newtrikebuilder
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:04 PM |
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Want to build a trike
I want to build a trike and wanted to see what people think. Here is want I want to do...
Buy a Chinese 125cc scooter (less than £1000 new). I will use the whole of the rear (including wheel, suspension, and engine) on the trike. Some of
the other small bits can then be reused - horn, lights, battery, speedo etc. The rear scooter wheel won't be ideal as the trike won't lean
much, but I'm hoping that it'll be ok. Does anybody know whether it would be possible to get a car tyre or wheel onto something like this?
Car tyres don't come in this size 
The front of the trike would be like a Locost. I was looking at Sierra uprights with an Escort steering rack. Are these likely to fit together OK? The
only uprights I could see on the website I was looking at was Sierra and Cortina. I also wanted to put 12" wheels on them, but I think I will
need at least 15". Would it be possible to get smaller (preferably 12" ) wheels with different brake discs?
The middle of the car would be quite square. The would be a small seat for me, and a small storage area behind. There should be some room under the
seat for things like the battery and fuel tank. It would be a narrow single seater with the two front wheels sticking out.
There are still things that I don't quite understand, and I'm just trying to estimate the price at the moment. It is likely to cost me
less than £4k with all new parts, so it's pretty cheap. Let me know whether it sounds reasonable, whether it's a bad idea, or if you have
any suggestions.
[Edited on 31/5/10 by newtrikebuilder]
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scootz
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:15 PM |
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Noooooo... please don't buy ANYTHING made in China that can't be sourced from elsewhere! We're cutting our own throats
(financially) by doing so!
We're also burying our head in the sand whilst propagating their frankly awful working practices, disproportionate pollution levels, and their
non-existent human / animal rights.
They do make tasty carry-outs though! 
It's Evolution Baby!
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scootz
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:16 PM |
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Oh, and 'hello' by the way! 
It's Evolution Baby!
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MakeEverything
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:16 PM |
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A 125cc engine sounds very slow and painful to me, particularly id short on spares.
Sounds to me like the rear swingarm and wheel would be a bit small.
Normal practice is to use a single sided swingarm with a shaft drive for a trike. A car wheel can then be modified to fit.
[Edited on 31-5-10 by MakeEverything]
Kindest Regards,
Richard.
...You can make it foolProof, but youll never make it Idiot Proof!...
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smart51
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:17 PM |
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I'm planning something similar. I bought a piaggio X8 250 Cat C off eBay for less than your new Chinese scooter and will probably be a better
donor.
For the front end I'm going to use a Fiat seicento as I'm told the steering rack is the most suitable for a single seater.
I guess it would be just as easy to fit a car tyre to a bike rim as a bike tyre. My rear wheel has a 130 70 R12 tyre but I thing a 145 70 R12 car
tyre will fit.
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fha772
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:20 PM |
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Summat like this?
I saw it at PPC in the Park, I think it was on the Team MEV stand/area.
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=6743&start=105
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iank
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:27 PM |
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Yes that's MEV's new "Eco Exo"
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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iank
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:33 PM |
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On the OP.
Have a look at 13" wheels they only have problems with sierra rear calipers afaik and fit over the fronts, and have the best range of
tyres - for 12" you're stuck with whatever the mini boys are currently favouring.
Personally I think sierra hubs are a bit heavyweight for a trike where low weight is the key. I'm thinking of mini hubs for mine (if it ever
gets of paper) - lightweight (ish) and available new for not too much money.
Sounds like you are thinking of sitting on top of the fuel tank/battery. If you can move them as far forward as possible as you want the COG as far
forward and as low as possible for stability.
[Edited on 31/5/10 by iank]
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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newtrikebuilder
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:39 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by fha772
Summat like this?
I saw it at PPC in the Park, I think it was on the Team MEV stand/area.
That is exactly it, but with a storage area behind the seat. I got the plans for a MEV etrike (electric trike), but I've decided that electric
many not be the best way for me.
Those are motorcycle wheels on the front 
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newtrikebuilder
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:42 PM |
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quote:
For the front end I'm going to use a Fiat seicento as I'm told the steering rack is the most suitable for a single
seater.
I sold an 899cc Seicento last year, and miss it. They are great cars! I might have a look at their racks.
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hillbillyracer
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:45 PM |
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Aside from political & trade issues (which I agree are downsides too) I'd advise steer well clear of the cheap Chinese too.
A while ago at work at about the same time we got two 125cc road bikes in that young lads had come off & done a bit of damage, one was a 4 year
old Yamaha & he'd bust the fuel tank, rad & a few odds & sods. The other was a Chinese thing & he'd bust the front wheel.
Within a few days Yamaha boy was back on the road with bits from a breakers while the Chinese bike gathered dust for 6 months while a new wheel was
sought in various ways. It left without being repaired & I dont know if he ever got it fixed!
I'd also think you want a bit bigger engine, a 125 bike is lively because the heaviest thing is the rider but the trike frame work, extra wheel,
brake, steering gear etc will make it go like a 125 with a fat passenger!
What will a sub 600cc salvage bike cost? Too small an engine for many folk which would make it worth less but a lot more go than a 125!
Anyway, good luck with your project & welcome!
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iank
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 10:05 PM |
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Some pictures of the chinq/seicento steering rack in use.
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=90143
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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kipper
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 10:29 PM |
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trike building
Hi and welcome to the nuthouse.
Have a look in my photo archive, you are discribing my build apart from the chinese scoot, I have used a Piaggio 500 cc scooter, cortina uprights, and
intend using all the electrics , fuel tank etc.
The car is on it's wheels now and I am just making plans for bodywork.
The idea is to make the frontal area as low ans small as possible.
Good luck with your build and keep us informed.
Regards Denis.
Where did that go?
<<<<
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matt_gsxr
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 10:43 PM |
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Hi there,
What are your requirements of the vehicle?
If you go down the suggested route then you might expect decent economy but actually these bikes are not that economical (the 125's from the
major manufacturers are little better than the larger [non sports] bikes). (say GSF600).
The power from these engines is in the 10-20bhp range. (GSF600 78bhp)
You will do well to better 250kg weight, plus any riders. (300kg with the GSF600)
So performance will be sluggish (power to weight at maybe 60bhp per tonne, >200bhp/tonne with gsf600), and economy not that great (maybe 40mph in
each case, with top speed limited to maybe 70mph depending on gradient with the 125cc).
But you will have built it yourself to your own design, and that is something to be very proud (and to my mind damned cool). Building something big
is a great thing to do, but it is a long journey. Make sure of your destination before you start spending.
Matt
p.s. damaged repairable gsf600 2005 model on a £1600 BIN
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smart51
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| posted on 1/6/10 at 07:26 AM |
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I'll echo that a 125cc engine is a bit small. 12 BHP is barely enough for a scooter. 250cc was as small as I'd go. 22 BHP is OK in a
light weight trike that I hope to keep to 220kg. Do what makes you happy though, that's the whole point.
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newtrikebuilder
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| posted on 1/6/10 at 05:51 PM |
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What are my requirements? It's a city vehicle really. It needs to be:
Cheap to build
Cheap and easy to repair
Cheap to run (fuel and VED)
Cheap and easy to maintain
Capable of easily maintaining 40mph (top speed of 50+mph
Able to carry a few bags of shopping
Easy to park in small spaces
I wasn't expecting it to be much heavier than a scooter, but the front end would add a bit and increase the rolling resistance too. I may go for
motorcycle tyres on the front like the MEV one in the picture to help reduce the rolling resistance.
One of my concerns with the electric one was that there were some expensive parts eg. batteries and motor. With a Chinese scooter there won't
really be much worth nicking . I think Chinese scooters have improved and it seems to be quite easy to get replacement parts online. I looked at a
Puegeot scooter which was double the price and the engine is the same design.
600cc bikes are a lot more expensive (about double the price 2nd hand) and VED would be a lot more (I think upto 150cc is £15/year).
I also want it to be reasonably quiet so that it doesn't upset the neighbours (I'm fed up with the noisey bikes and cars around here).
I'm hoping that the Chinese ones are quiet enough for me, but I'll need to do a bit more research.
I'm also looking for a bit of fun. If it'll do 55+mph, then that would be great for the country roads. However, most the time it'll
be doing no more than 40mph in the city.
Those other trikes are looking nice! One with a roof etc. would be better for me, but I think it's far too ambitous at the moment. If it all
goes well then I may build something bigger and better
Of course, one of the best things about building it will be what I learn
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hillbillyracer
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| posted on 1/6/10 at 07:28 PM |
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Well when you lay your requirements out you do seem to have a slightly different goal to others on here which is primarily to have fun & go fast
where you're putting more priority on practical town use. This is still a good place to look for advice though, loads of knowledgable folk on
here!
Mabye best to speak to people who are involved a lot more with the type of bikes you're thinking of using as a donor to see what they suggest
being the best donor?
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Peteff
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| posted on 5/6/10 at 04:55 PM |
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It's good that you can get parts easily, you'll definitely need them  I repaired my nephew's Chinese bike and the quality of the
engine and ancillaries was abysmal, the carburettor is a joke. The only good part about them is the plastics, they are very good at plastic. I think
you are a bit optimistic with your speed estimate for a 125 pulling extra framework, downhill probably Give it a go and leave your options open for
fitting a bigger motor later in case you don't get what you need from 125cc.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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scootz
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| posted on 5/6/10 at 04:59 PM |
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Speaking of the Chinese and their plastic's industries...
I watched a program the other week showing folk collecting used condoms from the bins, streets and sewers, then delivering them to a manufacturing
plant where they are washed and have the retaining band at the open end chopped off...
These are then used as the basis to make.. hairbands!
Eurghhhh!
And yes... they do export them!
It's Evolution Baby!
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