Advice on a road legal 3-wheeler
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SPEDcial Forces
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Thanks for all the info! I am planning on throwing some more specific plans out there in a few days.
Carbon, The general idea for a lotus 7 type thing with 3 wheels and roll bars I can put a canvas over in the rain is definetelly badass.
Now one problem I have had is finding motorcycle engines for sale. I can find car engines in various conditions no problem, and I can find a couple of large Harley Davison engines availible, but never smaller motorycle engines or nicer fuel injected engines, aside from the occasional Habuyasha (which I know I mispelled and is WAYYY to expensive). So does anyone know a good place to look? I use ebay motors, but I most often don't find anything.
And I am somewhat interested in speed. Like Ideally I'd make something that I could take autocrossing.
Carbon, The general idea for a lotus 7 type thing with 3 wheels and roll bars I can put a canvas over in the rain is definetelly badass.
Now one problem I have had is finding motorcycle engines for sale. I can find car engines in various conditions no problem, and I can find a couple of large Harley Davison engines availible, but never smaller motorycle engines or nicer fuel injected engines, aside from the occasional Habuyasha (which I know I mispelled and is WAYYY to expensive). So does anyone know a good place to look? I use ebay motors, but I most often don't find anything.
And I am somewhat interested in speed. Like Ideally I'd make something that I could take autocrossing.
Look on craigslist, www.craigslist.org , i think a CBR600 engine would be perfect for something like this, or an R6 engine.
SPEDcial Forces
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Thanks.
It's probably obvious, but I'm definetelly in the more brain-stormy phase right now.
An interesting thing popped up, and thats that my father, who normally is wary of strange projects, seamed enthusiastic about the idea of building a Lotus 7 (Or really a Locost). I then found a book called "How to build a sports car for under 250quid"...now it uses a british donar car, but there is another cheap book that basically is how to do the stuff in that book but with a Miata as a doner car.
So if I do do something like this, it, at least at this point, is most likely to be a Locost.
But thanks for the help guys.
It's probably obvious, but I'm definetelly in the more brain-stormy phase right now.
An interesting thing popped up, and thats that my father, who normally is wary of strange projects, seamed enthusiastic about the idea of building a Lotus 7 (Or really a Locost). I then found a book called "How to build a sports car for under 250quid"...now it uses a british donar car, but there is another cheap book that basically is how to do the stuff in that book but with a Miata as a doner car.
So if I do do something like this, it, at least at this point, is most likely to be a Locost.
But thanks for the help guys.
SPEDcial Forces
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Thanks. I actually just found something for sale on ebay that was a bike with what looked like a kart frame welded to the front. looked pretty doable. Get a used kart with a shot engine, remove the front wheel of a motorcycle and weld it to the back of the kart, and reinforce it with some extra beams brazed or welded on.
Here's a forum with guys who are doing exactly what you're talking about:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Lo-T3k/
I've often thought about doing exactly what you're talking about and for similar reasons. Not that I have any issues with staying out of trouble in my car. I just like the idea of a very light weight single seat 'car'. Seems to me that such a thing would be very efficient. Might even make it electric. Building a frame and suspension that is safe at highway speeds isn't trivial but there recipes that can be followed if you're not too concerned with high end cornering performance.
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Lo-T3k/
I've often thought about doing exactly what you're talking about and for similar reasons. Not that I have any issues with staying out of trouble in my car. I just like the idea of a very light weight single seat 'car'. Seems to me that such a thing would be very efficient. Might even make it electric. Building a frame and suspension that is safe at highway speeds isn't trivial but there recipes that can be followed if you're not too concerned with high end cornering performance.
well i'm in the process of making just such a thing. do alot of research before doing anything, especially legal issues. here's california for example, where i am:
- a 3 wheeler is registered as a motorcycle but the driver/rider needs a class C license aka a car drivers license. if you're in CA you're kind of SOL with this idea. other states vary but might be the same.
- check insurance. smaller engines are cheaper, and a common cutoff is 600cc for small engine sizes, though again it varies.
- all tires MUST be DOT approved, golf cart, go kart, minibike, offroad bike, etc are all useless.
-check emissions issues. i can't use a dirtbike engine on the street
i just picked up a '98 ninja 250 which should suit me just fine. my project is mainly cuz i like to build stuff, and saving gas is certainly a plus. i don't view it as a replacement for a car, and its a HUGE project also, it will be fall when you start wrapping it up most likely if not later, so it's not like you can hack it together in a weekend and be done.
i've been designing mine on the computer for months if not longer (planning the project for a couple years) and there sooo many things to keep in mind. if you have 2 wheels up front, brakes and steering rack. i'm using honda bike brakes up front and a car bake cylinder, and a mini baja steering rack ($120+s/h)
it's roughly going to be like a T-Rex, i'm gonna build a full fiberglass body and a lexan windshield
- a 3 wheeler is registered as a motorcycle but the driver/rider needs a class C license aka a car drivers license. if you're in CA you're kind of SOL with this idea. other states vary but might be the same.
- check insurance. smaller engines are cheaper, and a common cutoff is 600cc for small engine sizes, though again it varies.
- all tires MUST be DOT approved, golf cart, go kart, minibike, offroad bike, etc are all useless.
-check emissions issues. i can't use a dirtbike engine on the street
i just picked up a '98 ninja 250 which should suit me just fine. my project is mainly cuz i like to build stuff, and saving gas is certainly a plus. i don't view it as a replacement for a car, and its a HUGE project also, it will be fall when you start wrapping it up most likely if not later, so it's not like you can hack it together in a weekend and be done.
i've been designing mine on the computer for months if not longer (planning the project for a couple years) and there sooo many things to keep in mind. if you have 2 wheels up front, brakes and steering rack. i'm using honda bike brakes up front and a car bake cylinder, and a mini baja steering rack ($120+s/h)
it's roughly going to be like a T-Rex, i'm gonna build a full fiberglass body and a lexan windshield
2or3wheels
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dude, if you getting a motorcycle endorsement, buy a bike and ride that.
SPEDcial Forces
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Same way here in MA.
If I were in cali I'd just get a motorcycle- less rain, less snow, less general crap. But there is no way I'm riding out to western MA in a blizzard.
Unless there is some kit I can get that could turn a motorcycle into a snowmobile...like replace the back wheel with a belt, and the front wheel with a pair of skis...But it would have to be easily removable...
If I were in cali I'd just get a motorcycle- less rain, less snow, less general crap. But there is no way I'm riding out to western MA in a blizzard.
Unless there is some kit I can get that could turn a motorcycle into a snowmobile...like replace the back wheel with a belt, and the front wheel with a pair of skis...But it would have to be easily removable...
haha if it were that simple, there would be no need for both snowmobiles and motorcycles!
yea or you could ride here in L.A. and get run over by an SUV
the weather may be good for riding but the city is very unforgiving and often ruins it with traffic or people
SPEDcial Forces
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OK, Update-ish thing...
I discovered the vortex (link below)...What I like is it uses a wooden chasis, and I am MUCH better with wood then with metal.
http://www.vortexplans.com/
Now the vortex itself...Well, it looks a little complex. As I mentioned earlier, I'm probably best with strapping bits to a motorcycle, or strapping a motorcycle to bits.
Now what if I built a similar chasis, but modified the back end to "fit" a particular motorcle frame. The bottom of the motorcycle frame would rest on top of the chasis, and would be brazed to two 6" wide 3/16" thick strips of aluminum that would run across the entire bottom of the frame and about 6" up the sides (or maby use 4-6" wide flat aluminum tubing? Might be strudier, and then braze L-shaped plates on the ends to adhere to the sides). The strips/tubes would be bolted to 1/8" plate formed into plates on the other side to sanwhich it on nicely.
Also, how much does it cost to hire a welder to make a basic object like a box from metal tubing? Because that would make the front alot easier, as well as the rear (actually I could probably follow the plans in that case and not screw around with bolting a motorcycle in place).
I discovered the vortex (link below)...What I like is it uses a wooden chasis, and I am MUCH better with wood then with metal.
http://www.vortexplans.com/
Now the vortex itself...Well, it looks a little complex. As I mentioned earlier, I'm probably best with strapping bits to a motorcycle, or strapping a motorcycle to bits.
Now what if I built a similar chasis, but modified the back end to "fit" a particular motorcle frame. The bottom of the motorcycle frame would rest on top of the chasis, and would be brazed to two 6" wide 3/16" thick strips of aluminum that would run across the entire bottom of the frame and about 6" up the sides (or maby use 4-6" wide flat aluminum tubing? Might be strudier, and then braze L-shaped plates on the ends to adhere to the sides). The strips/tubes would be bolted to 1/8" plate formed into plates on the other side to sanwhich it on nicely.
Also, how much does it cost to hire a welder to make a basic object like a box from metal tubing? Because that would make the front alot easier, as well as the rear (actually I could probably follow the plans in that case and not screw around with bolting a motorcycle in place).
brazing a chassis together is just asking for trouble. if it doesnt fall apart in the first speed bump, it will on any impact. bolting is also questionable unless you have the chassis specifically designed for bolting together, which a bike is not.
most bikes have steel chassis' and only the more expensive sportsbikes have aluminum ones. if it's steel theres no excuse to not weld it. i'm doing this on my ninja 250.
if it's aluminum then you either build an aluminum frotn end or you make a steel one that can be bolted VERY securely to the bike chassis.
really, if you're not willing to learn to weld or alternatively to pay a pro to do it for you, you're not really fit for such an elaborate project. we're talkign custom chassis, suspension, steering, fuel setup, cooling, electical, lighting, wiring, etc..
however if you invest a bit in a welder and learn, then you can go from there.
most bikes have steel chassis' and only the more expensive sportsbikes have aluminum ones. if it's steel theres no excuse to not weld it. i'm doing this on my ninja 250.
if it's aluminum then you either build an aluminum frotn end or you make a steel one that can be bolted VERY securely to the bike chassis.
really, if you're not willing to learn to weld or alternatively to pay a pro to do it for you, you're not really fit for such an elaborate project. we're talkign custom chassis, suspension, steering, fuel setup, cooling, electical, lighting, wiring, etc..
however if you invest a bit in a welder and learn, then you can go from there.
SPEDcial Forces
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I'm finding quotes from welders right now.
I do want to learn to weld eventually but time is hard to find. I'll just do this when I'm in college, make it run on garbage or something and call it an independant study.
I do want to learn to weld eventually but time is hard to find. I'll just do this when I'm in college, make it run on garbage or something and call it an independant study.
Kenny_McCormic
Kartless....
You can learn to weld mig in an afternoon.
yea its not hard to learn, getting good takes practice but the point is if you dont have a few hours to learn to weld, how the hell are you gonna make a vehicle from scratch? its at least 200 hours of work to get a decent roadworthy rolling chassis.
Kenny_McCormic
Kartless....
Been done before, Chrysler snow runner, I have seen converted dirtbikes.
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