Slingshot trike banned in TX

[wheelbender6]

Texas isn't known for restrictive consumer laws, but it decided not to allow the sales and/or registration
of the Polaris Slingshot Trike. The decision affects scooter trike riders because of the reason given
for the ban.
-The state said the trike must have a saddle, rather than a seat to be registered as a motorcycle.
Many of us have seen the Scoot Coupes on EBay, that have two front wheels and a scooter drive train.
If you apply the same reasoning, the Scoot Coupe would be illegal in TX, because it has seats, rather
than a "saddle that must be straddled."
-The moral of the story is, check your local laws before buying a scooter based trike. As powered trikes continue to evolve, they may offer features that could disqualify them as motorcycles in your state. if your trike has handle bars and a saddle, you are probably OK.
A link to the press release is below.
http://www.motorcycle.com/features/slingshot-saleslicensing-banned-texas.html
http://www.motorcycle.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/072614-polaris-slingshot-WDP_4772_%C2%A9Polaris2014_Slingshot-584x389.jpg
http://pk.b5z.net/i/u/6023538/i/Scoot-Coupe-thumb-2.png

[Admin]

Interesting. I wonder how this will affect the Elio?

[wheelbender6]

Dang! I hadn't thought about the affect of the TX Slingshot decision on the Elio. It appears that design of the Elio, with upright, tandem (Fore and aft) seating, could be modified to conform to TX law without much expense. I really hope so.
http://localtvwghp.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/s034794502.jpg
http://thekneeslider.com/images/2013/04/elio3.jpg

[tvnacman]

So who cares about registration class , I don't care about what the paper work says . I want to ride/drive . So your telling me if I get that if I'm legal in my state I can't ride that in TX . If they are classifying it as a car that is different . You should still be able to operate it legal , I can't see them rejecting tags all together .

John

[kz1000st]

It doesn't have the equipment mandated by FED DOT to qualify as a car. I thought it was a reach to classify it as a motorcycle. It may be the same wheel configuration as a Spyder but the Slingshot is no motorcycle. I'd like to see it out there, but I can see the issues it presents. The Chinese made cheap Spyder copies and got away with it. How would you like to see Slingshot copies made in China out there simply because they're classed as motorcycles.