Anyone see this 3 wheeled Metro? - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Johnny Mullet · 12-02-2008, 10:08 PM

There is really no information on the site about the car. Seems like it's a finished project also. From the Geo Metro Forum...............

Quote:

Looks like some guy modified his Metro for a 3 wheel setup so it can be registered as a motorcycle. If you notice the tag on the back of the car, it is a motorcycle tag and not a regular passenger vehicle license plate. I wonder what kind of fuel mileage this car gets? Here is a link with more images.......

3 Wheel Motorcycle Metro

jamesqf · 12-02-2008, 10:33 PM

Needs to get into some major body work, IMHO. Taper it down from the doors back. As it is, it looks like it'd roll, or at least drag the rear edges, under anything like hard cornering.

Frank Lee · 12-02-2008, 10:56 PM

I bet it doesn't drag! I wanted to do that to my car years ago and mathed it all out. It would have had stability roughly comparable to a Dodge Maxivan- so nothing too dramatic about it. I wonder if/how much the fe went up as a result.

P.S. It might be possible to lift a wheel under hard cornering if he were to do something like stuff the back seat with heavies, leave the front pass. seat empty, and drive like a maniac. It might be fun to explore the limits.

P.S. again: Oh, I see there is no back seat. I doubt he'd be able to lift a wheel unless he got pretty extreme with it.

Thanks for the link Johnny... did I ever tell you you're my hero?

MetroMPG · 12-02-2008, 11:16 PM

That's wild! Nice find, Mullet!

I'm with James: now that that's done, taper, taper, taper.

As for stability, click through to his "site" and have a look at the thick anti-roll bar he added to the front.

Shutterfly

Christ · 12-03-2008, 12:32 AM

Anyone notice the motorcycle muffler? It's a slip-on.

I'm wondering why he didn't just use a rear swing arm from a bike and mount a car tire on the bike rim. Proabably would have been easier, since all the work is already there, you just have to mount it and mount the shocks if it's not a solid swing arm.

Still, funny, if nothing else. I bet the cops don't like it.

Frank Lee · 12-03-2008, 12:43 AM

Bike swingarm = not built for lateral forces.

Christ · 12-03-2008, 01:02 AM

Check out the Yamaha 3-wheeled bike.. it's basically a bike frame in the rear with a tube chassis connected to it.

Also, most sport 4-wheelers have the same type of swing-arm that sport bikes have. There is only one pivot bolt. holding it to the frame.

Frank Lee · 12-03-2008, 01:06 AM

And how much do they weigh?

Bottom line is this application sees FAR more lateral forces than bike swingarms do. And more weight besides. I wouldn't trust a bike swingarm on the back of my car, but that's just me.

Christ · 12-03-2008, 01:10 AM

I dunno, those Yamaha things are pretty hefty, and the moment of leverage is much further back than on a Geo... since the 1000cc to 1300cc engine in sitting in the swing-arms connection area.

Not disagreeing with your concern, but it just seems like it should be OK. as long as you're not using it on the front of a lincoln.

Frank Lee · 12-03-2008, 01:26 AM

I have spent an inordinate amount of time obsessing over such a project. Other considerations besides the overall strength and ability of the swingarm to resist lateral (and torsional loads, depending on design) are being able to use the same or similar automotive wheel and tire as the front has, and being able to use an automotive brake (including parking brake), being able to fit a stout enough spring and shock, and being able to change the rear tire without having to jack the rear end up three feet in the air or put some sort of access panel in.

Also... what Yamaha things are you referring to? A quick Google shows mostly single front wheel trikes...