Here in 2024, relying in your specific space of moto curiosity, you may be aware of the Honda Gyro. If you’ve got been following Honda’s efforts at electrification as of late, you may additionally be aware of the newest model, the Honda Gyro e:, which makes use of these swappable Honda Mobile Power Pack e: models.
If you thought that the Honda Gyro was the primary Honda leaning three-wheeler, although, you would be incorrect. As it seems, the Gyro had a couple of predecessors within the Honda lineup, starting with the Honda Stream. (Yes, we all know that there is a Honda automotive that got here later with the identical mannequin identify, however we’re speaking in regards to the OG Honda Stream three-wheeled scooter right this moment.)
In 1981, Honda first launched the Stream as an especially sensible and mild-mannered three-wheeler. As you’ll be able to see on this reasonably wonderful exploration of the Stream from Small Bike Stuff, the 2 wheeled rear portion can also be the place the engine sits. It stays in fixed contact with the bottom, whereas the rider can lean the entrance portion backward and forward nearly as a lot as they need. The result’s a fairly secure journey for whoever’s within the saddle.
Why A Leaning Three Wheeler, Honda?
Ask anybody who’s aware of Honda motorcycle historical past and so they’ll inform you that a very long time in the past, Honda took a couple of extra design dangers than it has been recognized to do within the 2000s.
Still, even when the Honda Stream did not keep in manufacturing lengthy, the truth that Honda went on to refine it into further three-wheeled designs just like the Honda Just and later, the Gyro, reveals that the corporate was clearly onto one thing. The Gyro and now the Gyro e: have been well-liked supply autos for companies in a number of nations throughout Asia for many years.
The Idea Came From England
The many and various threads of motorbike historical past intersect in unusual methods generally, and that is a kind of instances. See, with out BSA, there would arguably have been no Honda Stream, Honda Gyro, or every other Honda leaning three-wheelers.
BSA was wanting to get into the moped market, and a British designer named George Wallis had been engaged on arising with a safer bicycle design for a couple of years. Prior to his involvement with BSA, Wallis had additionally began engaged on motorized three-wheeled prototypes. Some of them even utilized an engine from a Triumph Tina scooter.
Anyway, BSA went on to license a design from Wallis that finally turned the Ariel 3 leaning three-wheeled scooter, which premiered in 1970. While it in all probability wasn’t the one factor liable for the corporate’s downfall, the Ariel 3 undeniably proved to be a large gross sales flop for BSA. The firm had reportedly anticipated to promote round 25,000 Ariel 3s, and as an alternative solely shifted 7,000 in that first 12 months.
After that, for a really quick time within the Seventies, Daihatsu briefly acquired into making scooters. It additionally licensed Wallis’ leaning three-wheeled design for the leaning three-wheeled Hallo, which you’ll be able to see above.
The third firm was evidently the allure, although, as Honda determined it wanted a few of that candy leaning three-wheeled scooter design for itself. Thus, it launched the Stream, and finally the Gyro, which has now been going sturdy in its area of interest for many years.
This 1984 Honda Stream That’s For Sale
Now, ultimately, we come to a 1984 Honda Stream that somebody is promoting proper now on Bring a Trailer. While Honda by no means bought the Stream within the US, it was imported a while in the past and is at present registered in Maryland. It’s powered by a wee little 49cc two-stroke single-cylinder engine, and has a complete of 610 kilometers (about 379-ish miles) on the clock. As with all used autos, complete precise mileage is unknown.
The earlier proprietor previous to the present vendor is claimed to have completed some routine upkeep, together with cleansing the carburetor and altering out issues just like the spark plug, fluids, and battery. There’s a working video up prime, the place you’ll be able to see that it was apparently working fairly properly in late 2023.
Does it have what may presumably the best sprint recognized to humankind? Perhaps I’m overstating the case a bit, however I believe you’ll be able to agree that it is fairly wonderful.
This is clearly not going to win any pace awards (except, after all, you do some form of mad engine swap with it), however it will definitely be a superb dialog starter.
It’s at present being supplied at no reserve on Bring a Trailer, with an public sale finish date of Sunday, January 7, 2024 at 1:15 p.m. Eastern. The bid is as much as $1,000 on the time of writing. We’ll record the hyperlink in our Sources to see extra images or bid on it when you’re .