Fer's Fantasy Trike
Discussion
OK, so rather than derail other threads with my meanderings, and to give you a single place to laugh at my technical naivety I thought I would start a new one.
I want to build a kit car, and thought a trike would suit my needs without the necessity of expensive kits, tools and parts. I originally looked at the MEV eTrike, but it would not have the range, and to make it interesting it needed lots of batteries to move a salad dodger like me. The tR1ke is nice, but I liked the idea of a single seater. The Rayvolution is not cheap, and not really what I want, so I have ended up looking at the new MEV Exo-Eco.
So what am I looking for? Well, I was thinking of a nice 400cc Burgman mated to the FFT, I would have preferred a manual, but auto should hopefully be easier for my first version. I would have a single seat, with a frame and runners, and ideally I would like to replace the handle bars for a steering wheel, with a small steering rack and a pedal box, albeit with only two pedals. I have even got to ideally thinking about a ducted heating system, by having a simple heat exchange around the exhaust and running a vent through to the footwell.
Is the handlebar to steering wheel swap going to cause me problems with MSVA to SVA, or would I be better to convert it at a later date? Do we think the MEV frame would be suitable for such a conversion?
From what I see the 400cc should be good for a decent range, even if they do have a reputation for drinking oil, but if I had to upgrade to 650 at a later date would this require a retest?
The end result for the FFT would be a little single seater that I could commute to the station and the office, with weather protection and perhaps a small screen, a tonneau cover to give me a dry seat when I get back, and some self built FUN.
OK, that's my brain dump, fire away and feel free to suggest the usual MX-5 powered visit to the Bisto Tower [sic] with a facepalm to start, but constructive thoughts and advice is even more welcome.
I want to build a kit car, and thought a trike would suit my needs without the necessity of expensive kits, tools and parts. I originally looked at the MEV eTrike, but it would not have the range, and to make it interesting it needed lots of batteries to move a salad dodger like me. The tR1ke is nice, but I liked the idea of a single seater. The Rayvolution is not cheap, and not really what I want, so I have ended up looking at the new MEV Exo-Eco.
So what am I looking for? Well, I was thinking of a nice 400cc Burgman mated to the FFT, I would have preferred a manual, but auto should hopefully be easier for my first version. I would have a single seat, with a frame and runners, and ideally I would like to replace the handle bars for a steering wheel, with a small steering rack and a pedal box, albeit with only two pedals. I have even got to ideally thinking about a ducted heating system, by having a simple heat exchange around the exhaust and running a vent through to the footwell.
Is the handlebar to steering wheel swap going to cause me problems with MSVA to SVA, or would I be better to convert it at a later date? Do we think the MEV frame would be suitable for such a conversion?
From what I see the 400cc should be good for a decent range, even if they do have a reputation for drinking oil, but if I had to upgrade to 650 at a later date would this require a retest?
The end result for the FFT would be a little single seater that I could commute to the station and the office, with weather protection and perhaps a small screen, a tonneau cover to give me a dry seat when I get back, and some self built FUN.
OK, that's my brain dump, fire away and feel free to suggest the usual MX-5 powered visit to the Bisto Tower [sic] with a facepalm to start, but constructive thoughts and advice is even more welcome.
In one of the other threads stiggy has said that it would be able to be turned into a conventional steering wheel and rack if you used a very narrow fiat unit. Some very thin aluminium plate would look nice on the inside of the chassis if the frame was powder coated in a bright colour and that would offer decent weather protection and shouldn't be too heavy either. Although potential cleaning issues may arise. Nice idea though.
Like the thought processes, I am in a similar place at the moment.
The way I see it without the screen and body panels as a daily commute its got the drawbacks of both cars and bikes and none of the advantages of either. My thoughts for body panels were to use self coloured plastic sheeting and a wind deflector, Not too sure if would want to swap the steering yet either.
Steve
The way I see it without the screen and body panels as a daily commute its got the drawbacks of both cars and bikes and none of the advantages of either. My thoughts for body panels were to use self coloured plastic sheeting and a wind deflector, Not too sure if would want to swap the steering yet either.
Steve
I agree, the weather protection is a must, which is the main reason I was thinking about the steering wheel, as this will allow me to have a small aeroscreen and keep my hands out of the breeze.
I am starting to pull together a costings spreadsheet, so if people want to brain storm what I am going to need (on top of the MEV kit and a scooter) that would help.
I am starting to pull together a costings spreadsheet, so if people want to brain storm what I am going to need (on top of the MEV kit and a scooter) that would help.
Fer said:
Well, while I wait for some angel to pick up the Exo-Trike from MEV and "productize" it for me, I will just have to keep dreaming. (Unless someone wants to go halves on the project?)
I'm always interested in kit manufacturing projects as long as they have potential. However, the use you describe for your fantasy trike would seem to rule out the Exo-Trike because it doesn't have adequate weather protection. Some kind of screen and extra body panels would help, of course, but what happens when it's belting rain?The way I see it, a commuting vehicle simply has to have some kind of all over rain protection or it will remain a fun vehicle for sunny days only. If I was trying to design a commuting vehicle I would start with some kind of cabin (or roll over cage with panels fitted to it) and work from there.
singlecoil said:
I'm always interested in kit manufacturing projects as long as they have potential. However, the use you describe for your fantasy trike would seem to rule out the Exo-Trike because it doesn't have adequate weather protection. Some kind of screen and extra body panels would help, of course, but what happens when it's belting rain?
The way I see it, a commuting vehicle simply has to have some kind of all over rain protection or it will remain a fun vehicle for sunny days only. If I was trying to design a commuting vehicle I would start with some kind of cabin (or roll over cage with panels fitted to it) and work from there.
You do have a point regarding the weather protection, but as someone who had a Westfield as a daily drive if I can get a trike with side protection then that is a start. The way I see it, a commuting vehicle simply has to have some kind of all over rain protection or it will remain a fun vehicle for sunny days only. If I was trying to design a commuting vehicle I would start with some kind of cabin (or roll over cage with panels fitted to it) and work from there.
The idea solution is closer to the T-Rex, but again I want something I can build myself and I can afford, so that puts lots of the options out of the game at the start.
Converting from handlebars to steering wheel is the first step in getting something closer to the plan, and maybe adding a heater matrix up under the "dash" for warmth and demisting of the screen.
Small steps to the final solution.
Fer said:
You do have a point regarding the weather protection, but as someone who had a Westfield as a daily drive if I can get a trike with side protection then that is a start.
As you point out, you would be ok with no rain protection, but I was answering in the context of a project that would go beyond a single vehicle for one person. I believe that to have any future as a series of commuting, rather than fair-weather fun, vehicles then all-over weather protection is essential.If one was to think in terms of a roll over cage that would provide for the mounting of panels to keep all the rain out, then designing the project around that would probably lead to substantial differences in the chassis, so would, IMO, be a fundamental part of the project.
Well I am still no closer to starting a build, but I have my "temporary" commute vehicle, a 50cc Secma Funtech, which is slow and steady, but does drop into the bike bays at the station, and has front screen, doors and a roof, so whilst not waterproof is at least dry-ish.
Ideally I would like something lower, faster and more fun, so anyone seen anything that might suit?
Ideally I would like something lower, faster and more fun, so anyone seen anything that might suit?
singlecoil said:
Fer said:
You do have a point regarding the weather protection, but as someone who had a Westfield as a daily drive if I can get a trike with side protection then that is a start.
As you point out, you would be ok with no rain protection, but I was answering in the context of a project that would go beyond a single vehicle for one person. I believe that to have any future as a series of commuting, rather than fair-weather fun, vehicles then all-over weather protection is essential.If one was to think in terms of a roll over cage that would provide for the mounting of panels to keep all the rain out, then designing the project around that would probably lead to substantial differences in the chassis, so would, IMO, be a fundamental part of the project.
I own several Kit Cars which are screen less or have aero screens. My partner is pretty easygoing (she needs to be to out up with me) but she draws the line at travelling any distance in a screen less car and frankly I understand why.
Driving in heavy rain is not fun in screen less cars to the point where I trailer these cars to sprints etc. Tells you something about the lack of practicality.
I think a secure reasonably weatherproof cabin is essential to any Kit Car which is intended to be built in any volume.
I admire the energy and effort involved in building such specials but I do not think they cam be anything other than interesting one off specials.
Which leaves the search for a three wheel kit car to suit modern motoring wide open.
There does seem to be a gap between the commuter stuff like the Exo Eco and sports trike stuff like Rayvolution and Grinnall Scorpion (if they're still around). Would Furioserie's Tercyclo be any use? The last I read was that it would need some mods to make it legal in the UK, things like a screen wiper and cycle arches. The only other I can find is a qpod fun runner, but it does look more car sized and it's a Peugeot 1.4 motor, so it ends up not much different to a small Peugeot or Citroen http://www.qpod.co.uk/qpod-fun-runner.php
Edited by ajprice on Monday 7th November 11:33
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