This is the $64,000 question, which is the best Three wheeled engine configuration?
I want to build a Trike similar to the MEV TR1ke, but the long wheelbase and chain drive is putting me off that design.
What are the pros and cons in having the engine front mounted, like a Pan European and driving the Rear wheel thru' the shaft etc
One crazy idea I did have was to use a V Twin engine like the Suzuki TL1000 / SV1000 and rotate it 90 degrees mounted behind the seats like the TR1ke then drive off of the gearbox shaft with prop shaft.
The engine width would be minimal, and it would keep the wheelbase down
I use Solidworks so I can play with ideas before I start to cut metal

Andy

As someone that has pondered this myself, you need to decide what you want out of the car.

If it's a fun thing to take on trips on a sunny day, rather than a speed machine, I'd always go for a V up front driving the rears through a gearbox/shaft. It will look superb, will have fantastic proportions (you can taper the rear in as much as you like), and will give a great sound.

If you want a fast machine, but still want something different, consider a BMW boxer twin behind the seats, but I'm almost certain this will upset the proportions out of the "pretty" area due to the 'extended arse' syndrome of mid engined trikes.

If I wanted something purely for speed/performance to be fair I'd just go for a standard setup of grafting half a bike to a spaceframe chassis, complete with inline 4 engine gearbox and chain drive.

Did you see the front engined, front wheel drive, hill-climb based, yellow trike at Stoneleigh?

It was running an aircooled gsxr1100 (actually a Bandit engine).

They claimed it was the best way.

quote:

---

consider a BMW boxer twin behind the seats

---

quote:

---

Did you see the front engined, front wheel drive, hill-climb based, yellow trike at Stoneleigh?

It was running an aircooled gsxr1100 (actually a Bandit engine).

They claimed it was the best way.

---

This is my trike solution:

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=154803

quote:

---

Originally posted by designer
This is my trike solution:

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=154803

---

i want to build something like this poor photoshop rendition i made

Description

Something like the Trivette and Vigilante?

http://www.vigillante.com/vigillante1.htm

quote:

---

Originally posted by blakep82
i want to build something like this poor photoshop rendition i made

Description

---

Still not made my mind up yet which is the best setup........
In the meantime I will start to draw the standard chassis up in Solidworks
Once I have made my mind up which way I want to go, I can edit the chassis to my design
I am quite lucky in that I have lots of kit available, I built myself a CNC Plasma cutter a couple of years ago which will come in Handy for profiling the shapes

Homebuilt CNC Plasma Cutter

I also have a press brake, TIG & MIG welder amongst other things.
In my youth I was GRP Laminator which will be handy for doing the Fibreglass

Andy

quote:

---

I built myself a CNC Plasma cutter a couple of years ago which will come in Handy for profiling the shapes

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by designer

quote:

---

I built myself a CNC Plasma cutter a couple of years ago which will come in Handy for profiling the shapes

---

Bloody Hell, you built that!!!

---

quote:

---

Bloody Hell, you built that!!!

---

quote:

---

build plans for it?

---