|
|
Post by davej98002 on Sept 30, 2018 22:22:08 GMT -5
A Velorex is a Cabin Scooter. 1936 thru 1972 or so. Made in the old name country of Chechoslovakia. Most were Canvas or leather skinned. Top speed of just under 50 Km/H or 30 MPH. Around 1200 were made. They fetch around $12,000 + today
This is what I am thinking of making a modern day clone of. Using a highly modified VW Bug front beam and Burgman Scooter CVT for power. All tubes can be bent using a Electricians hand conduit bender of which I have done 1000's of bends with.
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 3, 2018 11:36:26 GMT -5
I think you have a good idea there, dave. I think a lot of people would be interested in a cheap enclosed transportation vehicle. here in florida it rains almost every afternoon around the time most people get off work. Many young people ride motorcycles to work because they can afford them. Most motorcycles get twice the gas mileage of automobiles, and here in fla you do not have to have insurance, also adults in fla are not required to wear helmets. That make a very good environment for a small enclosed car type trike for urban transportation. I personally would prefer the predecessor to the velorux for my transportation. That is the Fend Flitzer. I liked the flitzer because it was built with aluminum panels over the steel frame.  Now, someone is trying to sell a new Velorex X. It is no longer cheap or tiny but perhaps they may sell a lot of them.  |
|
|
|
Post by davej98002 on Oct 3, 2018 12:41:34 GMT -5
If the Velorex copycat were to be made with ChromeMoly tubing for light weight and instead of canvas skin maybe Carbon fiber with the rough surface look and then a modern fuel injected Scooter motor from Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha or Kymco in the 300cc to 650cc range it would get around 40 to 60 MPG and do 60+ MPH.
You can not understand how a good computer controlled CVT transmission makes my Suzuki Burgman650(638cc) run with the bigger bikes up to about 80 MPH and then they start to pull away. But a 500cc-600cc sport bike can not catch me till around 70 MPH. My top speed is 122 MPH, sitting in a "Barcalounger" with nothing between your knees. The CVT is in the right gear ALL THE TIME and there is no feeling of a shift. It feels like the clutch is always slipping but you realize that the scooter is now doing 85 MPH. My left lever on the handle bars is my rear brake, no foot brake.
My first thought about the skin for the Velorex clone was a layer of Polyester resin impregnated flannel cloth stretched over the small bent tubes for the Zeppelin look and then a spray on truck bed liner for the leather'ish look. Weather sealed cracks and lines.
|
|
|
|
Post by joesarasota on Oct 3, 2018 18:24:05 GMT -5
The CVT Trans is about as efficient as it gets, I love not having to shift my T-Rex style trike with the Honda powered 600cc and of course CVT trans. CVT's are becoming more popular in cars as well, and just released a couple weeks ago is the new Can Am Ryker entry level reverse trike complete with CVT. I think Can Am chose the CVT as a cost savings over a traditional trans.  |
|
|
|
Post by liteway on Oct 4, 2018 9:23:17 GMT -5
The CVT Trans is about as efficient as it gets, I love not having to shift my T-Rex style trike with the Honda powered 600cc and of course CVT trans. CVT's are becoming more popular in cars as well, and just released a couple weeks ago is the new Can Am Ryker entry level reverse trike complete with CVT. I think Can Am chose the CVT as a cost savings over a traditional trans. A simpler, cheaper parts source for those needing components for their home built "sit in" trikes. Impressive that they removed the 300 lbs of fat and eliminated the need for the wonky power steering of the big one, even while adding the inherently heavier shaft drive. The wider track, and lighter weight bring it closer the specs of my own home built , but still much taller and stubier. If I didn't want to go to the trouble of building my own, I could consider one of these which looks to be far more fun than the bloated over priced Spyders. I think Can-Am has a winner here. Would prefer a proper 6 sp trans though. JMO |
|
|
|
Post by davej98002 on Oct 4, 2018 11:50:23 GMT -5
Lite, The CVT in my Burgman 650 Scooter has a manual mode where I can use a paddle button to up and down shift the 6 speeds. The Computer has 6 set positions for the CVT so when its in first it will go from 1100 RPM to redline at 8500 RPM and then the rev limiter stutters the fuel injectors. It requires you to up shift but will auto down shift when you slow down or you can also down shift as wanted. Most of the time I just leave it in Auto mode. It also has a "POWER" button that leave it in Auto mode but raises the RPM up into the power band, I use this for twisty hills as it gives some engine braking that most CVT bikes do not have much of. That I know, ONLY the Suzuki Burgman 650 and a few Japan models of a 250cc Skywave has this computer controlled CVT that allows locking in a set gear. Most CVT bikes, the CVT has only vairable ratios depending on speed and load. Burgman and Skywave are the same bikes, only a name change for some markets. Every motorcycle rider I have let ride my scooter comes back 20 minuets later with a BIG SCHITT EATTING GRIN. Its a 5 minuet ride around the "BIG" block loop. But I guess if you can find a rolled over Can-Am cheap it would provide a lot of usable parts. Lengthening the chassis some for a "Sit down" trike only evolves making the rear wiring and the driveshaft longer.
(Moved this topics 6 posts to its own thread)
|
|
|
|
Post by liteway on Oct 4, 2018 13:20:44 GMT -5
If the Velorex copycat were to be made with ChromeMoly tubing for light weight and instead of canvas skin maybe Carbon fiber with the rough surface look and then a modern fuel injected Scooter motor from Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha or Kymco in the 300cc to 650cc range it would get around 40 to 60 MPG and do 60+ MPH. You can not understand how a good computer controlled CVT transmission makes my Suzuki Burgman650(638cc) run with the bigger bikes up to about 80 MPH and then they start to pull away. But a 500cc-600cc sport bike can not catch me till around 70 MPH. My top speed is 122 MPH, sitting in a "Barcalounger" with nothing between your knees. The CVT is in the right gear ALL THE TIME and there is no feeling of a shift. It feels like the clutch is always slipping but you realize that the scooter is now doing 85 MPH. My left lever on the handle bars is my rear brake, no foot brake. My first thought about the skin for the Velorex clone was a layer of Polyester resin impregnated flannel cloth stretched over the small bent tubes for the Zeppelin look and then a spray on truck bed liner for the leather'ish look. Weather sealed cracks and lines. Dave, the top late model 600cc sport bikes, Honda cbr600, yamaha r6 , suzuki gxr600 show numerous published reports of reaching 60 in the 3 to 3.5 second range . They are only the slightest bit slower than 1000 cc sport bikes by the same makers and likely only an expert would be able to exploit that thin difference up to 60 mph, where the bigger bikes begin to move away. Even my old suzuki sv650 , hardly a cutting edge sport bike, showed published times under 4 secs to 60. It's hard to find published figures on the Burgman, but looking at a few youtube videos and on line forums, times seem to gather in 7.0 to 8.5 range. The only formal test I saw quoted 8.3. www.zeroto60times.com/vehicle-make/suzuki-motorcycles-0-60-mph-times/ |
|
|
|
Post by davej98002 on Oct 4, 2018 16:50:17 GMT -5
Must be rider error on their part.  I do not race bikes but if a Harley tries to mess with me I usually just leave them behind. My Scooter is a Scooter so it does the Sport-Touring job quite well. I can jump on it at 6 AM and ride a 14 hour 485 mile day with ease. Only my wrist is aching at the end of day. I have done 3 720+ mile days back to back once on my Burgman 650. Thinking on how I can do a 0-60 test all by my self. |
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 5, 2018 8:45:44 GMT -5
Well, i am going to buy a can-am Ryker 900. I don't know how as i have very little money but i will have one as soon as i get some money built up. I may have to go to work for Home Depot for a while and not relishing that, but the manager always stops to talk to me when he sees me in the store. He likes my knowledge of plumbing. I am not stopping from building my scooter type cycle trike. I am too far along to quit now and i want it anyway. Maybe a good comparison between the 2 trikes will show me what my build needs to be competitive with the Ryker. I know the 600 ryker might be fast enough as the suzuki burgman weighs the same(600 lb) but i like the 77 HP of the 900. I have always thought my honda shadow 750 at 47 HP was a dog on acceleration even if it only weighs 500 lbs. My old kawasaki 750 B twin was rated at 60 HP and i modded it with better tuning, 2in1 exhaust, K&N filters, and polished intakes-exhausts on the head. The local kaw shop mechanic said it was probably around 70 HP when he test drove it. It only cost me $1000 for that 10 HP,LOL. I drove his kaw 900 and it was fast(83HP) but heavier and harder to control. Guess that's why i have always liked lighter and smaller bikes better. If i could just find a 400 LB, 100 HP cruiser i would be very happy, but my trike's come first for me. Sorry, if i somewhat stole the thread from you dave.
srx660
PS, first thing i need to do on the ryker is get rid of that ugly bodywork.
|
|
skiff
New Member
Posts: 20
|
Post by skiff on May 21, 2019 4:20:55 GMT -5
hi dave...can you swap the twist grip for a thumb throttle. i'd love to try one of those. i think i could have gotten back into riding ..
|
|
|
|
Post by davej98002 on May 21, 2019 17:45:21 GMT -5
The throttle is the standard two cables to the throttle body so I am sure a thumb lever or even a foot peddle could be made. I've thought about a foot peddle. I have a stripped Burgman 650 in the garage. It should not be hard to cobble something up... The only issue with 2 wheels and a foot throttle would be from a stop and the bike is leaning right, you have your right leg down holding the bike up and can not give it throttle to get moving. You'd fall over. But for a trike, no problem.
|
|
I do not race bikes but if a Harley tries to mess with me I usually just leave them behind. 
