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I need to get a new trike, it has to be easier to steer than the one I have, so I'll prolly be getting it built for me, and have reverse gear and an automatic gearbox which almost certainly means using a car engine.

I don't really like car engined trikes, but if it has to be....

However, if I could find a car or small van engine, with an auto box that's not as big as a house, with REAR WHEEL DRIVE then I could have a trike which looks more like a bike trike. The problem is that most motors now are front wheel drive which would mean mounting it at the rear.

So, the question is, does anyone know of an engine/box that fits the bill?

try this.

http://www.barnstormers.com/Trikes,%20A ... 361072d8b8

avoid trafic jams too.

BikerGran wrote:I need to get a new trike, it has to be easier to steer than the one I have, so I'll prolly be getting it built for me, and have reverse gear and an automatic gearbox which almost certainly means using a car engine.

Might as well get a car, at least you won't get wet when it rains

BikerGran wrote:

Hmmm...

Is there any reason why you can't make a trike out of a bike? I know there are Goldwing trike kits, and I saw this the other year:

http://gallery.teamrc17.net/ToyRun2004/aai

(A Kwak Z1300 trike conversion. Very well done, very clean and shiny.)

Z1300 looks good, I've also seen a really nice Vmax trike recently, (even got me fancying one!), but the problem BG has is the need for an auto box and a reverse, which rules out most bikes. Suppose you could start off with a Suzuki Burgman in theory to get the auto bits, but reverse.

Latest Goldwings have an electric reverse don't they.
But both together sounds like some specialist engineering solution. So BGs right, probably end up taking the car based trike route. This seems to leave you with the VW Beatle option thats been around for years, or maybe an early 911 engine, sounds fun but expensive!
Suppose in theory any front wheel drive engine could be fitted at the rear somehow, but haven't seen much on the road.
Sorry, not much help BG.

There used to be a car race series and the cars were powered by Yamaha 1200/1300 engines (air/oil cooled) originally the FJ1200 motor, but still around in the FJR and XJR 1300's.

Can't recall the name of the series, but it'll come to me.

Anyhoo, the cars were rear wheel drive and the engine was up front I think. So there might be a possibility that an auto box could be used, not convinced though.

How about a bike engine and box and use a quickshifter type thingy linked to change paddles on the bars? Just a thought.

LEGEND.

Knew I'd remember. This link gives you some info, might stand some investigation.

HTH

Here's another one

A bit closer to home.

I gave the bloke a call just out of interest. Really helpful and nice and knows of a triple amputee who raced using paddle shifts, but it was all very expensive. Give him a call!

They put a crown wheel where the chain sprocket was onthe FJ motor and run a drive shaft to the axle. It has a reverse, by means of a box in the drive shaft, so you can backwards as fast as forwards.

Unfortunately is still has the Yam gearbox. This is where the quickshifter and paddles would need to come in.

All a bit bespoke and probably expensive.

Moto Guzzi did an Auto called the Convert.
1000 cc from memory.
Big motors that go forever. Shaft drive too, just right for a trike.

Loads of useful info, peeps, cheers!

FP - I've now fallen in love with the Legends cars and have to go see them at Brands this year!

I'm collecting all this info and will pore over it with trike-buildery friends till we find the best solution!

the only modern cars I can think of with auto / rwd are the small BMWs. The newish 118 could give you the bits you need if you could find a crashed onebut it wouldnt be cheap.