GhostKart electric inverse trike conversion

[k1cotk]

Ok, a while back I was given a couple of flood damaged electric bikes like these:

All of the electronics were toast but the motors still work so I have been wondering what I should do with them. Have had the itch to remake them into *something*

I also got an old go-kart frame from a cousin who was going to scrap it, but I thought I could do something with it for my kids...

And just recently this caught my eye and as I am a big fan of the game I got to thinking, hmm...

If I cut the cage and the back wheels off, mount the rear wheel of the bike there, modify the steering and brakes, add some body panels... I might end up with something cool.

 

[kendelrk]

is it live axle? if so i say make a motor mount to adapt those motors, adapt/fit the wheels from the scooter to the kart, get matching front wheels, paint is a nice futuristic purple type color and have a good time in it, if its one wheel drive, i say cut the motor mount, make a new one in the middle of the frame and find a way to get the tire in the middle, then go with above, a trike thats more of a kart sounds sweet

 

[k1cotk]

No, it is not a live axle, which was what made me think the trike idea will work. I am considering removing the back axle completely and mating the kart frame to the rear assembly of the bike to keep my expense down. I am concerned about how strong that will be, but I can weld reinforcements.

 

[k1cotk]

Have removed the roll cage and the seat...

 

[kendelrk]

What about cutting just above the motor mount on both sides, run some of the frame you cut off between the gap and weld that on, now take some metal and weld from there to the open area just in front of the seat on the other side for support. Then take the scooter and hook up the motors so they turn the wheel, cut in a reasonable place on the frame like right after the seat bar, then weld that Peice to the new rear

 

[k1cotk]

That will brace it up more, I will work on how I need to mate the bike frame in there next and that will give me a better idea of where the spacing needs to be...

Thanks...

 

[k1cotk]

Finally had time to get back to this project

It has been a while since I have been able to work on this project, and so it is time for some progress pics...

I had to remove the rear axle, it was just a tube with bolts welded on each end, not a live axle.

This is the powertrain, minus the front wheel and steering tower.

And here they are combined, I still have to add some bracing to be comfortable with it. I haven't decided to keep the traditional steering or to modify it. If I want it to be more like the ghost model I am thinking of, it will need controls similar to a green machine's steering sticks...

http://www.huffy.com/products/greenmachine.aspx

 

[anderkart]

Ok, a while back I was given a couple of flood damaged electric bikes like these:

How about mounting both motor/wheel assemblies side by side instead of just 1? You'd double your power/traction/stopping power and end up with way more stability.

The only advantage to a reverse trike design I can think of is if you wanted poor traction for drifting purposes. I think they look silly too.

 

[exenos]

If they are done right reverse trikes look good but otherwise, I agree they can be a tad ugly. But what ever if it works, it works.

 

[deloreanaka8]

I like reversed trikes, it's a nice way to turn something completly dreadfull to drive into a stable vehicle... by just reversing it's order of wheels.

Some of them look awsome, like that commercial T-rex thing, I think it looks really cool.
This conversion in the pics might turn out into looking spectacular, as a personal idea, I would make a full fairing kit for it.

And here is a video showing why it's bad to have the single wheel in the front
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8