I reckon this would be a popular forum,maybe chris might add it on here somewhere.
Is there a Locost trike forum? Google didn't find any.
I've seen Gibbs' page (Formula 1 trike), but I'd like some feedback from trike builders about this very Locost idea:
http://www.carcentric.com/SpitTrike.htm
Good call.
I reckon this would be a popular forum,maybe chris might add it on here somewhere.
cant wait to hear all those tales of robin reliants turned into the ultimate road machine
It never ceases to amaze me that whatever there is out there to use, someone has to do the opposite.
There are guys trying to work out how to use bike engines in cars and converting the chain drive to propshaft. Then that site shows how you could
convert a car engine and prop shaft to drive a chain and motorbike rear wheel!
Why not just use a motorcyle rear end that is shaft driven?
Sheesh!
Terry
On a similar tack, i was at the coast today and saw an unbelieveably nice gold wing trike, look so cool i was nearly drooling. Really does take the biscuit for style...
I like your page, Doc, and the Morgan F pictures. How about that chain drive? Gives "rip you a new one" a totally unique meaning!
Not long ago, on another forum, a poster brought up the bike-engined Grinnall Scorpion as an inspiration:
http://www.grinnallcars.com/content/home/scorpion_III.html
Interesting idea.
I did look into shaft drive bikes' rear ends (that doesn't sound too proper), but there were three reasons to avoid them given the rest of
the Spitfire Trike project:
1) unlike a car's driveshaft (propshaft) that goes right down the center of the vehicle, a bike's driveshaft goes alongside the rear wheel,
so if the two driveshafts were put in line in a Spitfire, the bike's rear wheel would be off center,
2) most car driveshafts rotate counterclockwise when viewed from the rear axle, but most bike driveshafts rotate clockwise (net effect, four speeds
reverse and one speed forward), and
3) several bike guys cautioned me that bike shaft drive rear ends might not stand up to the forces generated by the mighty Triumph 1493cc engine - no,
actually it was the weight of my project (probably double what the bike it would be taken from weighed).
There's also the Locost Imperative: "If the donor car has one, use it."
Hence, Spitfire differential, Spitfire wheels, etc. I even think I might be able to fashion trailing arms out of frame extensions that the
'78-80 Spitfire had to tie in the rear bumper . . .
quote:
Originally posted by carcentric
I did look into shaft drive bikes' rear ends (that doesn't sound too proper), but there were three reasons to avoid them given the rest of the Spitfire Trike project:
1) unlike a car's driveshaft (propshaft) that goes right down the center of the vehicle, a bike's driveshaft goes alongside the rear wheel, so if the two driveshafts were put in line in a Spitfire, the bike's rear wheel would be off center,
2) most car driveshafts rotate counterclockwise when viewed from the rear axle, but most bike driveshafts rotate clockwise (net effect, four speeds reverse and one speed forward), and
3) several bike guys cautioned me that bike shaft drive rear ends might not stand up to the forces generated by the mighty Triumph 1493cc engine - no, actually it was the weight of my project (probably double what the bike it would be taken from weighed).
There's also the Locost Imperative: "If the donor car has one, use it."
Hence, Spitfire differential, Spitfire wheels, etc. I even think I might be able to fashion trailing arms out of frame extensions that the '78-80 Spitfire had to tie in the rear bumper . . .
Cast your votes! Shall I add a three wheeled forum? 
Chris
On balance I'd say yes.
My big concern though would be good posts about engines, transmissions, frames etc. being lost on there.
I'd ask everyone to think carefully before posting "Is this really just of interest to 3-wheelers, or could others benefit?"
I've been hassling people about that quite a bit recently in the MK forum
Chris
Should you have a 3 wheel forum then I guess a certain person will soon want a Non conformist, morgan lookalike forum
As long as there are no objections to an occasional thread about Locost Trikes in the Locost Related area of this Forum, I think that would suffice.
If there get to be 4-5 active trike threads at any given time on a regular basis, it might make sense to segregate them then. Count that as one
contrarian vote against a new forum, I guess.
Now, for my periodic rejoinder to Terry:
quote:
Originally posted by Spyderman
Hey, I'm not knocking!
quote:
But to counter your points; . . .
quote:
I like your design layout and how you've worked around the problems, but why stick with what you have when you could sel off the car and buy more suitable components . . .
quote:
Gone are the days when you are limited to what you can use, so why not take advantage?
quote:
pps, I just noticed! Your wheelbase will be longer as the wheel will be behind differential and not along side it.
I like the idea of a three wheel forum
Cheers
Chris
quote:
Originally posted by chrisg
I like the idea of a three wheel forum
Cheers
Chris
I saw a trike last week that was built up from engine and running gear from mainly cars,rear axle from a cortina with an RV8 for power.
Handle bars and forks looked homemade,it was as locost as you could get i reckon.
There's a guy at Newlands Corner when we meet there with a Ford V6 for poer on his trike,car or trike building its all the same at the end.
I think it would be a good section and i'm interested in the lack of SVA
How much longer will that last? There have been rumours of a trike SVA circulating for a couple of years now. Also is it correct that there is a
weight limit on trikes, something like 440kg, which I read somewhere after which it is classed as a car even if it only has three wheels. Perhaps
Lenny could sort us out, he seems up on these things.
yours, Pete.
P.S. If you read this Lenny, we are sorting my mate out with chair fitted to his Guzzi, gave up on the trike idea.
I'm all for a three wheel section!
"All very stimulating feedback - I appreciate it! But do you realize I do most of my thinking and writing while you're ASLEEP?!! "
carcentric.
I do most of my thinking whilst I'm asleep as well!
It's the only time I make sense!
I fancy doing a three wheel car, but it has to be economical, so would not want a car engine. A small bike engine upto about 600cc would be ideal.
Motorbikes and three wheelers are in the family blood. My Uncle was forever rolling over his Bond three wheelers (not the bond bug cheese wedge
things). He has corners named after him where he kept demolishing fences upside down!
[Edited on 25/8/03 by Spyderman]
My mate's dad had one of those. Two wheels at the front and one at rear, 250cc Villiers 2 stroke engine and a kick start under the bonnet, you
had to pick the back end up and carry it round to get back out of his drive as it had no reverse. You had to have a death wish to go out in that, it
wallowed worse than a hippo and steered about the same.
yours, Pete.
I was speaking to Richard Oakes the other day, his Avion 3 wheelers will have to have SVA tests very shortly, he has been redeveloping the car to take acount of this.
I parked next to a Grinnal Scorpion at Shelsley Walsh hillclimb last weekend. Cracking looking motor. Kids were very impressed. Used the trailing arm
from the BMW bike donor it came from too.
Neil
Those Scorpions are very sweet looking cars. Probably what made me aware of kit cars when my mate showed me a pic of one at college. Reckoned his
Dad was going to get one - dunno if he ever did tho!
Chris
is this one?
This was at Newark and looked quite nice.
Rescued attachment 3wd.jpg
What's that red and white job behind it? Some kind of repli-trike?
[Edited on 26/8/03 by carcentric]
I'd be very keen to see a trike section here at Locost Builders, perhaps sub-divided into BETs and CETs, or shaft drive and chain drive.
I've actually started my bike-engined Tadpole, so I have a vested interest.
It's a great idea.
In about '88 I did a model of a 3-wheeler (at la but before!! Scorpion) that I fancied building, but didn't have a clue where to start, no
space to build it etc etc.
Now, however, things might be different.
Still, need to finish Locost first
ATB
Simon
seeing no one has answered yet, your right stephan, thats the scorpion. Looks great, although a bit pricey.
I have 3 friends who all have 3 wheelers, 2 of them have 2 a piece! thet are all one wheel at the rear. One of them had a silver grinnall scorpion and
a Hudson Spirit (single seater) the other has 2 Hudson Kindred spirits 2 seater sit one behind the other like a motorised bob sleigh! and the other
has a Single seater spirit which he crashed! and a Kindred spirit.
The Hudson kits are based around the renault 5 in its various guises, notably the "gordini" the 1.4 engine will push out 100bhp in standard
tune, couple that to a weight of 320kg,.......it is fast and nible too.
i saw 2 hill climb trikes in whick kit this month £5800 and £5200 both with ZZ1100 bike engines in, advertised as road legal with tax and test! now
that would be quick.If a trike forum were to be created you would have 3 members for sure in the 3 friends of mine who are too keen to whine about the
notable and repid demise of 3 wheel kits on the market, especialy if the weight limit is to be abolished it will no doubt put some of them out of
business
[Edited on 27/8/03 by colmaccoll]
in the jig now st1100 trike the right way round.jpg)
If you put the reel from that mower in the background over the driveshaft/propshaft, you have a mighty fine "personal" shaver! Guess I
watched too many Junkyard Wars and Monster Garage episodes.
{Warning - playful flame follows}
I think the only reason a trike should ever be built with two wheels in the rear is so the youngster riding it can pedal the front one.
[Edited on 28/8/03 by carcentric]
Apart from superior handling, the other reason I decided to go two in front is, I saw a twat with the obligatory fringed leather waistcoat following
some choppers/lowriders through traffic in the city.
The bikes got through between the cars fine, but the fat oaf on the two behind, nearly tore his 8ollocks off on his ape hangers when his rear wheels
became firmly wedged between a car and a van.
I nearly laughed my c0ck off. I even got out of my car and applauded.
quote:
Originally posted by carcentric
driveshaft/propshaft, you have a mighty fine "personal" shaver!
[Edited on 28/8/03 by carcentric]
Locost trike forum - is there one?
There is now!!
Well done Chris!
Cheers
Chris
[Edited on 28/8/03 by chrisg]