Geo Metro Harley 3-wheeler

[elhigh]

The old Brazilian motorcycle company Amazonas used an entire VW Beetle drivetrain, engine AND transaxle, for their big cruiser.



The way I understand it they just welded the diff spiders and welded a sprocket to the right side. I have no idea how the shifter worked but as I recall reverse was intact and worked - pretty handy when you have a bike so big that people at the bus stop stand up and dig for change when it goes by.

You could put something like that into a three-wheeler. Air cooled for minimal plumbing, all the engineering is done, MOUNTAINS of go-fast parts if you want to roll that way, and a nice, low installation to keep the CG down around the floor.

[Frank Lee]

I recall a cycle mag in the early '80s- I think Cycle World- relentlessly criticizing the bike for it's size. They did concede some praise after one with a hot-rod VW engine compared favorably to the V-Max at the drags.

Fast forward a few decades to now and of course cc's = scrotum capacity; I don't recall any such criticism heaped upon monstrosities like Boss Hoss' and other factory bikes LARGER than the Amazonas. Go figure.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Here's a Motoguzzi V-twin on a VW transaxle.

Interesting. I've been considering to try a similar setup, but with a Harley-Davidson engine instead.

[freebeard]

Hersbird -- Nice kabinenroller. Do you have a link to the source or more info?

cRiPpLe_rOoStEr -- I think Harleys are expensive compared to VW engines, but I can't find supporting evidence. Here's Von Dutch's effort— a VW flat four in a shaft-drive Harley XA frame.


http://www.nationalmcmuseum.org/american-pickers-vondutch-xavw-hits-museum/

Nice pinstripes. 2CV-based stuff in Merry Old England.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Hersbird -- Nice kabinenroller. Do you have a link to the source or more info?

I got it off reversetrike but the links from there to the company seem dead.
Reverse Trike Club & Street Driven Quads

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I think Harleys are expensive compared to VW engines, but I can't find supporting evidence.

Indeed, but a Harley-Davidson engine would still be reasonable for some projects, as it's one of the few EPA-certified air-cooled engines still around. Anyway, a V-Twin would still have a more homogeneous cooling than the flat-4, considering that both engines would be longitudinally-mounted, and the fewer moving parts are also advantageous. Pumping losses might also be smaller. I would still consider to fit a Twin Cam 96 into a Kombi instead of the EA-111 water-cooled inline-4 used in the late ones...

[freebeard]

The EPA tentacles reach into Grande do Sol?

Here's a Harley in a sandrail:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMPj6TGLoGA

Here's a 5-liter V-twin made with Pratt & Whitney pistons and cylinders:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnrzZQVtkeM

...as compared to a radial engine made from VW pistons and cylinders that's also on Youtube.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by freebeard

The EPA tentacles reach into Grande do Sol?

No, that was just for reference about it being compliant to current emission standards, making it a reasonable option for engine swaps where emissions-compliance is enforced. For example, I would have a hard time trying to license my dad's Impreza if I slapped a VW flat-4 into it, but a Twim Cam 96 with EFI would be OK...

[elhigh]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I recall a cycle mag in the early '80s- I think Cycle World- relentlessly criticizing the bike for it's size. They did concede some praise after one with a hot-rod VW engine compared favorably to the V-Max at the drags.

Frank,

You read the exact same article I did - you might even recognize the "bus stop" phrase, that's where I plagiarized it from.

Do you remember that at the drags the bike kept skipping the 1-2 shift, so to get the best time they started in 2nd? Or to make it handle the higher power they upgraded to a bus clutch?

It's amazing, the details that stay with you. I haven't seen that magazine - let alone that article - in about 30 years.

[Frank Lee]

Yup, that's the one. It was in that issue or a subsequent one where they said the bike should have it's own zip code.