighs about a hundred pounds more weighing in at 1,156lbs. This crossbreed defies convention; in fact, there’s nothing conventional about the V13R Roadster Trike.  The V13R doesn’t have supercar power but it will blow away any super car it the corners.  It doesn’t have airbags, stereo or heater but it does have more curves than Kim Kardashian.

And like Kim, there is nothing rational about the V13R and that’s what’s so damn appealing. Invited to Solid Works World in San Diego the V13R is a CAD design masterpiece.  Campagna marketing magi Michel Paquette rode her up to L.A. but before he could speed dial the anxious journalists at Motor Trend the V13R disappeared with me, sorry boys.  I was fortunate to spend several days running this awesome three wheeler through its paces. I imagine it similar to diving a formula one race car, four inches of ground clearance, two  front wheels bubbling over the tarmac is full-blown-fun.   You are lower than everything and everybody around you but certainly the center of attention. In no way do you realize there is only one wheel in the rear propelling this roadster.  Cars would regularly pace me on the freeway videoing with their cell phones.    My First stop was Cooks Corner on my way towards Ortega Highway. My female passenger liked the reclining position and side by side seat configuration and even said the seat was comfortable although I could use a bit more cushion. 

The cockpit is windy, noisy and it’s difficult to converse at freeway speeds.  We hit the lazy curves of Silverado Canyon and discovered V13R’s true nature, visceral and completely connected to the earth at 90mph.  A wider front wheel width than a corvette, with unequalled opposed triangular arms with coil over shocks this beast pulls a staggering 1.08Gs. A corvette pulls ,96 Gs, a Lamborghini pulls 1.01 Gs in the corner.  The massive triangular contact rubber patch of 205/45ZR17 tires up front and 205/35ZR18 single tire at the rear coupled with an incredibly low stance and wide front end width result in virtually no roll.  Winding roads is where this roadster wants to rock and roll. You can easily outrun sport bikes in the turns.  This beast will lunge into and out of corners like nobody business and her heart was a flutter.  Glued to the road we knocked through the twisties of hwy 74 as she  put her arms straight up and screamed with joy as if on a rollercoaster, good analogy actually.   

The entire foot control assembly, clutch, brake and gas pedal is adjustable and will slide forward or back and lock in with a cotter pin. The seats also move a full 10 inches allowing a wide range of driver heights.  Getting in and out requires a bit of gymnastics because there are no doors but the driver’s steering wheel is removable (like in most race cars) allowing easier access. The V13R features polished alloy wheels and braking power is provided by cross-drilled discs on each wheel sans ABS or any electronic stability control. Transmission is sequential shift, stock motorcycle 1 down 4 up with a foot clutch. The reverse is custom powered by the HD Motorisation and activated by a lever near the shifter pulling up engages reverse and then back forward by pushing the lever downward.     I also gained a new respect for the Harley Davidson V-Rod engine and very impressed with the power of the 125 Hp power plant.  I never really appreciated its high rev limits (for a V twin) while riding a V-Rod motorcycle. 

The Revolution engine redlines at 9000 rpm and something special happens around 7K. On a motorcycle you’re knocking through the gears pretty quickly and when you’re up to speed generally settle in.  The V13R weighs 520 Lbs more than a Harley V-Rod motorcycle and because of the additional weight you will spend more time at the upper end and this is where the monster comes to life.  Anywhere we stopped I was immediately engaged in the “what is this “conversation.  After the second day of explanations I began inventing wild tales like, It’s the next transformers movie car, It’s a 2016 Harley Davidson prototype to I built it myself. It really didn’t matter what I said, gawkers circled in stunned silence. The body is made out of laminated fiberglass, bolted onto a rigid tubular steel structure with safety roll bars.   Unlike the single frame of the T-REX the V13R is a multi for reasons of flexibility and ease of repair. The front end boasts quad projector headlights and a narrow chromed grille with a sardonic grin.  

Final day was photo shoot and I picked up model/friend Natalie, she heated up at the sight of this sexy roadster trike and immediately shed a layer.  In fact, everyone within a forty foot perimeter stopped dead in their tracks and stared at the V13R…and Natalie.   Smooth supple curves accentuated by two full round twins up-front and a small tight rear end…the V13R got all the attention.  We rode around the LBC with our Harley Davidson jackets feeling all bad-ass, it is after all Harley powered so we’re not really posers. Although you would truly have to know your V-Rod etymology because the only obvious attributes are the instrument cluster which is the actual V-Rod  instrumentation, Harley logo #1 and the two HD bar and shields hidden beneath and behind the removable luggage on the crankcase of the engine.   This was after all a photo shoot and we changed into evening attire and immediately realized this was apropos for city driving, it just felt right.  A James Bond, Pussy Galore kind of right. 

We rode down PCH to the next location; the weather was picture prefect, a cool breeze lightly tossing Natalie’s long blond hair, the sun caressed our faces like falling feathers.  People around us stopped stone cold to stare.  Natalie smiles and coos, ‘this is absolutely amazing”.  Were just driving, it’s just another Thursday afternoon in Long Beach, but I had to agree.  For fifteen minutes as we lazily skirted the California coast in silence I knew what it felt like to be Mr. Bond. Piloting an exotic vehicle, a dangerously beautiful woman at my side, Natalie’s furtive glances as she caringly caressed the supple black leather intimated she was falling in love…with the V13R.  That’s when I fully understood the other side of the V13R. Panther-like, its a fearless predator, skillfully attacking the mountain curves devouring every corner yet at rest; this beast is stunningly beautiful, exotic and in fact exudes sheer class. There is nothing rational about the V13R Roadster Trike and it can’t be explained in words or photographs, it has to be experienced.   

Natalie did after all turn out to be dangerous, she points to a gap in the barriers for the track being set up for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach and suggested we race around it.  Sure, why not, we started knocking over cones and pushing closer to the barrier walls each lap when the sound of a police siren blares and she again points to an escape a gap and we shoot back onto a side street. She makes a great bond girl. All that’s good about the V13R was bringing out all that’s bad in us and we loved every minute.     So what really is the Campagna V13 R Roadster Trike? It’s the most unique, eye-catching, three wheeler on the planet. When seated in this baby your stimulus switch is either turned on or it’s off and if this frightens you,  return to the safety and comfort of your sedan. If this excites you, there are very few street legal vehicles that come close to what the V13R has to offer.  The V13R is an  I’m-having-the-time-of-my-life-and-not-a-bit-shy-doing-it machine.