SLINGSHOT Vehicles vs. Other On-Road Vehicles

Content Source: 2021 Slingshot Owner’s Manual (9939930 R02) > Operation Chapter

IMPORTANT

The Owner's Manual for this vehicle contains warnings, instructions and other information you must read and fully understand before safely riding or performing maintenance on this vehicle.Always follow the warnings and instructions in Owner's Manual.

Click the CONTENTS link above for the Table Of Contents, or download a full PDF of the Owner Manual in the Owner Support area of Polaris.com

SLINGSHOT Vehicles vs. Other On-Road Vehicles

WARNING

Failure to operate the vehicle properly can result in a collision, loss of control, accident or rollover, which may result in serious injury or death. Read and understand all safety warnings outlined in the safety section of this owner’s manual. See Operating a SLINGSHOT vehicle has inherent risks..

In the United States, the 3-wheel SLINGSHOT vehicle is an on-road vehicle in the motorcycle class.

The SLINGSHOT vehicle handles differently than 2-wheel motorcycles, other 3-wheel vehicles and 4-wheel vehicles. The following information will help you understand the features and characteristics that make operation and handling of the SLINGSHOT vehicle different from the operation and handling of other on-road vehicles.

How does a SLINGSHOT differ from a 2-wheel motorcycle?

Low center of gravity
Steering wheel
Foot controls (brake, accelerator)
Clutch pedal (for manual transmission vehicles)
Front suspension and steering
Side-by-side operator and passenger seats
Seat belts for both riders
Lighting
One rear drive wheel and two front wheels

The unique handling characteristics of the SLINGSHOT include:

More stability in turns
Flat cornering
Turns in direction of wheel
Quick response to steering changes
Like all on-road vehicles, the SLINGSHOT can hydroplane (lose traction) when encountering a layer of water on the driving surface. Every vehicle has a unique hydroplane speed and response, driven by vehicle weight, tire configuration and tire condition. The SLINGSHOT may hydroplane at lower speeds and react differently to hydroplaning than most motorcycles and cars.
All street vehicles will handle differently when operated on gravel roads. Particular attention should be payed when operating a Slingshot on gravel roads as to the position of the center, rear drive wheel relative to the crown present on many gravel roads.

WARNING

The SLINGSHOT vehicle is intended for on-road use ONLY. Extreme use on private tracks or at private facilities is not recommended and may result in serious injury or death.