Designing for efficiency

[CFECO]

All times. Driving through a right angle hypoid gear differential with the gears weighing 30+lbs in a bath of 90wt gear oil, compared to a parallel belt drive, as on a bicycle, with atf oil lubricated drive clutches. And while turning there is no extra parts moving as in a normal diff. Should be much more efficient.

[JackMcCornack]

Originally Posted by JRMichler

I'm not about to waste time trying to invent around a differential.

Since the OP was planning a tadpole (2F1R) trike, how 'bout FWD, overrunning clutches on both axles, and electric reverse on the rear wheel? You wouldn't need a diff, and by isolating the go-forward driveline from the reversing system, you wouldn't need an overrun-override to back up. Front wheel drive (and front engine) would also help weight bias which (for roll stability) should heavily favor the front wheels.

I agree that the bad rep of overruning drivelines is a consequence of bad brakes Back In The Day. Even in '60s Driver Ed, they taught us to downshift to slow down. Nowadays it's slow down with the brakes, speed up with the engine.

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by akumabito

For the engines, I am looking at these options: 125cc, 4spd semi-auto / 250cc, 5spd manual clutch / 250cc CVT -power output for all these engines would be in the 10 to 20Hp range, with the smaller displacement engine being on the lower side of that figure. Of these engines, which would be preferable?

Honda NX250: Honda NX250 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This one won the last Vetter Challenge @ 157 mpg with a relatively conventional motorcycle fairing: 2011 Mid Ohio Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge results