Project started!

[vtR1k]

Think I have the solution... But first I must test which wire is responsible for the 12V signal to the ECU.

If I place a 12V DC/DC converter in that line, the voltage may drop as low as 8V before the output drops below 12V. This is ideal to prevent the voltage dips. This is the solution for our thrusters also, so it is proven in the field.

But until I have the correct one, I am going to use my old motorcycle battery as a temporary solution.

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[edwinwl]

Have you measured how much the voltage drops when reverse is engaged?

A typical starter motor (used for your reverse) generates about 500 to 2500 watt. So with 12 volts it can drain about 200 Amps...
When your battery is not fully charged, voltage can drop even below 8 volts.

Most brutal solution is having a second battery that is powering the reverse electric motor.
When reverse is engaged it is disconnected from the rest of the engine electronics.

Or adding a resistor to the reverse motor power line, so the motor drains less current. For testing a lamp can be a good temporary resistor.

Please share your findings.

[vtR1k]

It drops to a minimum of 7,5 V and I have a really powerfull battery. Tried a lot today, but I think a second battery with a separation-relay is the best solution...

[vtR1k]

To inform especially the Dutch builders: I just paid the BPM-taxes. The amount was "just" 442 euro's

Be advised, to have the amount this "low", you must state that the value of the vehicle is 3362,- (excl. BTW).
Also, you must be VERY SURE the RDW will name the vehicle-type a M(otorfiets) and certainly not a P(ersonenauto). If the customs see it as a P, they must know the CO2-emission, and this will be a very expensive trajectory.

But, if all goes like it should, I have a fairly large possibility that the first dutch tR1ke will scavenge the roads this weekend! *Don't give a d*mn about the weather *

[edwinwl]

After your donation to our Dutch government the recession will be over very soon......

Thank you for your suggestions!

[erik]

Jun 4, 2012 9:21:22 GMT vtR1k said:

But, if all goes like it should, I have a fairly large possibility that the first dutch tR1ke will scavenge the roads this weekend! *Don't give a d*mn about the weather *

Make sure you're looking pretty in your babe magnet

[vtR1k]

Finally! Received the papers today! Tomorrow I must arrange the insurance and a licence plate so saturday is my day!



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[edwinwl]

Congratulations Rik!
Time to show off

The weather is perfect for driving!
www.weeronline.nl/Europa/Nederland/IJmuiden/4058361

[erik]

Have fun!!!
Just a reminder: a Caterham driver told me his car is actually lower as uncut grass. Be aware the visibility of your car is close to nill in traffic outdoors! An other good reason to open the exhaust LOL!!

regards!
Erik

[vtR1k]

Finally took her out today! The best drive since a long time Before the ride I made the reverse work properly, with a extra battery and a separation-circuit to separate the motormanagement from the reverse gear circuit when the reverse is selected. Also mounted the licenceplate. Looks pretty ugly by the way

Well, needless to say the tR1ke gets a lot attention. Unbelievable, I've been photographed, questioned wile waiting for traffic lights, some bloke even wanted to know if I wanted to sell it. No way Jose!

I did about 60 kms, with a passenger. No large problems encountered. Temp gets a little high when driving slow, but the fan does its work properly. Got also a dirty or faulty contact in the right indicator electrics, this doesn't work sometimes.
But the thing I really must investigate is the clutch. It looks like it slips when I do a little sporty. When I reach 10000 revs in 1st and I accelerate fully the revs go up whithout significant acceleration. When I select 2nd and 3rd immediately, it seems to keep slipping. Fairly, I cannot imagine the rear wheel keeps spinning this long while cycling through the gears.

Anyway, the drive was awesome! Looking forward for more beautiful days this summer!

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[Deleted]

Excellent, I plan to get over the waters to visit the Dutch builders, so if you fancy a meet up somewhere, that would be a good laugh maybe, I know Edwin is over in Dordrecht, a place I regularly camp when we come across to collect VW wheels, so that is a great base for me to work from. Or do you guys plan a trip over to the UK at all?

[vtR1k]

To be honest, I didn't plan anything yet. First, I want to filter all the minor problems I am going to encounter the next few weeks. This summer I am also sure going to plan a weekend to go to Luxemburg with friends.
I really want to visit you guys in the UK, but don't know when. I am pretty sure that I will take the ferry IJmuiden-Newcastle. This ferry sails off from about 250 yards from my home . Think it is a nice drive from Newcastle to the Midlands, don't you?

But first I want to solve the clutch issue. I think I will replace it with a EBC clutch kit, the SRK series. It has stiffer springs and Kevlar lining on the friction plates. They did very well in my VTR.

[Deleted]

Yeah A nice drive i'm sure, A good meeting place would have to be MEV in Nottingham maybe, or any decent sized car park :-)

Clutch wise, thankfully at present mine is okay, I may contemplate modifying the rear of my frame to allow me to remove the clutch cover fully without dropping the engine out of the frame.

I hear Barnett clutches are very good, using 6 springs instead of the spring plate, but that extra pressure may cause more snapped Clutch Cables, however easy to change the clutch cover over the clucth :-), I think Paul in York put a Barnett in

[vtR1k]

Well, I have a scoop again... First speed ticket in the Netherlands with a tR1ke...

I was shot by the local officer with a laser device. Only 17 km too fast, so just a few coins, luckily.
Not a bad guy by the way. We had quite a nice chat and he even wanted a picture of the tR1ke to show to his collegues :/.

Then, close to my home, a Kawa GPZ900R thought to beat me at a "little" sprint. 10 sec later, at 186 km/h, I shifted to 4th gear but my opponent had already disappeared in my mirrors... Later, at normal speed, 100 km/h , he overtook me and his eyes showed a lot of astonishment .

By the way, I adjusted the clutch and I think there was not enough slack in the cable. There are no slip- issues anymore. I already ordered another clutch, nice job for this winter, I think.

No doubt... This machine is the most addictive speed machine I have ever met. Can't wait to drive to my work tomorrow. But for now, she may rest for the night. As you can see, I am getting the hang of reverse parking with it also



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[vtR1k]

With the water pooring down here, not much riding has been done yet...

Last weekeind I spend a day on setting up the tR1ke. First, I made sure the rear wheel was exactly in line with the chassis. During the tests before, I found out the tR1ke wanted to go to the left and that was correct because the rear wheel wasn't lined up correct.

Next thing I did was placing about 90 kgs of weight in the drivers seat. On this manner I could adjust the ride height left and right equally.
Then I adjusted the camber to about 5 mm (negative of course). With the camber properly adjusted, I set up the toe to approx +1 mm.

Now it is really ready to be tested. I still want to do this on the track, so I can find out whether the settings work like this. For the moment is seems they are quite good, but to be sure you need to check tyre temps on different point on the tyre. Also, I want to find out where the point is of losing grip and also what happens then... Understeer? Oversteer? I just don't want to find it out in normal traffic, when you don't expect it... I'd also like to see which lap times could be driven.
But the next track day is on september 19th... So I must wait...

This weekend I mounted the new clutch, which I purchased a few weeks ago. And I am very lucky, because I could manage without removing the engine from the chassis. Also welded the exhaust pipe (in stead of using a socket) because it had to be extended by 2 inches.

Next post I hope so send some nice pics and videos of driving it...