|
|
Post by edvb on Feb 22, 2015 14:30:16 GMT
Looking good Roger! It looks like you are all set for a great summer's worth of riding. I can always get a larger prodder if you get bored:)
Edward
|
|
|
|
Post by roger32849 on Feb 23, 2015 12:43:55 GMT
I have my trike officially under the blankets. It is finished for this season and ready for the summer rides. The redesigning was a bit of a chore, sort of like plunging into the unknown. The 3/8" aluminum dash panel was done out of total frustration on where and how to mount the switches and the Ipod. I may still make a mount for my GPS but as long as my cell phone works I will use that and just keep in in my pocket.
There was a system of evolution on my project. I wanted to make it "my own" in design. I believe I did that but it was not an individual effort. If anyone is to be successful in anything, it always comes out better as a team effort. Everyone that I spoke to or corresponded with was more than glad to assist. Ultimately it was me following the suggestions of Scott, Edward, Erik and a few of the other guys that occasionally wrote on my forum page. I knew NOTHING about epoxies, fiberglass, suspensions, or design until these guys offered their assistance.
My Eco-Exo-R is finished. It officially named Special Vehicle or (Spec-V) Motorcycle here in Massachusetts. It's name usually gets a "HUH?" from people that ask what it is. I have shortened the name for those that ask to "Exo 400", I have been getting the response of "OH!!" since doing that. Go figure. I have been flagged down by the police while out on a ride Just to look her over. There has never been a question of it being street legal by any of them. It is in fact street legal, DOT and Emissions compliant. It can be driven in all 50 states. Women mostly in parking lots have asked me to take their picture with it. I get thumbs up from guys mowing their lawns and while they drive past me. I even had a State Police officer do a video of me while he drove beside me. It tells me two things the trike is different and they like what they see and....... the bright Yellow paint catches their attention.
Since my Eco-Exo-R is completed, my entries into my forum page will be more event oriented rather than doing a build. It will take some time to get decent weather to do a video but we shall see what turn Mother Nature takes in March. I will be more than happy to provide anyone with information on my trikes evolutionary process as well as "how I did it".... again... Thank you everyone.
Roger
Worcester, Massachusetts
|
|
|
|
Post by erik on Feb 23, 2015 19:19:16 GMT
Wow really great build on the grp parts! You managed to keep respect to the original design quite a bit. mine has been sitting like a duck for 7 weeks now struggling to source transport options and organizing a dock to use to get her in a trailer. It'll succeed eventually but I have to show some patience for now. @ kelvin, Mine will be in the UK within a few weeks I guess  I'm looking forward to your brain storm sessions. I analysed some vehicles myself wich shows some suprising constructions LOL!! kr, Erik |
|
|
|
Post by roger32849 on Feb 24, 2015 23:15:48 GMT
Erik..... thanks for the comments. I appreciate it. It is where I want it for now.. maybe later some front fender (wing) work. My theme was to have it my way, but to keep within the original Eco-Exo-R design. There are some parts that I used from the 2003-2006 Suzuki Burgman 400. The most evident are the front calipers and wheels, after that, the radiator, and the turnbuckle that ties the rear coil-over to the engine. Other than those pieces and a few others I wanted to use as many 2007 and newer donor parts as I could. It is possible to do a complete build using all later model parts, but since the chassis was designed for a much older donor, I didn't want to stray to far out of my comfort zone by cutting and altering an already proven build platform.
One thing that Kelvin might want to look into is changing the front mounts to accommodate the 2007 and newer brake calipers. They are smaller and are left and right oriented. I believe the Burgman 650 has the same calipers.
Roger
Worcester, Massachusetts
|
|
|
|
Post by qdos on Feb 25, 2015 7:13:15 GMT
One thing that Kelvin might want to look into is changing the front mounts to accommodate the 2007 and newer brake calipers. They are smaller and are left and right oriented. I believe the Burgman 650 has the same calipers. Roger Worcester, Massachusetts Roger can you do a photo so I can have a look at what it is that's different. Thanks, Kelvin |
|
|
|
Post by roger32849 on Feb 25, 2015 11:46:38 GMT
Kelvin: I am flying out to California on Friday to take care of some family business. I will see what I have as far as spares from my donor when I get back. If I still have the calipers, I will do a photo comparison. I used the 2003-2006 calipers on my trike. When you use the 2006 and older calipers, the off side has to be installed with the bleed port lower than the fluid level and is installed back to front.
The older calipers are very efficient and do a great job. That being said, Suzuki designed the 2003-2006 Burgman front brake system to be used when applying the rear brake as well. There is an independent second set of (smaller)pistons incorporated in the caliper for this purpose. This naturally makes the caliper twice the size of the 2007 and newer models, the smaller pistons are not used in the Eco-Exo-R. Suzuki only made them for the near side.
Roger
Worcester , Massachusetts
|
|
|
|
Post by roger32849 on Mar 26, 2015 2:34:38 GMT
I took my Eco-Exo-R out today and had the 2015-16 riding season inspection completed. Spring rolled around on the calender but winter is still hanging on a bit longer. It was nearly 50 degrees today so I put on nearly that many miles going the long way round. I needed to do a little shakedown ride from all the work I did over the winter to check things out before Taking it out on the open road. It did great, no problems were noted, so let's hope this sets a trend and that it continues.
I was recently diagnosed with a hearing loss requiring hearing aids. For what it is worth, if you are also wearing a hearing device for the first time.... Remove them before wearing a helmet. You will get ghost noises and distorted feedback. If what happened to me is normal, then expect our hearing aids to react most unpleasantly to engine drone when ramping up and down the RPM scale.
Even with the snow and the water on the roads the ride today was a promise of what is ahead for all of us this summer. Start those engines and smell the exhaust, wear out the tires and get them dirty, no garage queens this summer. Go for it!!!!
Roger
Worcester, Massachusetts
|
|
|
|
Post by qdos on Mar 26, 2015 8:02:10 GMT
Excellent news Roger. Sorry to read about your hearing problem, I'd think that it would be a reasonably good idea to actually wear those foam ear plug/defenders. I spent many years driving long distances in open top cars and may well have damaged my hearing with the constant buffeting. Though being at a recent Buzzthingys gig at the front by the stage under the sound system wasn't a sensible thing to have done.. Totally agree with your attitude re the garage queens too! Get out and enjoy driving/riding those kits :-) Edit : ROFLOL it seems the forum auto-correct does not like the band's name and clearly has an aversion to Punk Rock anyways the 'thingys' is an automatic software substitution for a male hen  |
|
|
|
Post by davej98002 on Mar 27, 2015 4:09:02 GMT
Yeah, if you want to spell the compartment that you sit in you must substute the o with a zero 0 like c0ckpit or the software will correct it to thingypit. What is a THINGYPIT?  So your band you like is BuZZc0cks. |
|
|
|
Post by davej98002 on Mar 27, 2015 4:54:00 GMT
Roger, It must be hard to live where the weather does not allow more that a few months of riding weather. Up here in the Northwest I have driven the car to work once this year, when the front wheelbearings locked up on my Burgman650. Coldest has been 19 degrees F, dry but very cold.
While in the ARMY I fired 10,000's of rounds in many different weapons it is amazing that I do not have any hearing loss. The loss I do have is at 1000 Hz, caused by the test tone that we used in telephone circuits.
|
|
|
|
Post by roger32849 on Mar 30, 2015 20:36:25 GMT
Dave
I will be riding out to Washington state again in June. Not on the Eco-Exo but my Victory CCT. I had it converted to a trike from Lehman. I bought the independent LLS system with reverse and the raked front end. It is now painted Black Cherry Pearl (ice). I may be in your neck of the woods around the 25th of June. I was just out there 2 weeks ago on family business. I got to meet a Washington State Trooper. Nice fella.. he don't feel obliged to shoot me for speeding.. I sort of like that. (And no, I didn't get a ticket either) it was very nice weather. I took Route 12 thru Packwood, Mossy Rock and over White Pass into Yakima, then on to Dayton Waitsburg and Pomeroy and on into Clarkston.
My hearing loss comes from working in and around and on Jets for 20 years while in the Air Force. I have wicked bad tint us and the hearing aids help with that. I just can't wear them under a helmet. They squeal and squeak and make a mild chirping sound.
I will be doing a video later, but right now will wait for better weather. The snow is down to about the 2 foot mark in the front and almost gone in the back. It won't take long now. Eddie revved his up and tested his HiT clutch. He has that custom exhaust and a power commander too, so it has no problems getting down the road.
Did you fix your 650 yet?
Roger
Worcester, Massachusetts
|
|
|
|
Post by davej98002 on Mar 31, 2015 1:52:34 GMT
Roger, if you need a stop over with some tools let me know.
I was around all sorts of machinery while in the Army too. I was one of the fools that did wear ear plugs.
I have 2 Burgman 650's. My 08 is my daily commuter and my 03 is broken and has no tupperware. The 03 would be my donor bike if I do a 650 trike. I also have a 1980 GL1100i Interstate Goldwing that I could trike too.
|
|
|
|
Post by roger32849 on Mar 31, 2015 13:22:23 GMT
Dave:
+I appreciate the offer of the stay over. As time gets closer, I will have a better idea of my route and plans. Right now I only have a general layout of my ride plans.
I suspect it will be a long wait for the 650 platform to roll out of Kelvins garage. At that, it will most likely be the prototype. The sales and marketing of other kits here in the US is almost non existant, so if you are waiting for the Eco-Exo badge it looks as though it might be a bit of a wait. Kelvin is playing his cards close to his vest and understandably so. Still, the 400 Burgman is a good bit of fun and you could probably get a kit before summer if you decided to go that route.
The GL1100 platform is a good idea. Literally thousands were built and parts are always available. I have seen plenty of home made conversions from stake side pick ups to jets. Yes really, one was made to look like an F-16 fighter.
For what it's worth, my daily rider has been a snow blower, but it's beginning to look like I will be able to ride the Burgman 400 once I take it to get the inspection done. My other bike is the Victory CCT/Lehman trike Crossfire conversion. (Now that's a mouth full)
It would be nice if more buyers of the Eco-Exo trike kits would post pictures of their finished projects. It would give everyone a chance to pick up new ideas and could lead to possible manufacturing refinements. I know there are at least 6 kits here in the states, but not sure how many went to the Continent (Europe) or Australia....
That's about it for no, got to get things going here.
Roger
Worcester, Massachusetts
|
|
|
|
Post by erik on Apr 2, 2015 21:37:14 GMT
I suspect it will be a long wait for the 650 platform to roll out of Kelvins garage. At that, it will most likely be the prototype. The sales and marketing of other kits here in the US is almost non existant, so if you are waiting for the Eco-Exo badge it looks as though it might be a bit of a wait. Kelvin is playing his cards close to his vest and understandably so. Roger Worcester, Massachusetts Kelvin is right to do so. He needs tunnelvision to get things on a pace. |
|
|
|
Post by roger32849 on Apr 3, 2015 3:37:31 GMT
Erik:
No doubt, no outside distractions or influences would mean purity of design. In order for Kelvin to make this project his own, his design is what matters, otherwise it is "just traffic". I believe I am Para-quoting Kelvin a bit.
I have seen the Scorpion trikes, those scream like they have no upper limit. The T-Rex, TR1ke, and a few more out there all have higher performance charts: speed, horsepower, torque, and "price$". The one thing I can say about what I have is, it is affordable, it is sporty, it is fast and fun to build and drive.
Note to Kelvin: You asked me for some pictures. Let me know what areas you are Interested in, I will do my best to provide them for you. I am sorry I couldn't do it when you made the request. If you still need them, I will get to it.
Roger
Worcester, Massachusetts
|
|
I'm looking forward to your brain storm sessions. I analysed some vehicles myself wich shows some suprising constructions LOL!!
