Trikke

The Trikke—also called a wiggle scooter, scissor scooter, carver scooter, Y scooter, or V scooter—is a three-wheeled personal vehicle that has no chain or pedals. The rider stands on two foot platforms positioned above the two rear wheels and steers using handlebars attached to the single front wheel. Its cambering system keeps all three wheels on the ground while the rider leans into turns, providing a stable three-point platform. Trikke models range from body-powered fitness machines to battery-powered transportation and mobility devices.

The brand-name Trikke is made by Trikke Tech, a company based in Buellton, California. A body-powered Trikke moves by carving—an S-shaped, side-to-side motion. The rider turns the handlebars, leans the front structure, and shifts body weight toward the side of the turn. Most of the rider’s weight during a carve rests on the outside foot; the inside foot supports very little weight, and the rider often lifts its heel. This motion resembles slalom skiing, a skateboard tic-tac, or the leg movements of roller skating. No foot push is needed to start moving, and different riders emphasize different parts of the movement. A body-powered Trikke can reach nearly 30 km/h (19 mph) when carving, though cruising speeds are typically around 15 km/h (9.3 mph). It can also go uphill, but at a slower pace.

Since 2009, Trikke Tech has produced electric versions, which have been adopted by law enforcement and security companies as an alternative to other personal electric vehicles. Many recreational riders also use electric Trikkes for personal transportation and as hybrid fitness vehicles.

The Trikke’s history begins in 1999, when Brazilian engineer Gildo Beleski filed a US patent for an improved three-wheel cambering vehicle. In 2000, he founded Trikke Tech in Southern California, shipping 100 frames from Brazil and assembling them in his garage. The vehicles went on sale in 2002, and that year *Time* magazine named the Trikke one of the best inventions. In 2008, CEO John Simpson reported that the company had sold over 60,000 Trikkes that year. More than half a million body-powered Trikkes have been sold overall.