The Litestar or Pulse autocycles were considered Ground Cruising Recreational Vehicles (GCRV). Founder David Vaughn worked with the supplier of its bodies, Tomorrow Corp., but the two companies severed ties over numerous disagreements. Vaughn then changed the Litestar name to Pulse in 1985. The fiberglass body was designed to look like an aircraft with tandem seating. Including its rear-mounted motorcycle engine, the Pulse weighed in at about 1,000 lbs and considered by the DMV to be motorcycles.
Technically a two-wheeled motorcycle, the Litestar featured two additional outrigger wheels under its "wings" that provided balance when standing still or in a turn. Though compliant with US federal regulations as a motorcycle, various states took issue with the Litestar. Initially, they had no reverse gear and there were some quality issues. Twenty-seven states were willing to license the vehicle. The Owosso, Michigan company went out of business in 1990 and in its five-year run, manufactured 347 autocycles. A number appear today at various airshows or classic motorcycle venues.
Photo: September 3, 2022. Marion, Indiana
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