Jay Leno has released his first review of the year, a drive in a reverse trike called the Tanom Invader.
Since the famous comedian and his ever-growing garage needs no further introduction, it’s time to move on to the Tanom Invader.
Unveiled last spring, the reversed trike (two wheels at the front) is built in the USA and features a 197 HP Suzuki Hayabusa engine. Unlike some motorbike engine conversions for three- or four-wheeled vehicles, the Tanom Invader features a reverse gear. The transmission is, of course, a sequential, six-speed, straight-cut, Suzuki-sourced unit. The reverse is done with a different gear attached to the first one, just like in most cars.
The controls for the steering, brakes, clutch and throttle are just like the ones in a car, and the sequential transmission has paddles on the steering wheel. Since it’s considered a motorcycle, the “rider” and their passenger must wear helmets. Considering that crash testing for this category isn’t done by the same standards as it is with cars, we strongly suggest you don’t do as Jay Leno does and wear a helmet if you ever ride in one of these.
As mentioned, the vehicle is legally considered a motorcycle and obeys specific regulations for this type of vehicle, despite it having a covered cockpit and a windshield with a functional wiper.
Obviously, the Invader is Tanom Motors’ flagship and the most expensive variant in the range, starting at $55,000 and built to deliver maximum thrills to its occupants.
The guys at Tanom provide the Invader with delivery miles and always use new components for their vehicles. Their appetite for the Hayabusa engine made them the biggest buyers of this motorcycle model in the USA, Rideapart notes. In an ingenious move, Tanom Motors sells off the components it doesn’t use for conversion to get back on their investment.
Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland. Full profile
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