Quote:
Originally Posted by ScotD
Thanks for sharing this with me. I like it! How fast do you cruise? And what mpg in gas engine mode? It's quite close to where I started in my thinking, but I soon realized that I'd rather create a trike that I could ride anywhere, including on freeways, and that takes more engine and a whole different level of requirements for licensing.
I've traveled a lot on a bicycle (including over 12,000 miles in one 3-year period). A little over a year ago I bought a 49cc scooter which is faster and easier than the bicycle and gets 125mpg. I've had some back problems and long distances on the bicycle had become problematic. Last spring I traveled over 3000 miles on the scooter, but it's not fun in cold weather, and I feel concern about delaying auto traffic.
I live where it's cold in the winter and wanted a trike for stability on snow/ice. I realized that the trike would be an even greater traffic obstruction - unless I could maintain normal highway speeds. So . . . I aim for highway speeds, long distance comfort, freeway legal, and well over 100 mpg. I think it's going to work.
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Well, I put mine away for the snow & ice around here... not that I don't ride or want to ride the taddy but due to the witch's brew of calcium chloride & rock salt they spew on the roads you'll get only a couple of seasons before there's serious corrosion damage, regardless of attempted maintenance. So I just use my beater/commuter ebike for such abuse lol
As for the specs, I usually cruise about 35mph... fast for a pedal recumbent, slow for a motor vehicle it's a compromise made for efficiency (49cc four stroke vs more powerful/lighter two), legality (moped/motorized bike) and stability. I lengthened & widened the wheelbase from the norm to account for the greater speed, but I didn't want to stray too far as I'm still riding the shoulder (width) and still wanted to be able to make a U-turn on a small country road (length). I could have easily made it far faster, but I wasn't after top speed after all, I wanted quiet crusin' comfort & fuel efficiency - of which it gets better than 200mpg, fully loaded w/trailer in tow. That isn't "gas only" however, I've not tested that yet.
As for your "more engine" I wanted to suggest the "pit bike" or "monkey bike" style four strokes like the Lifan 49cc 3sp autoclutch in the above taddy - they come in a vast array of displacements (usually anything within 50 & 200cc) with all sorts of transmission options (3, 4 & 5sps, autos, autoclutch, standard), full charging & electric start if you wish and are quite inexpensive for their quality (Lifan/Honda clone)... roughly $230usd for the 50s usually. Most importantly there's a huge selection of affordable aftermarket parts for upgrade & repair being direct Honda clones (Lifan).
Jus' some thoughts, whatever you decide it'll be good to have another trike on the road lol
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