Talon and Adam Canni Designs

Dec 31, 2010

Granted, we’re not avid three wheeler fans (aka trikes), and to be honest we seem to harbor some deep seated unspoken prejudice towards these vehicles. Whether it’s because we fight the idea of some day not being able to manage a two-wheeled motorcycle around town, or that most of them appear to languish in the “no-one-can-make-look-cool” or “handling-sucks” arena. Well, those pre-conceived and possibly unfounded reasons seem to have been blown-up by our friend Adam Canni and his newest adventures with Talon Motors and their new “Invader” Trike. The “Invader” looks as if it has successfully melded the best of two worlds in one vehicle. Aka, two occupant, side-by-side seating of a sports car and performance of a super bike. Enclosed in an eye-catching sexy body work, this reverse trike three wheeler uses a 1,300cc Hayabusa engine (yeah, that’s right a busa!) to propel it to 60 mph in under four seconds and can reach top speeds of up to 150 mph. (What we call the “i just soiled my jeans” speed).

The Invaders frame is constructed from one-and-a-half-inch tubular steel with a front crash zone, triangulated side protection bars and a complete roll-cage around the cockpit. Its fiberglass body includes a Lexan windshield to protect two occupants that are strapped into car-like seats with three-point safety belts. Driving the rear wheel is a two hundred horsepower Hayabusa power plant capable of pushing this reverse trike to speeds approaching 150 mph. Its fully adjustable suspension provides precision handling and four piston brake calipers will stop it on the proverbial dime.

In building the Invader Sliger and Talon Motors president and partner Sandy Hall wanted to produce a totally unique reverse trike that would provideelements of performance, style and comfort unheard of in the market place. To help them turn this dream into a reality they contacted Adam Canni of Canni Design. “We looked at what was available on the market and decided that we would try and build what we like to call a High Performance Reverse Trike, or HPRT,” said Canni. “We wanted it to deliver the thrills and performance of a super bike while surrounding its occupants in a much safer and more comfortable cockpit that actually allows you to sit next to your passenger. The end result is the Invader, an exotic powerful machine unlike anything else on the road.”

The Invader’s cockpit has been designed for easier entry and exit with lower sills and a removable steering wheel. Inside the cockpit there is comfortable seating designed to carry two six-foot, two hundred pound-plus passengers. The Invader’s controls are much the same as would be found in any sports car – a steering wheel, gas, brake and clutch pedals and a six-speed sequential shifter with an electric reverse gear. A full compliment of gauges round out the cockpit and built in passenger side storage and fully enclosed side compartments with removable saddlebag-style totes make the Invader ideal for weekend escapes. “The Talon has really been a collaborative effort between Tom, myself and Adam,” says Sandy Hall, President of Talon Motors. “We wanted to create a new level of comfort, performance and sensation that did not exist before. Combine that with its jaw dropping looks, and I think we’ve designed and built an exotic vehicle that provides more bang-for-the-buck than anything out there.”

Talon Motors recently announced a combined campaign with long time exotic car enthusiast and rock-and-roll legend, Sammy Hagar. Talon Motors and Hagar are currently working to design a signature series, “Red Rocker” edition of the Invader in 2011. The “Red Rocker” model will contain design and performance elements influenced by both Hagar and the Talon design team. For more information about the Talon Motors Invader just visit the web site at www.talonmotorsusa.com. Nice work Adam! Now, when am i getting a shot at test driving this thing!?