what is it?

deacon · #1 06-23-2009, 04:00 PM

I do not have the money or the expertise to build this but If I did, what would it be.

Alum frame set up with a pair of 20" wheels in the front about one foot apart...

In the rear a pair of 20" wheels about three feet apart.

On seat wider than a bicycle seat. Light weight plastic Body a lift up from the front hinged at the rear wheels. The body would be for protection from the elements only. vehicle would be a one person transportation system. It would have a small storage area behind the seat.

Powered by two 600 watt hub motors in front, and a pedal system for a pedal first system and emergency get me home ability.

It's kind of a adult trike on steroids.

So would it be a car subject to all those silly rules or would it be a trike/bike with no rules at all.

TerrontheSnake · #2 06-23-2009, 06:09 PM

Though it would be a hybrid type design it would probably be subject to the silly rules. First is in most states you can only run up to 1000 watts of electic motor without the rules applying, but mostly wouldn't it be just a little to wide for the bike lane? How fast would it go?

zero240sx · #3 06-23-2009, 06:23 PM

i dont believe you would intent rideing it in the bike lane.. but more like an actual car in a normal car manner. dont forget the signals and brake lights!

deacon · #4 06-23-2009, 06:30 PM

Most likely about twenty five mph on the flat. On a hill climb it might drop down to ten or fifteen. I wouldn't feel safe in a lightweight electric at more than 25.

Maybe go with a front wheel drive for the pedals as well as the hub motors. So that the driver could sit low in the vehicle. Keep the center of gravity low to make it more stable.

tiller steering I think would be the simplest. Kind of like the very early automobiles. With the new Lith battery packs it wouldn't add a lot of weight. I'm thinking wedge shaped frame with front wheels and steering attached. Rear wheels to free wheel along. Mechanical brakes for each wheel double pull for front and rear independently.

Good point on the bike lane. But I think trikes are at least 3ft wide. If not then go with trike width.

And if I had to go with the trike design I would just put one wheel in front and go with handle bars. How about a rear wheel from a 6 speed on the front to have some gears. Long as we are going there make the plastic body look like an antique Indy car. Or maybe the old midget racers of the 40s and 50s

As you can tell i'm not a designer...

TerrontheSnake · #5 06-23-2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zero240sx

i dont believe you would intent rideing it in the bike lane.. but more like an actual car in a normal car manner. dont forget the signals and brake lights!

He asked if it would be subject to the silly rules, and if I'm not mistaken then unless your on a road that the vehicle can keep up with the speed limit( about 25 on the flat )you must be in a bike lane. That is all I was refering to. So another words chances are it would be subject to the "silly rules".

deacon · #6 06-23-2009, 07:43 PM

You are most likely right about the rules. It stopped me from doing it before but you can run a 25mph max mped on a road without a bike lane and it isn't a problem. Part of the definition of moped her in NC is that it have no more than three wheels. But that only applies to gasoline. Ebikes have no rules other than rules of the road as far as I know. I don't even wear a bike helmet on my ebikes.

roachhill · #7 06-28-2009, 05:01 AM

I would lose a wheel to make it a trike better chance of being legal. Then I would ask on Bicycle Motor Forum - Motorized Bicycle Engine Kits, Manuals, And Help somebody there will know the rules. Be aware the rules are different in every state. I know a bike shop in State College, Pa that's developing an electric recumbent trike with a full body but it has two front wheels and one rear. Very cool but out of my price range.

zero240sx · #8 07-01-2009, 06:37 PM

sorry terronthesnake...we dont have bike lanes here, and have never used them i just thought that he would use it like those...street legal bike-car vehicles ive seen on the internet. http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/a...Ficall%3D24163 also a bike is supposed to take a lane in the road if there is no shoulder or bike lane so i figured it would be ok to just take a lane anywhere but it would be nice to keep up with traffic if it is safe enough. at least thats the way it is in louiville ky.