Vortex home built 3-wheeler

[Dan Lenox]

This year I finally finished my Vortex based scratch built 3-wheeler. Yes it is registered/licensed as a motorcycle!

The building of this vehicle took approximately 2-1/2 years, and all along the way I created a website dedicated towards it so that others could learn, and I could remember.
You can find more details here: http://www.briery.com/vortex

It is a two seater, fully enclosed passenger compartment, with butterfly style opening doors. The design is referred to as a 'reverse trike' with 2 wheels in
front and one in back, it is *far* more stable than a typical trike design. It currently uses a Honda VFR-750 4 cylinder, vee style motorcycle engine as it's power source

I diverged from the original plans a fair amount, made many improvements to the original design and I am extremely happy with the end results. Currently
there are only 3 other Vortex or Vortex based vehicles completed in the world! One reason is that building a scratch built vehicle takes a fair amount of
time to complete, kit style vehicles are far easier and take less total effort.

In the past few months I have put on about 1600 miles, and at last check was getting about 37mpg. Not bad until you consider that my 'every day' car is a
Toyota Prius and reguarly gets 50mpg in the WV mountains...

Dan Lenox

[Sean Skirvin]

Very nice work!

Would you happen to have a curb weight for that beautiful machine?

[Dan Lenox]

Sean,

Yes I do - curb weight is about 1350lbs. Slightly on the heavy side but I overbuilt the construction as well as moving a majority of the weight to the the front end (highly stable).

Dan

[Joe Blake]

Looks pretty cool. But, as you say 37 mpg ... these days, not so cool.

Maybe you could retro-fit an auxiliary electric motor with photovoltaic panels on the body-work. ;)

I know it's not the same as "rolling your own", but if I had a fair bit of loose change rattling in my pocket, I'd like to own one of these:

http://www.monotracer.com/media/gallery/thumps/mono_2.gif
http://www.monotracer.com/

Apparently they can get about 4.5 litres/ 100 km.

Or perhaps one of these.

http://www.autocycles.org/images/2007pulserallygroup1.jpg


Apparently the Litestar Pulse is not made made any more, but they get between 50-70 mpg.

I saw one "in the flesh" in Perth about 15 years ago. It was powered by an air cooled 400 cc Yamaha 4 stroke twin. I don't know what mileage he got, but it would have been pretty good, but I suspect other aspects of its performance would have been a bit hindered by lack of power.




http://www.autocycles.org/

But of course, today I'm waiting for the Hybrid Piaggio MP3 to arrive.
Possibly 140 mpg. And if I leave it plugged into my solar panels, I may be able to do all my local riding just on the sun.

http://visforvoltage.org/files/u119/081520071226154881.jpg
http://visforvoltage.org/forum/2023-piaggio-hybrid-scooters



Joe

[Dan Lenox]

Joe,

I'm sorry but 37mpg not so cool - just what is it that you are currently driving? In my personal opinion I think that the state of Detroit could only wish that they could average that mileage for their fleet of vehicles.

I did not from the onset want to build a vehicle that got 100mpg, but wanted an alternative to what was currently available, and get some reasonable mileage. I think that what I have built is far better performing than the 'average' consumer purchased vehicle, as well as being fairly unique.

Let's see how efficient the vehicles that suit average consumers becomes over the next couple of years.

dan

[Joe Blake]

Dan,

I agree with you, I'd LOVE to see the world's auto fleet averaging 35+ mpg, but I don't think I'll see it in my lifetime.

To answer your question, I'm driving/riding a BMW F650CS m/cycle which, according to "The Book", is supposed to get about 3.3 litres per 100 km, but in reality it gets 4 litres/100 km, which is just under 60 miles/ (US) gallon. I've toured it two-up and got pretty much the same figures. However, late last year Oz hit the $1.50 (Aus) ($1.31 US) per litre which is near to $6 US a gallon.

However, I only ride about 10,000 km/year.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j245/saxeharp/Denmark/21.jpg

I've also got a trike (love 3-wheels - had one since about 1990) with an electric motor, and the batteries are kept topped up by the sun. Like yourself, I built it (or assembled it) myself, over a period of about 15 years.


http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j245/saxeharp/Boys5Dec06019-1.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j245/saxeharp/Boys5Dec06031.jpg

The trailer for the trike also goes on the back of a little fold-up bicycle and can tote up to 30 kg. (eg on the weekend I carried a 30 can "cube" of soda drink plus a 10 kg bag of bread mix, plus other sundry items.)

I think you have a valid point about consumers wants, but I suspect that consumers will find they have fewer options, and that those options are going to be more expensive, but I guess that's something only time will tell.

Based on present moves, I think small 3-wheelers are going to become very trendy, indeed probably essential, as people realise they don't need all the space and extra material that goes into building a "standard" 4-wheeler. Maybe with an attachable "space module" at the rear for when extra carrying capacity is needed.

It's something I look forward to.

Joe

[Steve Birmingham]

This year I finally finished my Vortex based scratch built 3-wheeler. Yes it is registered/licensed as a motorcycle!

The building of this vehicle took approximately 2-1/2 years, and all along the way I created a website dedicated towards it so that others could learn, and I could remember.
You can find more details here: http://www.briery.com/vortex

It is a two seater, fully enclosed passenger compartment, with butterfly style opening doors. The design is referred to as a 'reverse trike' with 2 wheels in
front and one in back, it is *far* more stable than a typical trike design. It currently uses a Honda VFR-750 4 cylinder, vee style motorcycle engine as it's power source

I diverged from the original plans a fair amount, made many improvements to the original design and I am extremely happy with the end results. Currently
there are only 3 other Vortex or Vortex based vehicles completed in the world! One reason is that building a scratch built vehicle takes a fair amount of
time to complete, kit style vehicles are far easier and take less total effort.

In the past few months I have put on about 1600 miles, and at last check was getting about 37mpg. Not bad until you consider that my 'every day' car is a
Toyota Prius and reguarly gets 50mpg in the WV mountains...

Dan Lenox
Dan, great job on your creation! It looks incredible and is probably a blast to drive!

[Joe Blake]

Wasn't able to get any decent photos, but saw this locally built sidecar a few weeks ago in the local market. Wasn't able to get many specs on, fuel consumption etc, but it looks MEAN.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j245/saxeharp/general/mototrike04.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j245/saxeharp/general/mototrikel3.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j245/saxeharp/general/mototrike02-1.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j245/saxeharp/general/mototrike01-1.jpg

Nice colour, eh?


I was riding my electric trike (you can just see the chainwheel on the right in the last photo.) Made me feel quite inadequate.


Joe:bigsmile:

[Steve Birmingham]

That is yet another one of the most unique sets of wheels I've ever seen! :amazed: