3wheeler idea

[stuvy]

My dad was looking at a qpod or secma buggy as he only commutes 1 and a 1/2 miles to work and its a waste to use the car and he cant cycle as he has a bad back and his knees are shot from over doing sports years ago.

We got chatting about the kubota RTV or kawasaki mule style vehicles but then saw how much they were and turned the idea down!

Then saw the qpods and thought we could make one to our own plans.

So, does anyone know of a forum that specializes in 3 wheelser or microcars or unusual kit cars?

From searching the web iv found this http://www.3wheelers.com/rs50.html that looks kinda ideal especially if it had a 125cc or 250cc scooter engine fitted as the local tesco has a steep hill from my parents house to it and the little 50 engine would struggle like hell

 

[normspanners]

http://www.stealthelectricbikes.com.au/
check out these I want one !! 50 mph n 50 mile on one charge not legal in uk 250 w limit though, unless registered,

 

[gordonendersby]

How about one of the 3 wheel scooters?
They are supposed to be a lot of fun.
No need to put a foot down at the lights as the bike locks in the upright position and its twist and go. No foot controls like a normal bike.
Comes in a 125 variant so I think you can ride it on a car licence without having to take a bike test.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaggio_MP3

Gordon

 

[breezer]

There was a firm making stabilisers for vespas - look fugly but a cheap way to solve the problem.

Firm is out of business but you could adapt the idea

http://vespaclubofbritain.getphpbb.com/post45515.html

 

[stuvy]

the reason we thought about the qpods is they have weather protection. A bmw C1 would be ok but most fetch £2k

a reliant wouldnt be any good as there an 850 mini engine, which is great for 110mph and wheelies but not for a short commute (my old reliant was a right hoot!!)

I suggested the electric bike idea but it means full waterproofs.
http://www.qdoscars.co.uk/etrike/
This was an idea but with a screen fitted, the biggest downside is the electrickery bits cost £1500 plus the cost of the donor parts.

The single biggest benefit for a scooter powered trike is they have a simpler way of an MSVA which is no way near as strict as the car one

 

[stuvy]

http://www.stealthelectricbikes.com.au/
check out these I want one !! 50 mph n 50 mile on one charge not legal in uk 250 w limit though, unless registered,

WOW they look great i bet there is a stonking price to match the looks.

They kinda remind me of trials bike but eleccy version there is a beefed up mtb that uses a 125/250 trials bike engine that looks the same, its light enough to be lifted over 5 bar gates etc

 

[ajlelectronics]

a reliant wouldnt be any good as there an 850 mini engine, which is great for 110mph and wheelies but not for a short commute (my old reliant was a right hoot!!)

I think you might have your facts a little awry! The 850, like all their OHV small engines are all alloy designs, built by Reliant. The B series engine has little in common with it, apart from being a 4 pot.

Power output is 40BHP for the red top and about 38 for the later black top, which was optimised for unleaded. Everything from the Robin MkIII onwards used that.

The Three wheeler Reliant range are very good at local journeys and are both economical and reliable. Your figure of 110MPH is also a little out, most could manage about 80+ and I got a Mk2 Robin van to just under 90MPH. The Rialto which came next is slightly more aerodynamic although not as pretty as the later Robin types.

 

[stuvy]

well my rialto did 110mph and would lift the front wheel if there was 4 people in it.

I was under the impression that they had mini engines but obviously not! Mine must have had work done to it as it seriously flew.

 

[ajlelectronics]

They are quite quick as they have a good power to weight ratio, but 110 is wildly optimistic. Although the engins is 40BHP, it is quite easy to wind it up to about 60BHP with a few tweaks. See the book "750 Racer".

If the front lifted under power, I suspect that more than the engine had been got at!

 

[stuvy]

it would send the front wheel sky high only if you redlined it then dumped the clutch, burnouts were very easy too.

It was faster than my mates mini, well until i got to a roundabout then he would get a 'mild' advantage

 

[ajlelectronics]

Not really an advantage if you understand how to drive a motorcycle or are a good driver. You can throw them around a roundabout very quickly then. Most four wheeler drivers get into sloppy habits like braking halfway round etc, which they will get away with. Brake in, boot it out and you will not be far behind the Mini. Do it the other way around and you will be upside down though.

 

[Wedg1e]

Comes in a 125 variant so I think you can ride it on a car licence without having to take a bike test.

That particular dispensation was done away with a good while ago: you need to pass CBT before you can ride even a 125 on the road.
I think you can ride a 50cc on a car licence but only if you had your car licence before about 1901...

 

[stuvy]

Not really an advantage if you understand how to drive a motorcycle or are a good driver. You can throw them around a roundabout very quickly then. Most four wheeler drivers get into sloppy habits like braking halfway round etc, which they will get away with. Brake in, boot it out and you will not be far behind the Mini. Do it the other way around and you will be upside down though.

as it stands iv ridden for 20 years and raced bikes for 12years sidecars for 3 and cars in various forms for 8years. I think i know how to drive

as for comparing a mini to a reliant in the corners, i know what id put my house on

 

[CompoSimmonite]

First off there is a cut off for three wheeler road tax at 150cc. Under 150cc and under 450kg it's £16pa. Over 150cc / or over 450kg and it's £76 pa. Quadricycles cost as much as a pre March 2001 sub 1549cc car - £135, no matter what their engine size whether 50cc or 500cc !
That means a sub 450kg, sub 125cc three wheeler costs £16pa in road tax and is the cheapest amount payable for a internal combustion engine and is the same as a 50cc moped.
Electric vehicles, no matter what their power or weight are exempt for road tax. Electric bicycles have to be under (I think) 50kg and limited to a max speed (could be 15mph). Electric tricycles can be 60kg. Neither require driving licence, MOT or insurance - and obviously no road tax. An electric bicycle or tricycle over the weight limits or higher speed are classed as mopeds and need licence, MOT if over 3 years old, IVA test if homemade conversion, registered with DVLA & insurance.

Personally I have a 125cc Yamaha quad that weighs 135kg. I'm changing the front tyres for skinny road items. The huge rear wheels and tyres are being changed for front items with again skinny road tyres. The axle is going to be resplined to bring the rear wheels close together. The swinging arm MAY be extended for stability. The twin rear wheels being close together means no diff needed and also allow it to be classified as a trike even though actually 4 wheels ! My old BMW Isetta bubble car had similar twin rear wheel arrangement as did my Honda Stream 3 wheel moped so I've experience of how it is treated by DVLA. The road tax will be £16 pa :-)

BTW my everyday car is a 700cc Smart Fortwo. The 1400cc diesel familly Skoda Fabia is MORE economical and 70mpg possible !

Paul h

 

[stuvy]

Thanks for that Paul, iv seen the law re weights and power for eleccy bikes, trikes and quadricycles. £76 doesnt faize me at all as my dads current car is only £30 for tax.

My quest is for a moped engine and enclosed cabin.

I had thought about a quad but we have alot of thefts in our area of them so its right out of the window. Plus no weather protection makes them impractical for the task in hand

 

[Robotstar5]

Most four wheeler drivers get into sloppy habits like braking halfway round etc, which they will get away with. Brake in, boot it out and you will not be far behind the Mini.

I never slowed for islands (traffic permitting) in my Mini, even left a Jag behind one morning, although the speed he came past on the next bit of road made me think I'd selected reverse

 

[astro_al]

Can't you just stick a little bubble top onto a quad? Either one turned into a pseudo-trike, as above, or a normal one?

Interesting project though - I'd love a little runabout for commuting at sensible speeds and zipping to tescos.

Al.

 

[stuvy]

its mounting it to a quad and not looking a wally at the same time!

Iv been looking at loads of stuff and the isetta's would be perfect just with a more modern engine

 

[ajlelectronics]

Piaggio Ape might fit the bill if you can find one. 50cc and 125 cc versions were imported here.

 

[stuvy]

Piaggio Ape might fit the bill if you can find one. 50cc and 125 cc versions were imported here.

it would be perfect but for the price, £2.5k for one needing work on ebay!

For that price we are both tempted to put that into parts and have something really unique, and odd!