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Post by roger on Feb 28, 2019 1:58:03 GMT -5
Hi, re tyres took to a shop and they suggested it is bead seal glue and don't see any signs of rubber chafing. Then I took it to fabricator who said the tyre installer used this glue as there could be a chance of air loss dues to the tyre not being originally meant for bike wheel. So, it should be fine, I will keep a check on it though. Best - Babr It has been a long time since I did a post here. My summer riding time naturally has come to a seasonal pause, somewhat like a bear in hibernation...... Still living, breathing, and very much alive but yet asleep. I knocked the bugs and excess road film off the finish and placed my Eco-Exo-R in my garage beneath a cover for winter. My summer riding was enjoyable and a mix of the Eco-Exo and my Yamaha VStar 1100. When it comes to enjoyment, the two are somewhat of an opposite contrast to each other. The trike hugs the curves and corners like the tires were glued to the road. There is sufficient power to make short work of the Birkshire and Green Mountain roads and byways. I always get thumbs up..... (even from the police) in short, it is a fun vehicle and I am glad I was able to get one before Scott Turner sold the business off to Kelvin. As far as my VStar goes, it is also quite smooth and is equally adept at handling the mountain back roads of New England. Both are fun, but in their own way. My riding season will begin with a 2 year inspection of my final drive: variator, clutch and belt. For sure the belt gets replaced as well as new OEM rollers. The clutch will be inspected and pads replaced if needed, also the clutch friction surfaces will be deglazed. I will also service the final gear assembly by changing oil. A good cleaning and replacement of wearing parts is just about all that is required in this area. A set of brake pads are cheap insurance and I will order a set and install them as well then top off the fluid... (or purge it and add new) brake fluid is very hydroscopic and absorbs water so replacement may be prudent. There you have it. I will be all set for the season ahead. I am generally pleased with the power and speed range of the trike. I will not be altering the roller weight, or using sliders. Everything OEM. I have not posted much about my TR1KE build, but will simply say it is progressing. If you are interested I did a video on YouTube with an initial (starting fluid) startup. You can do a search for "tr1ke initial start up starting fluid" progress on it is ahead of my schedule and this start up was to verify and confirm the ignition system circuitry. I may be starting a late thread under the "TR1KE" section forum to show what has been done so far. I don't want to violate any forum rules here but feel a mention here and there is not out of line. To show photos, progress information or build data would not be acceptable in the Eco-Exo section, so enough said. Winter is here guys, it is time to wrench..... Roger Worcester, Massachusetts One of the nice things about this design is the Burgman 400 has a big following and you can find any information to do repairs. The two main web pages are BurgmanUSA.com and Burgmanriders.com but there are web pages in Italy and Spain too. I have wanted a Eco-Exo as you know. But having had major medical issues due to crashing my Burgman 650 and the not covered medical bills, it will not happen too soon. My last crash not only cost me my job but also about $25,000 in medical bills. But I do enjoy reading all you owners builds, you guys are very talented and due some praise. Roger, we would welcome you posting your tR1ke build over on the ReverseTrike forum. It too is a Proboard.com forum. After some thought and seeking advise from the forum Moderators I have decided to open a TR1KE thread. It is listed similarly as my Eco-Eco build. Easy to find, mainly because it is the only active TR1KE build currently on the forum. I need to address a few things before I start posting pictures and videos. My photo bucket account is about at its maximum and want to make sure I can load more photos for the thread. There are a few more issues to sort out but will be multitasking until everything I need to take care of is finished. That being said, I will start this morning with posting the few photos I have after loading them on photo bucket (pending available room) Roger Worcester, Massachusetts I have used 70% of my available space on Photobucket. When it gets to about 95% I will do a download of older non MEV posted pictures and free up some space. I have loaded a few pictures on the TR1KE section. No one has commented yet but lots of views. It appears I am the only one that owns a qualifying TR1KE that is posting. I have monitored this section for awhile and it is [was] dead as yesterday's spare ribs. Maybe there will be some activity or interest later on.? No worries here....
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Post by roger on Feb 28, 2019 2:02:35 GMT -5
PAGE 38 I have never been married to any vehicle, but the Eco-Exo will be the exception. I just have way to much fun with it to consider selling. However, "Never" is an abstract term measured by the fun index. When I take out the Eco-Exo, it is an absolutely perfect day filled with some great scenery, mountain roads, and fantastic places to eat. I usually ride with a very good friend (seen on my TR1KE threads). I have the Eco-Exo equipped with a CB radio that is modified for helmet headset. I am not a Massachusetts Native. I am a transplant from Lewiston Idaho. I have to admit, I never get tired of the wonderful scenery New England has to offer. There are thousands of roads, highways, byways and back roads that keep me in my Eco-Exo and soon to be TR1ke. I plan on some long range driving in my TR1ke. Maybe a couple of thousand miles or so. Florida is a good destination and I know the gulf water is a deep aqua blue and the sand on the beaches are as white as sugar. So, selling my Eco-Exo is not part of my current plans. The TR1KE promises to deliver as much fun, more power and a place for a passenger. I hope this covers the spirit behind my building both trikes, and keeping both. It is something I do to enjoy my life. I will soon be 68 years old and I plan on LIVING the remainder of my life with large helpings of enjoyment. Build it like it was illegal - Ride it like you stole it! Roger Worcester, Massachusetts Roger if you go down to FLA take it out on The Tail of the Dragon (google it if you don't know it) US129 in TN and NC.. 318 turn in 11 miles. Really great on 2 wheels done it many times in my MX5 too.. Oh yea... I have ridden the Blue Ridge Parkway several times, from Front Royal Virginia all the way to Cherokee Tennessee. I've done the Tail of the Dragon a few times and I agree... It is fun to do on a motorcycle. I can only imagine what it's like in the TR1ke. Roger Worcester, Massachusetts I was looking at my rear tire. I didn't need to replace it last year and the tread is about down to the wear indicator. I opted to buy a new Michelin "City Grip" rear tire and give up the Bridgestone Hoops. (This is still a scooter tire) The tread is a little different, and I hope to get a little longer life from it. Who knows until it's put in use. There has been so much snow this year that making fun winter hops is nearly impossible. The salt from the roads gets everywhere and for a 2 hour ride, I would spend 5 hours detailing wiping down and de-salting all the cracks and crevices. I am hoping for an early April extended "Spring" ride, free of winter weather and salted roads. Currently my EXO-RT is beneath several layers of protection in my garage waiting for April to arrive. Roger Worcester, Massachusetts I was out getting my annual inspection sticker... (MOT). There wasn't a queue except the car already in the inspection bay so I took a second or two to take a few pictures. It was a nice warm sunny day. Ahhhhh no more snow. Oh, by the way. My Eco-Exo-R sailed right through the inspection needing only a slight tweak on my off-side headlamp. No charge for the adjustment. I am all set for the year. Just to be totally honest, I installed a new rear tire. This time I bought a Michelin tire. The tread pattern is similar to the Bridgestone. Funny thing about the old tire, it was 2 seasons old and was very weathered, the rubber had begun to crack. The tread was down the the wear markers, so I got my use from it. I didn't check the manufacture date but no need to at this point. Happy riding everyone.. Roger Worcester, Massachusetts Looking very fresh under the bright sun, send some over to UK. Been out for 50 mile ride over the weekend, it was good. Also bought Nelson Rigg trike cover, little big on height but able to cover full trike, hope it can survive UK rains!!!
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Post by roger on Feb 28, 2019 2:08:05 GMT -5
The cover looks like it does the job. I actually have a trike cover. I may give it a try to see if it fits the Eco-Exo. My wife bought it for my Victory Trike, but it may big enough fit the wide stance in the front. I know the rain in the UK can be brutal. I lived in Woodbridge (Suffolk) for 4 years. Loved England, but the weather not so much. When it rained, it was quite gloomy, but there is no better place to be on the sunny days. Roger Worcester, Massachusetts The weather here has been on par with Seattle, and London. When it is gloomy, it is in the trenches, but when it is nice,its great. Not much time to ride or wrench lately. With the coming of spring, there also cometh the work in the garden, and the big clean up push to clear out the last bastions of winter. Today... TODAY is going to be 78° F (25°C) a bit foggy this morning, but the afternoon should be good. I believe the Eco-Exo needs to be driven. I am going to pull away from the chores and have a little enjoyment after lunch. In addition to getting things ready for the summer, I have also been preparing for a June getaway. I may have mentioned I recently acquired a very nice extremely low mileage 1990 Honda GL1500 Goldwing. When a say low miles, 26,500 is the reading on the odometer. I am the third owner. I do not want to depart to much from the Eco-Exo theme, so let's just say I have been doing the scheduled maintenance like it had 100K. New belts, fluids, brakes, (tires were new) front bearings and seals, and OEM fan thermo switch. It is ready to ride and California is the destination. I will post on the TR1KE what remains to be done on the TR1ke. Later Roger Worcester, Massachusetts Tomorrow I will be catching the plane back home. I leave San Francisco in the morning and it will be a 6 hour flight back to Boston (+ 3 for time zone). I have been driving my Eco-Exo this summer quite a bit, but not as much as in past summers. I have been gone most of the summer and as I mentioned am currently in California. I have to say, the Eco-Exo runs great, the handling stays constantly predictable. It sticks to the road like it had glue on the tires. The donor 2008 Burgman engine only had a few thousand miles on it when I bought it so it still runs like new. The CVT is still sound and solidly engages the engine to the wheel with no slippage after initial take off. It starts right up and sounds great... hydraulic lifters make for less maintenance. When I get back home, I will knock the bugs off the front, apply some spray cleaner/polish and continue to take it out for the fall riding season and do that until it’s simply to cold to ride. The side panels I installed really make a huge difference in the cold. There isn’t so much wind hitting my legs from underneath. Crosswinds are only slightly more noticeable, but not a huge issue with handling characteristics. It still baffles me why Kelvin purchased the rights to manufacture the Eco-Exo then “failed to launch” the endeavor. Somehow I believe he thought he could pull it off. He kept our interest by telling us how he was improving the design and making changes that would be amazing. In fact he was not doing anything at all, just sitting on it and letting it all decay. It is truly unbelievable why he did that. The 12 that were manufactured are still out there no matter how obscure. I have tried to find out who the owners are for the two that went to the USA in Colorado but the dealer, Kevin Patrick of Exomotive in Atlanta naturally cannot give out that sort of information. I still hear from Edward in Wisconsin and Fred in Pennsylvania but nothing from Jim Cox in Texas. The remainder of the kits are either in the U.K. or Europe. Anyway, that’s about it for now. I know I am delighted with my Eco-Exo-R as well as Fred and Edward are with theirs. No plans to get rid of mine....I thoroughly enjoy it, and when my TR1ke is completed I will be riding that as well. That’s it for now Roger Worcester, Massachusetts Roger ... I just saw this recent post and thought I'd say hello. I am riding my EcoExo occasionally ...still running great etc. etc. In the past year I "built out" a Ram Promaster van into a sort of utility/camper vehicle and this past 3 weeks I've been touring the southwest ... visiting my daughter in Denver, friends in Arizona, and a quick stop at Slab City / Salvation mountain in southern Califonia for a photo op. I'm holed up at my daughter's in Denver now, we got 5 inches of snow this morning but tomorrow , no matter what, I'm setting off for Pa. I'm looking forward to some good cruising on my trike in the fall months. All is well. If you start doing some touring , be sure to put me on the list for a visit. Fred B (Shillington, Pa. ) I just returned from California this afternoon. Tomorrow is another day and I intend to get started working on my TR1ke. Fred, the touring is pretty much done for me. I’ve been gone most of the summer and I need to remain close to home for a bit. Thanks for the offer, and someday I may surprise you.... never can tell. Roger Worcester, Massachusetts
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Post by roger on Feb 28, 2019 2:11:20 GMT -5
PAGE 39 I am writing this because ....well, maybe one or more of the silent Eco-mev owners might just by accident read this post and decide to share his or her experience with their trike. I have to admit, the kit I built was a joy to figure out and build. It is also a lot of fun to drive. It feels as though it is wrapped around you. I have to say it is quite rugged and has been very reliable. What it isn’t is stylish. It is in fact the opposite of futuristic or forward styled. I guess “Retro Reverse” fits quite well... with its tucked under nose and mini front wings. Something George Jettson might like back in the 60’s... when all the great styles had fins... you know, every once and awhile a person needs a “flight of fancy” on something he really doesn’t need, but simply wants.... the Eco-Exo fits this niche for me quite well. It would be good to know where all the EcoExo trikes are. As I have said in previous posts, there are 6 in the US. Two in Colorado, one in a Texas, one in Wisconsin, one in Pennsylvania and mine in Massachusetts. I know the names of four of the US builders.. counting me of course. The remaining two in Colorado never logged their build progress. I have said many times, I enjoy my hobbies and thoroughly enjoy the completed results, both with the small Eco-Exo and the larger TR1ke. So, if you own any of the missing Eco-Exo trikes, stop by and let everyone know how you are doing. The Best of the summer to ya.. Roger Worcester, Ma Roger, IF you have Fred's phone number give him a call and let him have my cell number. I need just 1 chassis to do a mock up and then I could maybe pop out 1 or two copies a year. It would be with Stuart Mllls blessings of course. I just know I can not do 5 or 6 per year, but is there even a demand for two per year? Dave. That is a good question.... you are in the unique position to find out. You know, it really doesn't need to be an Eco-Exo. Design your own, slap a 2007 or newer Burgman motor in it and "Bob's Yer Uncle" you've got a trike... it doesn't need to be complicated, or exotic.... I just needs to work.... Roger
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Post by davej98002 on Feb 28, 2019 2:19:46 GMT -5
Got Rogers build of his EXO-ECO trike copied over. It is 39 pages long over there, I condensed it down without cutting content.
Many of the posts are from members over there that are NOT members here. It is a lot of good information of a very good build.
Roger also has another MEV trike, a tR1ke and it too will be posted over here when time allows.
Please make comments and give "LIKE"'s to Roger if you like this trike build. It is now open for comments.
Thank you Roger for allowing me to copy it over.
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Post by roger on Feb 28, 2019 6:54:23 GMT -5
It is unfortunate this trike project failed after only a dozen copies. Scott Turner was the first builder and did a great job of manufacturing the frame and making the fiberglass panels. It is to bad the new owner decided to table the production. The Eco-Exo is the perfect entry level kit to build. It wasn’t an “all in one box” kit by any means but the parts needed were readily available through vendors on eBay and other commercial brick and mortar stores. From the time I started building to the completion date was 6 months. I didn’t have any extras on it, it was a bare bones build. Since the Massachusetts DOT inspects these kits for compliance and stolen parts it is best to get that part of the build out of the way and get your new VIN and plates, THEN add your extras, like open top steering wheel, side panels, custom LED lighting, stereo, and upholstery....or what ever you decide. Paperwork and safety compliance are the two main inspections points here in Massachusetts. I will have to say, Massachusetts has a VERY THOROUGH inspection system, it is tough, but the inspector is not unreasonable.
My Eco-Exo-R has a 2008 Suzuki Burgman AN400 donor. It was a salvage title purchased from Coparts and nothing but a frame with wheels and the engine. The salvage title stated it had less than 5,000 miles on the motor at the time of loss. The newer motor is different than the 2003 -2006 year models, for which the frame of the Eco-Exo was designed to fit. The modifications needed to mate these two were minor. Moving the shock mounts and buying a 2003-2006 upper motor mount solved the problem of fitting the engine. I also needed to buy the following. 2003-2006 radiator, front wheels, front calipers and then modify the fuel tank to clear the throttle body and finally, modify the fire wall to allow clearance for the extra length of the much larger head of the engine. If it weren’t for these modifications I probably could have completed it in a lot less time.
So, thank you Dave for transferring the info from the MEV forum to here.
Roger
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Post by liteway on Feb 28, 2019 8:38:23 GMT -5
Nice build Roger. So many start these things without the clear understanding of the skill and commitment required to reach a satisfactory conclusion. ( Me for instance, still working to perfect a trike started in 2005!) Fewer still wind up with something so attractive and useful. Good for you. I'll be looking through this build for details and looking forward to the posting of the R1ke build.
Thanks Roger Thanks Dave.
Loyd
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Post by roger on Feb 28, 2019 20:00:58 GMT -5
For everyone that starts a build, there is never really an end to it. You are always changing, refining and altering something. Getting your assigned VIN and plate is not the end of the build. It is only step or mile marker. I’ve done tons of stuff to both the Eco-Exo-R and the TR1ke since theypassed the DOT inspection and were legal to drive. I’d say working on one since your start in 2005 shows dedication and perseverance. Keep at it, you will eventually get there.😏
Roger
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Post by roger on Mar 17, 2019 5:02:52 GMT -5
This space Unintentionally left Blank. I will return to post a photo. This is what happens when you think you have a handle on which thread you are on and then discover you’re not where you wanted to be...my bad🤪
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Post by roger on Mar 17, 2019 5:08:42 GMT -5
Just a quick Note. Spring is just around the corner and thought it should be a good idea to take a few short videos going out for a ride...I will be posting more as the weather improves.
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Post by roger on Apr 10, 2019 13:49:51 GMT -5
The likelihood of the weather improving was enhanced in the opposite direction by the baseball sized snowflakes we had this morning. Nothing remains on the ground but still. The 1st third of April is gone and we should be looking at sunny days and warming temperatures. Makes me want to say all five of George Carlin’s words you can’t say on television. I need to get the oil changed and check the coolant. It starts right up but suspect the battery has gone flat over the past 6 weeks or so. Anyway, still waiting better weather.
Cheers all
Roger
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Post by roger on Apr 22, 2019 7:22:48 GMT -5
I took the Eco-Exo-R out of winter storage and found the AGM battery was dead, like not recoverable dead. I ordered a new one identical to the old. I got good service from it the cost was only around $30.00. I have Amazon Prime and got free 2 day shipping. It arrived last week and I got it installed. After sitting all winter the Eco-Exo started right up and idled normally. I took it out for a 70 mile ride. I need to replace the rear brake rotor. It has a slight warp but I have a replacement already. If you look in previous posts you will find pictures of what happens when you put to much air in the tire. Yep it exploded. I’ve been meaning to replace the rotor but since it is only a minor pulse decided to wait until it needed the rear tire replaced as well. Killing two birds with one stone. Anyway, the ride was good, got fresh gas and will change the oil this week. That’s about it? There really isn’t much maintenance required on the Suzuki Burgman 2007 and up. Since I have a 2008 donor, the valves don’t need adjustment, just change the oil, check the coolant, top off the brake fluid and that’s it.. it’s another season of riding.... well, why are you sitting there reading this, get up, get out and enjoy the fresh air on two wheels (or 3).
Roger
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Post by davej98002 on Apr 22, 2019 13:03:05 GMT -5
Roger, a lot of 2008 Burgman 400's had bad rectifiers and there was a recall back then. Don't remember if you addressed that yet. But if I ever get off my butt and build my trike I will do mods. See the topic in the electrical forum on Regulator & Rectifiers.
Well, since Jan I have ridden about 300 miles on my scooter. Been doing the Fair Weather wussie riding though. But most of these forum members do not know how nice a scooters 'Twist an Go' Automatic shift is. Because of better gearing all the time, a 'LITTLE' 400cc engine can put the power of a 500cc shifter bike to the ground at most lower speeds.
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Post by roger on Apr 28, 2019 4:19:17 GMT -5
The 2008 rectifier on my Burgman has been replaced. Being pretty much the same in function as all rectifiers are, I ordered a new unit when I did the rewiring in 2015. The old rectifier was still in good shape and I might have it still. The reason I rewired the Eco-Exo was because I used an older speedometer and gauge cluster from a 1999 Skyway (UK Burgman). Everything was going along great then one day my ECM “latched” and the engine shut down as a safety measure. After reading all the info I could get ahold of, I determined the reason I couldn’t restart the engine was because when there is a fault the ECM sends a fault code to the speedometer computer. There is a maintenance switch available to allow the repair person to reset the fault via the speedometer interface. So, I ordered a new speedometer for a 2008 along with a new wiring harness, and I reset the fault code. The engine started promptly and the rest is history. The new rectifier was installed BEFORE I bought the harness and gauges. I thought that it might be the cause of the no run issue and possibly have a direct short to ground. Anyway, that’s the long answer to: yes, I have a newer rectifier.......
Roger
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