
Polaris Industries reported in April the three-wheeler's first-quarter retail was down by mid-teen percentages, though it laid the blame on the huge number of pre-deposits it had taken for the trike in the year-ago period. Yet after roaring off the starting line, the Polaris Slingshot finds itself stuck in the breakdown lane. The perception it's an automobile and not a motorcycle is further enhanced by it having a steering wheel instead of a handle bar.

Not so with the Polaris three-wheeler, which looks every bit a car, but with Batmobile-like styling. Even a Can-Am Spyder, which positions two wheels upfront like the Slingshot does, still gives you the sleek look of a bike.

When you look at a Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide, for example, you know you are seeing a modified motorcycle. The Slingshot was different from other three-wheelers in that where the competition had riders sitting one behind the other, Polaris designed its trike to seat them side-by-side, making it feel more like an automobile than a motorcycle. But now, two years after hitting the market, the Slingshot could be in trouble - and might cause Polaris to stumble. While most of the gains were due to the popularity of its Indian Motorcycle brand, the trike has had its fair share of increasing sales, too. The three-wheel Polaris Industries ( NYSE:PII) Slingshot motorcycle has been a hit ever since it was first introduced, helping the powersports vehicle maker boost segment revenue by double-digit rates. I may not be able to respond to every suggestion, but I do read them all! Think an article needs a correction? Reach Rich here. So follow along as he tries to break down complex topics to make them more understandable and useful to the average investor. His coverage reflects his passion for motorcycles, booze, and guns (though not enjoyed all at the same ually), but his writing also covers the broader sectors of consumer goods, technology, and industrials. Having made the streets safe for Truth, Justice, and Krispy Kreme donuts, he now patrols the markets looking for companies he can lock up as long-term holdings in a portfolio.
Slingshot polaris full#
After 20 years of patrolling the mean streets of suburbia, he hung up his badge and gun to take up a pen full time. “But the three-wheel stance adds an extra level of stability.Rich has been a Fool since 1998 and writing for the site since 2004. “A three-wheeled vehicle offers an experience that’s just like a motorcycle - the open air and the wind in your face,” said Polaris’ director of Slingshot, Chris Doucet. Unlike the CanAm or the TriGlide, the Slingshot offers two front seats, side by side, instead of a rider and passeger seat, one behind the other. Polaris executives are quick to point out that the Slingshot, which retails at $19,999 to $23,999, is a different sort of beast.

BRP has enjoyed success putting its three-wheeled CanAm Spyders on the road, at prices between $22,000 and $30,000, while Harley-Davidson continues to sell its luxurious $32,000 TriGlide three-wheelers. The expensive tricycle category is getting competitive.
Slingshot polaris driver#
The driver must have a license with a motorcycle endorsement.
Slingshot polaris drivers#
It also requires special safety features: The Slingshot is equipped with three-point restraints and, because it’s technically a motorcycle, drivers and passengers must wear helmets, in states that have helmet laws.
