Introducing the Lazareth LM 847: The 4-Wheel Motorcycle You Never Knew You Wanted

MO readers tend to be pretty vocal when it comes to our three-wheeler tests, insisting that only two-wheelers count as motorcycles and three wheels should be saved for sidecars or the trash bin. If that’s the case, then what do you make of this, the Lazareth LM 847?

A symbolic middle finger to those who stick to conventional definitions of motorcycles and what motorcycling should be, creator, builder and mad man Ludovic Lazareth debuted the LM 847 recently at the Geneva Auto Show.

Not since the V-10-powered Dodge Tomahawk have we seen anything like the LM 847. The natural first place to begin with the LM 847 is its engine – and oh what an engine it is. The visual and mechanical focal point is its 4.7-liter Maserati V8, claimed to put out 470 hp at 7000 rpm and 620 Nm (457 lb-ft) at 4750 rpm. It’s not covered or hidden by any fairings or bodywork either, since something wild deserves to be exposed for all to see. Interestingly, the header pipes seem to funnel into what looks like Ducati Panigale collectors.

That’s not the only Panigale influence, as keen eyes will also notice the Panigale tail section mounted to the rear of the LM 847. What’s perhaps more of a shock to the senses is how natural that tailpiece looks in this application. Power gets to the ground via a single speed transmission with electronic reverse.

After the engine, the next natural talking point is the fact it has four wheels. Each is mounted to an individual single-sided swingarm (yes, there are four swingarms!), with the fronts equipped with perimeter-mounted brake discs, eight-piston Nissin calipers, and individual shocks. Rear wheels each get their own chain drive, but suspension duty out back is the job of a dedicated single TFX shock mounted transversely. Theoretically, this should allow the single shock to absorb bumps in the road for each rear wheel, even when leaned over. Considering this is mostly an artistic exercise and the LM 847 will rarely see action in any sort of anger, who cares if the suspension works or not – the billet linkages alone look stunning! The bike turns via dual hub-center steering, and yes, I referred to the LM 847 as a bike. You sit astride it like a motorcycle, it leans into turns, and other than its engine, it has a lot of motorcycle components.

Other details include reverse mounted levers, a wide handlebar that pops out from the engine cover, and carbon fiber covers between both sets of wheels. When all is said and done, the LM 847 comes in at 104 inches long, 35 inches wide, 39 inches high, and has a wheelbase of 72 inches. It’s said to tip the scales at “just” 881 lbs.

There’s no other way to say it: the Lazareth LM 847 is an outrageous machine. It makes no sense and is highly impractical, but who cares? It wasn’t built with either attribute in mind. It was built because it could be. For that we salute you, Ludovic Lazareth. The MO staff is now salivating for a chance to ride it. Visit the Lazareth website to learn more.