Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2016 10:18:46 GMT -5
Hi all,
I have just found this forum whilst researching a project that I am thinking of.
My background is electronic engineering but for the last 20 years I have been in technical marketing, I am a lifelong biker and hate modern sterile cars (I have an Alfa Spider as my daily driver) thinking they are a crazy price and can't get near the economy figures printed in the brochures (bl**dy marketeers! :-))
So as my 90 mile a day commute is costing me an arm and a leg and is slowly killing my beloved Alfa I need to replace it but I refuse to sign myself up to a sentence of financial payments on something I won't enjoy owning so have decided to investigate the feasability of building something and a reverse trike ticks all my being different boxes.
My criteria are:
- Carry me as a minimum and two seats as a maximum
- 70 mpg as a minimum
- Should be comfortable cruising at 70 so a 90 top speed would allow that
- Will need to be weather proof (joys of UK living) but a soft top arrangement would be fine
With regard to power plants I first thought of a small (1.5 litre turbo diesel) front wheel drive set up but am concerned this will make it pretty wide hurting the economy, bike engines aren't that fuel efficient (although the Honda NC is much better) but mounted behind the seat would allow a much smaller frontal profile.
Are there any advantages / disadvantages to a front wheel drive set up?
I am now off to start scrolling though the project pages on the site for inspiration, but if anyone has any thoughts/ ideas/ images they would like to share then please feel free.
Many thanks
Phil
I have just found this forum whilst researching a project that I am thinking of.
My background is electronic engineering but for the last 20 years I have been in technical marketing, I am a lifelong biker and hate modern sterile cars (I have an Alfa Spider as my daily driver) thinking they are a crazy price and can't get near the economy figures printed in the brochures (bl**dy marketeers! :-))
So as my 90 mile a day commute is costing me an arm and a leg and is slowly killing my beloved Alfa I need to replace it but I refuse to sign myself up to a sentence of financial payments on something I won't enjoy owning so have decided to investigate the feasability of building something and a reverse trike ticks all my being different boxes.
My criteria are:
- Carry me as a minimum and two seats as a maximum
- 70 mpg as a minimum
- Should be comfortable cruising at 70 so a 90 top speed would allow that
- Will need to be weather proof (joys of UK living) but a soft top arrangement would be fine
With regard to power plants I first thought of a small (1.5 litre turbo diesel) front wheel drive set up but am concerned this will make it pretty wide hurting the economy, bike engines aren't that fuel efficient (although the Honda NC is much better) but mounted behind the seat would allow a much smaller frontal profile.
Are there any advantages / disadvantages to a front wheel drive set up?
I am now off to start scrolling though the project pages on the site for inspiration, but if anyone has any thoughts/ ideas/ images they would like to share then please feel free.
Many thanks
Phil