There is a local guy who built something like you are describing. He took the front clip from a chevy (nova I think) and welded a Virago to the front. It kind of looks like the car ran into the back of the bike. He did a great job with fit and finish. The complete auto hood is entact, he made a custom panel to cover the rear of the firewall and it houses tail lamps and the motorcycle license plate. He's been riding it around here for years so I know it's been a good vehicle for him.

I work for one of the largest Spyder dealerships in the US and have ridden quite a few of them ------ not my cup-of-tea! Not that it isn't a well made and very useable vehicle it just doesn't have the stability of a two wheeler. It doesn't corner with that smooth, gentle arc you cut with a two wheeler; it makes you force it through the turns, requiring much more physical effort. Try letting go of the bars for half a second to adjust your jacket NOT! No gyroscope effect here, you've got to be on top of it every second. I've ridden trikes as well; same complaint. Thing about the trikes, the wide part is out of sight (don't ask me how I know, but it was expensive), easy to damage.

If I can find a picture of that local dude I'll pass it on to you. Good luck on your project. It's a shame your dad must give up two wheelers, defying gravity is what makes motorcycling so special. I ride every day.

DB

 

The Carver One
http://www.carver-worldwide.com/





The Aprilia Magnet Concept

 

The Volkswagen GX3 concept

 

Peugeot Design Competition 3 Wheelers

 

The Tilting Motor Works V-Max trike

 

Those are all cool! They all put the two wheels that steer in the front, might be a message there?

 

Hey 56 Panel,

Pretty interesting concepts .... I've seen all of these except that scary looking VMax. These vehicles are engeneered for engeneering sake --- none of them are an improvment on the basic two wheel concept. Their only advantage is they won't fall over when not moving. For that you give up simplicity of design, stability at speed, comptact shape (you'd be suprised how much more room these things take in the garage) and the joy of defying gravity. Just 'cause you can make it doesn't mean it's a better idea.

Just my $.02

DB

 

Ax - when the 3-wheeler ATV's were found as the cause of numerous injuries, the industry pretty much quit making them. They are dangerous, because of 1) the way they are used 2) what they are used for (basically off-road in rough terrain) 3) the inexperience in a lot of cases of the driver 4) their weight, and 5) the need to do crazier and crazier things on them. These just aren't there with the motorcycle trikes. Granted, a quad is more stable for off-road use than a trike. You keep saying the trikes are inherently dangerous. That just isn't the case. I emphasize with your cousin's injuries, and don't know the circumstances, but many hundreds of thousands of miles are put on trikes yearly. There just aren't many accidents with them, statistically more than with a 2-wheel cycle. Otherwise, we would be hearing about them, and legislation would be passed, in this litigatious society. Many, many people are killed in car accidents -does that mean we shouldn't buy cars?



R

 

Oh yeah, they ALL didn't - the first has the two wheels in back...

Here's an interesting write-up on trikes...

Trikes

Actually safer at high speeds? Can beat a two-wheeler through Deal's Gap? It also mentions the main reasons for accidents on them...

R

 

The article you mentioned deals mainly with a Honda Gold Wing 1500 (a two-wheeled land yacht that's such a barge it needs a reverse gear) that has been converted to have two back wheels.

The motorized, three-wheeled vehicle that has been produced in larger numbers than any I know of is the Morgan. It has two front wheels. Here's a site about them:

Morgan, the World's Leading 3-Wheeler

 

Here's a video from the U.K. TV show Top Gear, showing a T Rex trike on a road course. It looks like fun!

YouTube - Fifth Gear T-Rex

 

A (conventional layout) trike beat a bike (or a well driven sportscar for that matter, I'll take that challenge for 100 Alex) thru Deals Gap??? Com mon!!! Obviously anyone making that statement has never been thru "the tail of the dragon"!