Need feedback on REVERSE TRIKE!!! Please

[bs_nate]

Hey guys I have talked to some of you guys about the reverse trike that my buddy and I built. Here's the deal, we have some potential investors coming out to talk to us in a few weeks so I wanted to get some feed back from all you guys as you will be our key demographic. So all feed back is welcome GOOD or bad:(. Here are just a few pics of what we have.
http://www.illustratedsolutions.com/trike/render%20front.jpg
http://www.illustratedsolutions.com/trike/render%20rear.jpg

http://www.illustratedsolutions.com/trike/IMG00087.jpg
http://www.illustratedsolutions.com/trike/IMG00088.jpg
http://www.illustratedsolutions.com/trike/IMG00093.jpg
So please let us know what you think and ask any questions that may come up. We should hopefully have the prototype at up coming shows. We also have a two seater in the works right now that we realize that it will probably be our "bread and butter". We realize that it is just more logical. Thank you for helping us.

[Dr. Joe Siphek]

Just a question...but what would be a benefit of this over the new Spyders?

[MetaLord 9]

It looks cool as hell, but I'd be concerned about having the majorit of the weight up front along with all of the breaking power. Also, it doesn't look like you're going to have a lot of weight on the back wheel despite the fact that it looks like the vehicle's going to be rear wheel driven.

Once you get the gyro's down it looks like it'd be a lot of fun, but until then I'd be worried about stopping quickly coming downhill and accelerating uphill. Keep us updated tho!

[Big-J]

What kind of motor?
The front reminds me of the back of a boat, is that the final design?

[dchd1130]

Just a question...but what would be a benefit of this over the new Spyders?

different seating position, so it would be a different experience.

My first thought is weight. Looks a little heavy. I like the design though. maybe a little long. Its hard to tell from the pics though.

[asp_125]

Strip away the body and make it tube frame like the Ariel Atom. .. and a 2 seater. Single seater would not compete against the bike crowd here. Two side by side or fore/aft seats.

[MetaLord 9]

I dunno if you've thought this far down the road, but I'd also think about possibly making it compatible with current popular bike luggage products since three wheelers are often big with the weekend getaway folks

[konichd]

Its already been done, its called a T-Rex. I'm guessing they have multiple parts/technology patented. Between that and the Can-Am spyder you are going to have a hard time competition wise.

Best of luck and with a few more tweaks who knows :dunno:

[bulldog]

Does the bike have a break lever on the handle bars? I noticed this weekend at 303 Cycles opening that the T-Rex only has a foot brake; which to some may be hard to get use to. Just something to think about...

[puckstr]

Well the T-Rex is CANIDIAN so icky icky ick. Damn CANADIANS!!!

I am not crazy bout the front of your 3-wheeler. Not trying to be a dick but it reminds me of the Land Speeder from Star Wars, Guess it is handy for when you go to "toshy station" for some power converters.

http://www.krunker.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/landspeeder-thumb.jpg

[MetaLord 9]

Steve, why you gotta be so negative man? It's not like these are the droids you're look'n for anyway!

[SamuraiX]

Needs a 300 or bigger rear tire!! That tiny tire is not gonna do it + tubular single sided swingarm!
Computer design looks badass - The real ones front end is kinda?:wtf:

BEST OF LUCK!! HOPE YOU GUYS DO WELL!

[Shea]

Well the T-Rex is CANIDIAN so icky icky ick. Damn CANADIANS!!!

I am not crazy bout the front of your 3-wheeler. Not trying to be a dick but it reminds me of the Land Speeder from Star Wars, Guess it is handy for when you go to "toshy station" for some power converters.



Yeah but once the XP-38's come out you won't be able sell them for enough to buy passage to Alderaan. Just sayin'

[bs_nate]

Thank you for the comments, I guess we should explain the design a little more thorough.

The current prototype has several advantages over current market designs. It is most comparable to the T-Rex in its seating position but has cg calculations that set it apart from their vehicle. The center of gravity is located 12 inch's above ground and 40% behind the front wheels. This design will create lower traction in acceleration ( we agree and have plans for a much larger rear wheel to help alleviate this the effect), but the advantage is in cornering traction where a CG located further back would and does cause sliding in hard cornering like with the T-Rex. Right now our G force calculations are all mathematical and not proven in reality, but it should yield approximately 2.17g's on a skid pad.

Bellow is a rendering of the proposed front end change on our 1 seater, we were well aware of how bad the current design looked:
http://illustratedsolutions.com/trike/front%20render.jpg

We realize though, with our direct competition being the T-Rex and the target market of this vehicle that settling for a lower G rating and creating a two seated vehicle is needed for our price point. The following is a very preliminary design of the new direction.
http://illustratedsolutions.com/trike/New%20rear.jpg
Again please feel free to comment, good or bad, we appreciate the feedback, it will only make the end product that much better.

[Sean]

I think it's a cool thing. You're really trying to compete in a very limited market, bu that shouldn't stop you. What price point are you thinking? The T-Rex is $50,000 and CanAm is $18,000, there's a big gap in there. I'll agree with some of the other points:
1. offer 2 seats (it'll expand the market gratly)
2. bigger back wheel
3. tubular body style or combination of both. I'm guessing the body will be one of the more expensive parts (?) and if you incorporate the frame into the style, you may be able to cut overhead.

In the very top drawing, I wasn't really liking the exhaust sticking out. Maybe more in the tail?

[bs_nate]

We are thinking around the $42,000 mark. This will compete with the T-rex and if all the math works out like it should it should out perform both the T-Rex and can-am models. We also are trying to incorporate a maximized storage area further increasing the viability of the "every day commute", we have approximated the storage area to be 6.5cu/ft.
Also we planned on relocating the exhaust to the rear like a CBR type, on the one seater model. So it would come out in the middle of the tail light.
AS of rite now we have kind of thrown the one seater on the back burner due to the fact that the two seaters will be more practical.

[Cap'n Crunch]

Major Props! Putting something together like this is a major accomplishment. I've always been a big fan of the reverse trike design... Maybe someday I'll stip the engine out of the R6 and put it in something like this.
http://www.indycycle.net/media_files/images/feb_2001/left_front2.jpg

[bs_nate]

We have been working on the body design of the new 2 seated trike.
http://illustratedsolutions.com/trike/front%20day%20SMALL.jpg
http://illustratedsolutions.com/trike/rear%20day%20SMALL.jpg
http://illustratedsolutions.com/trike/side%20day.jpg

Please comment on the body, next comes the interior then rear swingarm and exhaust.

[d3spair]

http://www.gizmag.com/go/3628/picture/7955/

[bs_nate]

d3spair - We read the article you linked too, please provide more feedback as to why you showed the link you did, we are interested in providing the most value and design for the price and did not read anything that had us thinking this would be a better option above the obvious brand recognition which is a mute point since it was only a concept for Mercedes in 2005. Thank you for any insite you may have.

[Sean]

Just another though on price point. I looked at the T-Rex, and it's really nice. They've done a really good job with the details on it. If you can figure out a way to get it in the $30k range you might not be in direct competition with the T-Rex or CanAm. You'll get the customers that want to spend a little more than the Can Am for the luxury of seats, and you'll grab T-Rex customers by saving them $20k for the sacrifice of a few bells and whistles. Just an idea.

[bs_nate]

The T-Rex does have some nice features and we are trying to meet, if not exceed the features. Some of the main features we are working on are standard parts. The only custom machined parts on the vehicle besides attachment tabs will be the front a-arms and rocker, and the rear hub allowing replacement parts to be purchased by the end user. We are creating a system to use standard car rims on all three corners allowing the customer to change wheels to their specific size and style needs. Finally the T-Rex has a pretty cheesy interior that resembles a go-kart or sandrail, we are looking to take it a step further and create a cohesive design throughout the whole vehicle. Thanks for the feedback, If you can please specify what parts of the T-rex add the perceived extra value so we can work on incorporating all the major customer needs.