Three Wheeler Design

[Aperitif]

Thinking of trying a three wheeler? Try this.

 

[mondobongo]

Its funky looking but reading about its design you would not be able to get it on 2 wheels around corners at speed. This might get you into trouble though but looks like it could be loads of fun..

 

[mickle]

Thinking of trying a three wheeler? Try this.

Seen it. A solution for a problem which has already been answered and yet another example of an industrial designer imagining that he can re-invent the bicycle without really understanding the complex dynamics (Starck, Guigaro Sinclair et al). A cycle which requires the learner to constantly shift between steering (a trike) and balancing (a bike) is adding a layer of complexity to an already challenging process and actually does nothing to make difficult bit; the transition from three wheels to two, any easier.

I hope he hasn't sunk his life savings into it, aside from it being a stupid design getting that thing into production at a price which parents would be prepared to spend will be impossible without some radical re-think of the materials used. Injection moulding is only cost effective if you can sell many hundreds of thousands of units.

It's supposed to convert 'automatically' as the 'riders weight naturally moves forward at greater speed'. Really?

A triumph of style over content, like most of the crap produced by design students.

Sorry, it's rubbish.

 

[LLB]

Seen it. A solution for a problem which has already been answered and yet another example of an industrial designer imagining that he can re-invent the bicycle without really understanding the complex dynamics (Starck, Guigaro Sinclair et al). A cycle which requires the learner to constantly shift between steering (a trike) and balancing (a bike) is adding a layer of complexity to an already challenging process and actually does nothing to make difficult bit; the transition from three wheels to two, any easier.

I hope he hasn't sunk his life savings into it, aside from it being a stupid design getting that thing into production at a price which parents would be prepared to spend will be impossible without some radical re-think of the materials used. Injection moulding is only cost effective if you can sell many hundreds of thousands of units.

And another thing, at any point of the transition between trike mode and bike mode the thing will be physically unrideable due to the extreme toe-in/ toe-out of the rear wheels.

Sorry, it's rubbish.

I am for once in agreement. Learning to ride and making the transition from stabilisers is difficult enough without complicating it further. For a learner, it is a bit like Huggies for toddlers - Nappies for lazy parents who can't be fussed to train their offspring properly.

Out of the box thinking though, and the concept could have possibilities in the motorcycling world for fully enclosed Feet forward machines where they are now using retractable outriggers to keep it all upright at junctions.

 

[sheddy]

What is the (recent?) 3 wheel moped/motorbike thing I saw once
Think it had 2 front wheels that lean over

 

[LLB]

What is the (recent?) 3 wheel moped/motorbike thing I saw once
Think it had 2 front wheels that lean over

You mean one of these ?

http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/viamic...t20070515/htm/mobil-moto-gilera-fuoco-500.htm

 

[Aperitif]

You're right of course Mickle - easy to clean wheels though!