Just another tadpole

[Chromedome]

Originally Posted by PeterS

Wow Beautiful ! Would you be able to register that for road use in your State ?
Any idea of the drag coefficient ?

I'd absolutely love to be able to do something like that here .

Thanks Peter. I used an existing design and modified it, so I can't take credit on the design. I'm hoping for somewhere in the .16-.18 range on the CDA.

[Chromedome]

Originally Posted by JasonG

You may want to check NC's seat height laws.
Some places its 24"
Also watch your head light heights. I think 18" is minimum.

Or I could be off my rocker.

Jason, I just spent the last few minutes going over the NC DMV site and found the requirements for inspection of a motorcycle, and there is no listing for seat height or headlight height. This was in a PDF for instructions for inspectors. The only thing listed were brakes, mirrors and lights for correct function. I did find a site that may be useful to everyone. It list requirements for motorcycles by state. USA State Motorcycle Laws - BikerPlaza.com

[PeterS]

Amazing ! When I plug a cD of .18 and a reasonable frontal area and using my other diesel bike specs, into here
Aerodynamic & rolling resistance, power & MPG calculator - EcoModder.com I get 600 mpg US at 50mph !!

[Chromedome]

Originally Posted by PeterS

Amazing ! When I plug a cD of .18 and a reasonable frontal area and using my other diesel bike specs, into here
Aerodynamic & rolling resistance, power & MPG calculator - EcoModder.com I get 600 mpg US at 50mph !!

My frontal area will be about 8 sq. feet. I'd love for it to be less, but I'm a big ol' boy and my sholders are 28" across. It's not like I can build something as narrow as some of the streamlined motorcycles on here. I will be doing a motorcycle engine to begin with, but eventually will go with diesel. As it sits, using very conservative numbers, I'm showing 172.66 mpg. I think this is a bit high, but I would love to be able to hit 150!

[PeterS]

That does sound low.Did you use the calculator I linked to ?
I put in your numbers and 500 pound weight and got 248mph US at 50mph and 193 at 60mph .

[Chromedome]

Originally Posted by PeterS

That does sound low.Did you use the calculator I linked to ?
I put in your numbers and 500 pound weight and got 248mph US at 50mph and 193 at 60mph .

I used the Ecomodder calculator. I put in everything on the high side. Weight at 600, crr at .10, cd at .20, frontal area at 8, engine eff. at .20, drivetrain at .90.

That way, I won't be too let down when it's finished.

[Quasimoto]

Originally Posted by Chromedome

I, like many others on here am building a single seat tadpole trike and have some questions perhaps you folks could help with.

My trike will be fully enclosed and have a clear canopy on top. It will be pretty much a blatant copy of the Ecotec Lakester, but with three wheels.

I'm concerned about high temps inside during the summer months and want to build an ice chest air conditioner.

If you're concerned about the heat, you could run a two piece canopy. The back half could slide to the rear for entry and cooling. I can't wait to see your progress, take lots of pics.