For those of us who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s’, we all knew that kids on the block with that coveted low-slung, plastic-wheel, plastic-everything trike. Yes, the Big Wheel. Always the coolest kid, too. But this new version isn’t about commuting to 7-11 down the block. Or fitness. Or practicality.
Tortuga’s gas-powered drift trike exists for one reason only: sliding sideways for fun. Built like an oversized kid’s tricycle with a small engine bolted on, the setup is intentionally simple. Slick rear wheels make controlled drifting the whole point, while a modest 6.5-horsepower engine is enough to push the trike to speeds around 30 mph—more than sufficient when you’re sitting inches off the ground.
The design leans DIY and backyard-built rather than polished or refined, borrowing components from the go-kart world and keeping things mechanically straightforward. It’s not trying to start a motorsport movement, even if drift trikes have gained more traction in places like New Zealand than North America.
At the time of writing, the standard model starts around $1,800, with optional upgrades available for those who want to take things a little further. Each trike is hand-built to order, with minimal assembly required upon arrival. Think of it less as a vehicle and more as a toy for adults who never really outgrew finding trouble at the end of their street. Loud, unnecessary, and unapologetically pointless—in the best way possible.
