Why Trikes?

I love the versatility of the trike as you have the thrill of the open-air driving tied with the safety of being on three wheels. Trikes also seem to be more visible on the road and I must assume that it is because of the size and the uniqueness of the vehicle (something that helps us surviving on our roads!) The handling is excellent and we are forever looking for challenging destinations.

Trikes are a great alternative for youngsters who cannot afford the costs of a bike, or the young family man, guys whose ladies are too scared to ride pillion on a bike, riders with disabilities, or anyone who just want something different!

How did it become a full-time business?

I started out as a “hobby business”, supplying plans for DIY type builders while building complete trikes for friends and clients. My decision to rather build and supply the complete product, started when some of the DIY creations were a bit dicey and not always compliant to standards.

Sports Trikes is registered with the NRCS (SABS) and the Department of Transport as a motor vehicle manufacturer.  The designs and completed unit was subjected to tests and eventually homologated.

Is there any other registered Trike building business in South Africa?

As far as that I know, we are the only registered Trike manufacturer in the RSA. Other registered builders who modify bikes into trikes do exist. Completed trikes of various configurations are also imported, but the costs are considerably more that the locally produced units. We do have trained staff in our employment who build and assemble the trikes.

Tell us more about Sports Trike’s and the design.

The Sport Trike is unique in that we do not utilise the rear suspension of the VW Beetle like most home-built and some of the overseas trikes do, but instead use our own independent coil-over and suspension design. The trike weighs a mere 350 kilograms, lighter than most of the big bike cruisers!

The lightweight and the favourable power to weight ratio make these trikes nimble and vehicles that handle the twisty very well.  We are constantly trying to improve by experimenting with different and new innovations.  These test are done on my personal trike.

We manufacture the complete trike or supply a kit for builders to assemble their own unit. We also build theme vehicles, or customise to the client’s specifications. We can also adapt or complete unfinished projects. We have also built and adapted a Sport Trike for a client, paralysed from the waist down. 

Costs per client varies a lot as some opt for a basic unit and do add optional extras when they can afford it. The quickest way of spending a lot of money is to go for performance, both in gearbox and engines.

To get the macho look depends a lot on the client’s own perception, but you cannot go wrong with a flashy paint scheme, lots of chrome, big wheels and a potent engine.

Barry Hilton would just love to own one of our trikes! So, if any of his kids read this, you now know what your dad wants for Father’s Day!

Is the Trikes your only interest?

I have had a long relationship with motorsport. Was MSA Chairman for Motocross for five years up to the end of 2000.  I did training of motorsport officials for MSA and FIM Africa Union. I was chairperson of the FIM Africa Union Motocross for two years and compiled the first regulations for the AMU motocross series.

My son, Leslie, raced motocross for 18 years and was awarded Protea Colours for competing internationally.

And Trikes aboard?

Trikes have a big following in the USA, UK, Belgium and Germany. Whilst at an international bike show in Cologne, Germany, visited no less than four different manufacturers.

Visit Sports Trike web page for more info:  https://sporttrikes.co.za/ or face book https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=sports%20trike