Polaris slingshot

[cookiedough]

Has anyone been at a Polaris/Victory dealer test rode one yet?  Impressions good or bad?

Not cheap over 20K similar in design (well sort of has 2 wheels in front, one in back) yet bigger than a Can Am Spyder with a 2.4L engine.  Although, I could be wrong, but have heard it is a GM engine which might not be too reliable in my experiences with GM 4 cylinder engines. 

I am more so inclined once available to check out for only 8 grand or so the Elio Motors new vehicle capable of nearly year round use delivering over 60 mpg.  If reliable, I think will sell like hotcakes but not so much now that gas is cheap but more so if gas goes to over 3.50 per gallon.  Gotta love gas now at around 2.50 per gallon and supposedly going even lower saving 20-30 bucks per week in each of our 2 vehicles. 

[Jack B]

I saw one the other day and the back of it looks wrong.  From the front and side it's neat looking.
Looks like fun but it's not a motorcycle it is a 3 wheel car. I don't know why it is classified as a cycle?

[BonS]

Texas pulled the plug on them right before they were to be shipped to dealers. They're not going to let them be titled as motorcycles and they're not built to safety standards of cars. It's a messy situation for sure.

http://lanesplitter.jalopnik.com/texas-bans-the-polaris-slingshot-three-wheeler-1658137248

[robin]

I saw one at the bike show in NYC yesterday,they are at best uncomfortable to sit in and they are by no means a motorcycle they are a CAR.

[Gavin_Sons]

Yeah but I bet they would be fun as hell.

[Otus]

I've read a little about trikes and from what I've seen a vehicle with with two or three wheels is classified as a motorcycle.
It may have a cars seating configuration and controls but it does not have four wheels.

Wife had a Malibu with the 2.2L Ecocrap motor in it. Slipped the timing chain and was done. Talked to a mechanic friend of mine and he said they'd get about 3 or 4 of them in a month that were scrap metal. I did the engine swap myself and opened the timing cover on the old engine for s/g. The timing chain on them is so tiny and delicate I asked Sue if she wanted me to make her a necklace out of it.

If the are going to build a trike in a tadpole configuration with a four cylinder in it why don't  they make it front wheel drive? They are more stable in curves that way.

[cookiedough]

I've read a little about trikes and from what I've seen a vehicle with with two or three wheels is classified as a motorcycle.
It may have a cars seating configuration and controls but it does not have four wheels.

Wife had a Malibu with the 2.2L Ecocrap motor in it. Slipped the timing chain and was done. Talked to a mechanic friend of mine and he said they'd get about 3 or 4 of them in a month that were scrap metal. I did the engine swap myself and opened the timing cover on the old engine for s/g. The timing chain on them is so tiny and delicate I asked Sue if she wanted me to make her a necklace out of it.

If the are going to build a trike in a tadpole configuration with a four cylinder in it why don't  they make it front wheel drive? They are more stable in curves that way.

Agree on the Ecocrap GM 4 banger.  Why have GM engine in it since most of those 4 bangers are not trustworthy in the long run with my experience.  Anything with ECO in it should NOT be used in the same sentence as a cycle.  My 2 Hyundai's have an ECO button to push in reducing power considerably in 1 vehicle and the other not as much.    I leave them OFF all the time run NON-ECO since the B.S. they tell the customer's at the dealership's is totally incorrect which is the ECO button saves on gas.  Totally wrong, it reduces power and therefore makes the engine work harder sucking more gas.  Had the same issue with when I bought years ago a 5.3L 3.42 rear axle ratio new silverado always have bought 3.73 and even a 4.10 rear axle ratio 5.3L V8 engine prior. Dealer suckered me into it stating it will save on gas.  Totally wrong, just the opposite, it made that GM truck work 2x's as hard flooring the engine just to get going up a hill (I live where there are a lot of hills).  Fine on saving gas if on a long straightaway doing interstate driving flat roads all the time, but NOT for my style of driving.    I traded in less than 6 months later that new 5.3L 3.42 rear axle ratio was a pooch to drive and sucked too much gas.  Actually, I got the best mpg with the 4.10 rear axle ratio 5.3L GM truck engine and was the fastest/best to drive having the most power and rarely EVER downshifted the engine to go up a hill but did run at 300 rpms faster at hwy. speeds vs. that pooch 3.42 rear axle ratio silverado truck.

[mrtappan]

I'm unsure what Federal regulations apply exactly to determining if a vehicle is "automobile" or "motorcycle."

In Mississippi any vehicle with three or less wheels classifies as motorcycle.  By state law a motorcycle must have:
A headlight
A brake light/running light
A horn
A tag light and horizontally mounted tag
And the rider must wear a helmet

Maybe there's one or two other things but blinkers aren't required.

So any three wheeled vehicle here wouldn't require seat belts but the driver would have to wear a helmet.

My custom build had to be inspected prior to issuing a title (built from Manufacturer Statements of Origin).  I cleared inspection with only the above listed items except the horn.   They didn't check for it I guess. 

[lacon]

Yes, it's a motorcycle by default.  DMV, laws, regulations, title thing.  Can't be called a car, but does just happen to qualify for a motorcycle classification in 45 or so states.   So, motorcycle it is.
I won't be buying one, but I do like seeing "outside the box" vehicle designs make it to the marketplace. 
Also like the "street legal" ATV's. 

[cookiedough]

Yes, it's a motorcycle by default.  DMV, laws, regulations, title thing.  Can't be called a car, but does just happen to qualify for a motorcycle classification in 45 or so states.   So, motorcycle it is.
I won't be buying one, but I do like seeing "outside the box" vehicle designs make it to the marketplace. 
Also like the "street legal" ATV's. 

what street legal atv's?   I think that is also state specific as well.  Are you talking about normal ATV's with street tires (not off road) with turn signals and mirrors is all?   I know they are legal if equipped as such in certain states like South Dakota, etc., not on interstates though, but not here in WI only on road routes is all which unless way up north, not many roads legal around here.

Try riding an off road tire ATV on dry pavement for not even 1,000 miles and see if any tread knobs are left. 

[mrtappan]

I think he's referring to things like the Rhino.  Basically an off road golf cart

[Jess Tolbirt]

polirs has some ATV's that will carry four people or 2 with a dump bed that will run over 70mph...yep it has turn signals brake lights head lights and a horn,, in Texas you can register an orange crate if it meets the inspection requirments..

[cookiedough]

polirs has some ATV's that will carry four people or 2 with a dump bed that will run over 70mph...yep it has turn signals brake lights head lights and a horn,, in Texas you can register an orange crate if it meets the inspection requirments..

Those are UTV's then and are quite a bit larger and somewhat more stable at hwy. speeds than an ATV.  Although no smooth radial street tires on my stock 800cc Can Am,  I do not know too many hard core ATVer's that will do over 70 mph for too long on the hwy.    My stock 800cc Can Am MAX 2-up will run 73-74 mph top speed but much after 65 mph gets too dicey to run for prolonged periods of time.  Am sure radial street tires will help tremedously, but most UTV's unless 800cc (maybe?) thru 1000cc's will not do over 65 mph at anytime.  Not sure I would want to for too long even with street tires on them.   The 2 that only come to mind that will do over 70 mph are the Arctic Cat Wildcat 1000cc and the Polaris RZR 900cc on up.  The Polaris Ranger's will not do 70 mph.     

[mrtappan]

It's the same here.  There's no vehicle inspection to get a license plate so you can basically register anything with a VIN.  Although having a license plate doesn't make it street legal.

Sand rails/dune buggies titled as Volkswagens are super common here.  A lot of them are homemade too. 

I reality though if you had a UTV with basically all stock equipment (lighting, horn, seat belts, etc) I'm sure you could easily drive it on the street here in Mississippi without getting pulled over too often and checked. 

Although I don't see any real reason you'd pay so much for a vehicle that isn't as practical as a cheap car.  I guess for the fun of it?  That's good enough reason I suppose.  I've wasted money on worse.......

[EEEZZRIDER]

I love the Slingshot, but add Indiana along with Texas to the can't get list. There is wording problem in the

state law that does not cover steering wheels and it won't be until March until legislation can change wording. Until then no deliveries to Ind and no license plates if you are lucky enough to buy one out of state. Every dealer in the country is sold out of their initial allotments ! This machine is going to be a Iconic success. Never has a product so rocked the motorcycle world as the new Slingshot. It has taken all of the other brands totally by surprise. It has been a 3 year guarded secret with no rumor leaks and im sure Honda, Kawasaki and all the others are scrambling and saying OMG !

Polaris did not make the mistake that Honda made with their Rune with sticker shock by having a bike priced $5000 more than a full price Harley bagger or Goldwing. They did their home work and it shows.  Am i a canadate to buy one you better believe it !! I saw them in Fla. and sat in one and are by all means  not uncomfortable. In fact more comfortable than any bike you are gonna ride. Out of the box as fast as a stock Corvette 0-60 and just wait till the turbos start getting put on. Stock hp 164 and the turbos depending on how radical you want to go 250 to 300 hp. The front end is also 6 inches wider than a Corvette.

Is my Valk going to be sold is still a unknown ? It going to depend how far down the waiting list i am for the Slingshot. They say riding in one is like "surfing the asphalt"

[Bugslayer]

I went by the dealership today (Lubbock, TX.) They have one that they're prepping for sale. The salesman said a solution is in the works. They expect it to be resolved by next month.

[mrtappan]

It will be a long time before I look at another Polaris "motorcycle."  Well one with the Freedom VTwin anyways.  I sold a 2014 Hard Ball right before I decided on the Valkyrie.  Even with cams, exhaust, timing wheel, PCV,  etc it was still not as fast as the Valkyrie is stock.  My frame/suspension/tires were stock and it had an unbelievable tank slap at 100mph. 

It's funny because my friends old 92 cubic inch Vegas was about as fast.  They lost me on that 107 inch Freedom.  I really really liked everything about the Hard Ball except the engine so I really hope they get their act together. I'll probably look at another once they ditch that engine.

Also the Hard Ball came with a one year warranty.  Honda comes standard with three years.  I'm hesitant to put faith in a product when even the manufacturer doesn't. ..........

[lacon]

Correction to my post above.  I should have said UTV rather than ATV.  I was thinking of the side by side seat models with a steering wheel - not the motorcycle seat / handlebar style 4 wheelers. 

[wiggydotcom]

Just curious---if they are banned from sale in a state, someone from outside that state would still be able to ride one in said state, or no?

[mrtappan]

Technically, yes.  Just like how if you live if a no helmet state but go to a helmet state, then you have to wear one. 

[WNGD]

Technically, yes.  Just like how if you live if a no helmet state but go to a helmet state, then you have to wear one.  

I'm thinking just the opposite. With your example, it would be like going from no helmet state and trying to ride no helmet where it's not allowed.

For 20K, I think it's tremendously overpriced but would be a blast. For 8K, I'd line up for an Elio and look at it just as a toy.

Their website show nearly 38,000 deposits (reservations). No idea how many they need to make a go decision

[EEEZZRIDER]

Right now in Indiana you can buy out of state and bring it in but you can't get plates so you would have to have it registered somewhere else or drive it on your 30 day tag and park it till law gets changed.

[EEEZZRIDER]

Elio is basically for the guy who wants the high MPG and not performance. Slingshot for the guy who wants thrill and performance and still get 30-35 mpg. Totally different market. I want the thrill !

[mrtappan]

I'm thinking just the opposite. With your example, it would be like going from no helmet state and trying to ride no helmet where it's not allowed.

My bad, I meant "no."  It'd be like living in a state where marijuana is technically legal but then going to a state where it's not. 

In all reality, it's based on state.  People own "pro street" cars in Mississippi and drive them daily if they want.  Basically a race car with minimal lighting and a license plate.  So, if you live in a......... less advanced..... state like Mississippi it's one of the few perks.

[cookiedough]

Elio is basically for the guy who wants the high MPG and not performance. Slingshot for the guy who wants thrill and performance and still get 30-35 mpg. Totally different market. I want the thrill !

If cash were no object, I'd consider both.  Your comment about Elio car coming out is not entirely true only wanting high MPG, say a commuter vehicle.  I bought a 249cc 19.5hp scooter a few years ago and is a thrill to get still 63 avg mpg and still passing last year a few HD's putzing doing 55 mph on the hwy.    Off the line, I can still beat most vehicles from zeror up to say 25 mph as long as they don't floor the gas pedal.

[Airedale]

To my eye it is more car like than bike and does not have a clean finished look to it especially in the rear. While I am sure it would be fun I think the novelty would wear off quickly for me. With the fees and taxes it will come in well over 25 grand by time one drives it off the lot. I think I would go with a used Corvette or maybe a Mazda Miata for that kind of dough.

That being said if I won the lottery I might buy one.

Al