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Post by elder on Feb 6, 2016 15:04:04 GMT
As an outsider the Eco Exo situation is a little foggy.
I understand that the licence holder has decided not to proceed with the project so does that mean that we can forget the Eco Exo as a UK choice for the foreseeable future?
If it has gone it is a real shame as it is about the only kit car that appeals, looks easy to build & that I can hide in a corner of the garage.
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Post by roger32849 on Feb 6, 2016 16:06:34 GMT
It is one of those "to soon to tell" moments. Kelvin spent some hours redesigning the Eco-Exo for future development and is (was) capable of manufacturing a Mk1 or Mk2 kit upon request. Since his departure from MEV as a manufacturer three days ago, the immediate future of the project is a bit cloudy. As I said, it is to soon to tell in the long term. Let's all wait and see what happens. Kelvin has the fixtures, jigs, bucks, and molds and those will be sold when a new buyer with enough interest buys him out.
Roger Worcester, Massachusetts
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Post by edvb on Feb 6, 2016 16:22:57 GMT
elder You can not only hide the trike, but the trike in its own trailer in the corner and still be able to park both cars in the garage IMG_3549 by evanbelkom, on Flickr
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Post by elder on Feb 6, 2016 16:42:51 GMT
Exactly!
There is no other kit - appealing or not - that I can think of that lets you store it so easily.
Your garage, being American, is ever so slightly bigger than mine.
I was looking at you photo collection on Flickr. Your Eco Exo is beautiful.
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Post by erik on Feb 6, 2016 18:07:16 GMT
Hi Elder,
If I had a big place to build some chasis I'd reconsider to buy the rights. We have cnc pipe benders in town and great welders too specialised at competition quads chasis. The Exo is really great to build in a small area where other kitcars do fail because 1) the donor scooter takes small area to disassemble and a corner to store the engine and 2) a 4wd kitcar+ car donor takes 2 garage space areas which is a NO GO for many potential costumers. Marketing wise trikes do have much potential due to their limmited storage and building size. I found it much more builder friendly versus the tR1ke I own as well.
An other option is to buy the plans fron the e-trike which could be used as an IC powered version as well. It is even a smaller trike versus the Exo and tough the front wheel assy is hard to retrieve I guess it could be redesigned for modern parts available now at quads motor stores or have it's own design arms.
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Post by elder on Feb 6, 2016 18:37:48 GMT
I have had a look at the e-trike but I am not sure if it is still available. If it is £20 is not much of an investment for the plans. The information I have about it is minimal in the extreme. Not as appealing as the Eco Exo but..........
What is the front wheel assembly that you think might be difficult to source.
I note that you like the 175 Honda engine but the one that I would choose is the 250/300 Vespa. Long production run, high production volume, very small, great spares for Vespas of any age.
The biggest problem is that I really do not have the tools/ skill to build the chassis - but I might know someone who does!
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Post by erik on Feb 6, 2016 19:54:50 GMT
Hi Elder,
I have a gts300 myself and it runs sweet!!! Unfortunately, On our national fleabay there are near no Vespas for sale. The single sided front wheel assy is great for a trike as well. good choice. The bad thing for vespas is they tend to rust easely but the good thing is they become great donor candidates.
I recall the front assy is of an old type kawasaki quad which was not available in the netherlands but on ebay I managed to find some disassembled parts thus hard to source all components. I managed to find some info on the net Stu posted long time ago.
The e-trike is different as the exo in design but would be better suited for a lighter scooter engine due to lower weight IMO. It still would be fun to drive. Not sure about the handling but I do like the small package and steering bar.
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Post by elder on Feb 7, 2016 8:01:52 GMT
I don't think what I would end up with is an e-trike at all. By the time I am having to redesign for a different front suspension and completely different engine unit it is a completely different car that might well be beyond me.
I still like the Eco-Exo as I think that the e-trike is too small - at least for me at 6ft 3in - and I just like the look of the Eco-Exo.
I would have been interested in any update as despite assurances on the board the Suzuki is not that common in the UK and just because parts come up on the internet it does not mean that there is much choice nor that the parts are in good condition. It is not the easiest donor to source.
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Post by roger32849 on Feb 7, 2016 12:07:32 GMT
The Eco-Exo is a great choice over the much smaller E-Trike. I am 6'-0" and I have no problem with fitting into mine. At your height, of 6'-3" you may need to move the seat all the way to the rear and look at relocating some of the stuff that goes behind it. I really had no idea the Burgman was in such short supply in the UK and can understand the desire to search for a replacement donor. I am not sure an E-trike would be more than just a novelty compared to the Eco-Exo. Naturally size of the E-trike and battery life would limit it's use. The Eco-Exo is not exactly a huge trike, but it can easily get out in traffic and keep up with the flow for extended lengths of time and distance. A comfortable drive for me is between 100 to 200 miles in my Eco-Exo-R. I am not sure what the range is in the E-trike. Even if you can retrofit it with a gasoline engine and modified the steering, you would still be better off with the Eco-Exo and search for an available Burgman donor even though they are not that easy to find.
Roger Worcester, Massachusetts
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Post by elder on Feb 7, 2016 12:23:18 GMT
I was only really looking at the e-trike because erik mentioned it.
I had a sit in an Eco-Exo at Stoneleigh a couple of years ago and was amazed at how roomy the cockpit was.
At the moment it appears that there is no one making the kit for any donor nor developing the next stage.
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Post by roger32849 on Feb 7, 2016 12:55:20 GMT
Elder:
Unfortunately that is true. No one is currently making it. It is a shame. The Eco-Exo is really a great, inexpensive kit. It is easy to build and has a "Fun Factor" that is off the chart. You can spend thousands more and not have the enjoyment the Eco-Exo offers.
I know the license to manufacture still belongs to Kelvin as I have mentioned before on this forum. He has the fixtures and molds to build the kits. I believe he even has the original orange Eco-Exo-R that Scott Turner designed. Kelvin has not responded to my personal message, nor has he been on the forum since he announced he was distancing himself from the MEV brand. It seems no one at all has any idea about what is actually going on with future Eco-Exo development.
I am hopeful that someone will step up to the plate and continue the kit builds and perhaps refine the design a bit. Until that time, the equipment will be gathering dust in Kelvins workshop.
Roger Worcester, Massachusetts
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Post by elder on Feb 7, 2016 15:14:45 GMT
.................... I really had no idea the Burgman was in such short supply in the UK and can understand the desire to search for a replacement donor.................... Roger Worcester, Massachusetts To put this into context I have just done a search of ebay for complete vehicles for sale anywhere in the UK. I have not searched spares. I realise that not all of these are suitable donors and it includes all prices but the results are enlightening. The results for MEV/ ex MEV donors are as follows: Mazda MX5 596 for sale Suzuki Hyabusa 105 for sale Yamaha R1 125 for sale Suzuki Burgman 400 48 for sale - (changed because of JohnP result below)
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Post by johnp on Feb 7, 2016 15:39:51 GMT
There is something amiss with your search 48 results
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Post by elder on Feb 7, 2016 15:48:54 GMT
There is something amiss with your search 48 resultsYou are right! Results above changed. Funny but I do not see them on the road.
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Post by roger32849 on Feb 7, 2016 16:20:58 GMT
When I do an ebay search here in the US I find only 3 Burgman 400's. When I checked the New England area (Worcester Massachusetts) craigslist, there are 21 burgman scooters, not all are 400cc though. They were all within a few hours drive. I naturally prefer to look and buy locally. Ebay offers safe buying, but you are at a greater risk of buying someone's else's problem.
Roger Worcester, Massachusetts
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