Post by chromedome on Aug 5, 2011 13:33:17 GMT -5
Hi all. As I said in my introduction, I am in the process of acquiring parts for my fuel sipping three wheeler. This will be a single seat vehicle for commuting to work.The parts have started rolling in from ebay. I have all of the steel for the frame and suspension.
I've got wheels and tires on the way, as well as some stuff for the steering. I spent a few minutes with Paint Shop Pro to give you guys an idea of what my trike will look like. (I hope ;D) The proportions of the pic aren't exact, but it's close.
I'll be building my own front suspension with inboard pushrod shocks and the steering will be push-pull handles similar to the California Commuter. The frame will be built from 1" square 16 ga. tubing in the same fashion as a Locost track car. This makes for a very light and very strong structure.
I've pretty much decided on using a Lifan 200cc engine, which produces @16.5 HP, given that my local DMV inspector will think this is kosher. I'm hoping I don't have to buy a motorcycle and get it titled in my name to get this thing on the road. It's just too hard to find a used bike that fits my requirements This should give me a top speed of 100 mph and a gas mileage of somewhere in the 150 mpg range at 55 mph. I already have a Megasquirt fuel injection system from a previous project and will use it eventually and hope for even higher gas mileage using it to tweek the engine. As it stands now, with that engine, the total weight of the trike will be 350 lbs. Wheels and tires will be of the motorcycle variety.
I will be making a custom blown canopy from PETG which is something I have never attempted before. It will require building a large gas oven. Ive been researching this on HPV sites and Glider sites, and it doesn't appear to be that difficult.
I know there will be questions like, "How safe is it" I see it on every reverse trike site. Think about it like this. It's a motorcycle. How safe are they? At least I will have seatbelts.
I wanted to get started on welding up the frame this week, but it's been 100+ degrees the last couple of days, I don't have air conditioning in the shop and it's now storming so hard it sounds like someone is playing a kettle drum in my living room! Hopefully things will lighten up weather wise this weekend. I will post pics as I go.
Wish me luck!
I've got wheels and tires on the way, as well as some stuff for the steering. I spent a few minutes with Paint Shop Pro to give you guys an idea of what my trike will look like. (I hope ;D) The proportions of the pic aren't exact, but it's close.
I'll be building my own front suspension with inboard pushrod shocks and the steering will be push-pull handles similar to the California Commuter. The frame will be built from 1" square 16 ga. tubing in the same fashion as a Locost track car. This makes for a very light and very strong structure.
I've pretty much decided on using a Lifan 200cc engine, which produces @16.5 HP, given that my local DMV inspector will think this is kosher. I'm hoping I don't have to buy a motorcycle and get it titled in my name to get this thing on the road. It's just too hard to find a used bike that fits my requirements This should give me a top speed of 100 mph and a gas mileage of somewhere in the 150 mpg range at 55 mph. I already have a Megasquirt fuel injection system from a previous project and will use it eventually and hope for even higher gas mileage using it to tweek the engine. As it stands now, with that engine, the total weight of the trike will be 350 lbs. Wheels and tires will be of the motorcycle variety.
I will be making a custom blown canopy from PETG which is something I have never attempted before. It will require building a large gas oven. Ive been researching this on HPV sites and Glider sites, and it doesn't appear to be that difficult.
I know there will be questions like, "How safe is it" I see it on every reverse trike site. Think about it like this. It's a motorcycle. How safe are they? At least I will have seatbelts.
I wanted to get started on welding up the frame this week, but it's been 100+ degrees the last couple of days, I don't have air conditioning in the shop and it's now storming so hard it sounds like someone is playing a kettle drum in my living room! Hopefully things will lighten up weather wise this weekend. I will post pics as I go.
Wish me luck!
