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Post by roger32849 on Sept 30, 2018 21:28:15 GMT
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Post by roger32849 on Sept 30, 2018 21:33:00 GMT
MVIMG_20180930_123754 by Roger Baker, on Flickr More pictures of the ride. It was about 160 miles from start to finish. I am getting between 38 and 41 MPG, So roughly 4 gallons used for a cheap day outing along with a couple tacos and a burrito it made for a musical ride home.
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Post by roger32849 on Sept 30, 2018 21:39:26 GMT
MVIMG_20180930_124559 by Roger Baker, on Flickr One last picture of today’s ride. The motor was purrrrrrring right along. I believe I am getting used to the touchy twitchy clutch and adrenaline feeding accelerator pedal. I can quiet the engine right down when the ever watchful eye of the police are casting glances in my direction..... as in WHO ME? Making all that noise disappear.
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Post by roger32849 on Sept 30, 2018 21:40:35 GMT
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Post by dspecgsx on Oct 9, 2018 2:49:02 GMT
I'm jealous. Yours looks awesome. Ordered mine 3+ months ago....still has not arrived. No wonder not many people have these since they are hard to obtain. Maybe I'm just getting impatient. More patient needed....
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Post by roger32849 on Oct 9, 2018 21:54:08 GMT
You are where I was 2 years ago. I took delivery of my kit October 2016. I don’t know who you are buying your kit from. If you told me, I have forgotten,...... anyway, I ordered mine in August 2016 from Dove Racing LLC in Trenton Texas. When I ordered my Eco-Exo it came from the UK. The Turner family had a cottage business building the kits. Unfortunately the Eco-Exo is no longer available. The person that bought the rights to manufacture from the Turners, did not manufacture anything.., not one single kit. As it was, it took about three months to get the kit delivered.
On the TR1ke, I have ridden it exclusively this summer..... above the Eco-Exo and my 1990 GL1500. You will find the TR1ke a beast. There is a tremendous volume of power packed into that 1 liter engine. The RPM is limitless..redline is 13,500 RPM. They should call this the GLH trike....... (Goes Like Hell)
Be patient.....it will arrive. You might want to start your thread. Highlight your donor, maybe the mag wheel choices and maybe your steering wheel and interior.
Roger
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Post by dspecgsx on Oct 9, 2018 23:30:50 GMT
Mine is also coming from Dove Racing. My donor is a 2004 R1. I started tearing it down but I stopped because I'm starting to get excuses as to why it's been so long...so, call me crazy, but I'm starting to wonder if I'm going to get it. Remaining hopeful and staying positive.
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Post by roger32849 on Oct 10, 2018 11:51:06 GMT
It took me quite a long time to receive my TR1ke from Dove Racing. He actually had a kit in stock with a couple of color choices. I didn’t order the basic kit. I ordered almost every option, from custom upholstery to the reverse system. The more options you order, the longer it takes. When it comes to a kit car, or trike in this case, almost everything is custom made and needs to be ordered from various businesses and vendors. When did you place your order? I know you joined the forum early August and If your order to Dove Racing was around that time it is still a little early to expect delivery, especially if Dove needs to order the kit from Exo Sports Cars. Dove Racing has always come through for their customers it simply takes time. It is worth the wait. Like any small business that specializes in a unique product there are always reasons why items are slow to arrive....... from out of stock to back orders from manufacturers.
Hang in there.....
Roger Worcester, Massachusetts
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Post by roger32849 on Oct 14, 2018 10:07:47 GMT
It’s been a few days since I took the TR1ke up to the Berkshire Mountains. It actually does quite well through the twisty windies and climbing the steepest of inclines. There is one place I did not go to yet and that is the summit road to Mount Graylock near North Adams Massachusetts. It is sort of like the “Tail of the Dragon” NORTH when it comes to how narrow and curvy the road is. I’ve gone up and down it on a motorcycle. I will put it on my To Do list for next season on the TR1ke.
When I finished my build and took it through the inspection process it was the end of actively “building” it. It has been a solid driver ever since. I’ve not had any major mechanical issues at all. The steering and handling is fantastic, the engine runs quite strong and no electrical problems, however the refining is a continuing and on going process. So, since the build has been completed here is a short list of things I’ve done to improve my trike.
1. I’ve added a deep cycle battery for the reverse system. It is connected to the charging system via an automatic switching relay. Along with this I added a battery isolation switch. 2. I lowered the seats so they were beneath the roll bar, this was purely for aesthetics. I am not to happy with the seat adjusters so might replace them.. 3. I modified the rear view mirrors to extend them outward for better visibility. 4. I am adding a rear view Camera for reversing as well as the ability to switch it on to act as a mirror. (Winter project) 5. Added the saddlebags 6. I raised the overall ride height and stiffened the suspension 7. The front canards were a bit floppy so I added angled supports. 8. I am adding a voltage gauge (winter project)
Most of the items listed were modifications to improve performance or for aesthetics. If I did nothing at all the trike would still be very dependable and run quite well. If I had to pick anything that impacted the drivability it would be the addition of the secondary battery. This is strictly for powering the reverse motor without killing the main electrical system.
The maintenance I need to take care of is to fix a very minor oil drip. I have a few drops of oil beneath the engine. It is so minor, the oil level has not been affected. It seems to be coming from an external tube on the forward right side of the engine just above the oil pressure sending unit. Probably a flat O-ring. I am also going to remove the oil pressure sending unit and replace the seal and tighten the electrical connections on that as well. Ive been getting a flickering oil light when I hit a bump, so want to check into this as a priority. I also noticed the side motor mounts need to have shims installed on both sides. There is about 1/8th of an inch gap between the mount and the engine. My bad....
That’s about it. I know there are other small issues that I’ve taken care of, but considering everything, the maintenance, and planned modifications haven’t been to bad. It goes with owning a kit vehicle, the build is truly never done.
Roger Worcester, Massachusetts
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Post by dspecgsx on Oct 19, 2018 10:13:01 GMT
Hi Roger,
Maybe I missed it in an earlier post but did you ever discuss a windscreen option? Also, mine was purchased on 7/18
Thanks, Dennis
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Post by roger32849 on Oct 19, 2018 21:15:25 GMT
Dennis:
When I bought my trike the windscreen was not an option. According to Peter Dove, ESC is modifying some of their product line (with the same or similar bonnet as the TR1ke) to have a windscreen added. I have been sort of on the fence about molding a fiberglass windscreen that would be about 4 - 5 inches taller than the moldline of the dash and bonnet. It would be curved and angled slightly top back about 15 degrees. This would not be a clear screen, but more of an air deflector similar to what you may find on a motorcycle with the windshield cut down. Line of sight would be over the top of the deflector. The mounting would be on the face of the dash panel. I would have to experiment a bit to get a satisfactory result, but as I said, I’ve been sort of on the fence about it as well.
Keep in touch about the delivery of your TR1ke...
Roger
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Post by davej98002 on Oct 19, 2018 23:58:28 GMT
Roger, just make a small flange that one of these screens can attach to. Then you can use it to direct air where you want it. Even as a scoop to direct air down in to the cockpit to cool the ..... X-Creen about $120
I have a couple of these $21 units and they work well up to about 85 MPH and then it wobbels a bit on the THIN GIVI windscreen I have. A stock Suzuki screen is thicker.
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Post by roger32849 on Oct 20, 2018 20:14:55 GMT
Dave
I really need something a lot wider. These things are only 15” wide and 6” tall. I do like the mount system for them though. I will be working on something, not sure when I will start. I need to get the house winter ready and start raking the leaves....UGH!!!!
I was actually thinking of a color matched conformal spoiler/windscreen that attaches to the bonnet and will divert air above your helmet and not beneath your chin. Plenty of time to think about what I will.
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Post by davej98002 on Oct 21, 2018 7:39:10 GMT
Get two of the $21 units and use the mounts. (I bought 3 just for that idea) Then go to Tap Plastics and get some Lexan. The can even show you how to bend it.
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Post by roger32849 on Oct 21, 2018 11:47:16 GMT
Bending Lexan really isn’t a problem until you get to compound curves. On something as large as a windshield I’d need an oven to heat the lexan to do a “Drape Mold”. Since a I do not have a huge oven then fiberglass/marine epoxy is the next best thing. I can shape it in any direction. The windshield doesn’t need to be transparent because it will only be 6 inches or so tall. I can easily see over it. I realize lexan and plexiglass look similar, but their properties are altogether different. I would never trust plexiglass for a windshield, it is brittle and prone to cracking around mount holes. In some instances you do not even need to heat Lexan to bend it. It is sort of like clear aluminum.
What a I need to come up with is a design that will look good, not to complicated to make without expensive equipment and is durable. If you look at the Adam West/Burt Ward Batmobile that was made from a prototype Lincoln Futura around 1954/55 you can see the type of windshield I am considering. Not as tall but the moldline is similar. I really like the way the TR1ke bonnet is shaped with the raised cowling that lead to the dash line. The trouble is, making a windshield to compliment this without degrading the look of it is a challenge. I just don’t want to plop something on the bonnet that works, but doesn’t match the style of the trikes design.
Like I said, I have time to think about it. It could be simply placing an arched piece of Lexan sticking above the cowl is the best solutuon. I believe Erik’s TR1ke is fitted with this type of wind deflector.
I appreciate sharing your ideas. I will be posting more once I start the ball rolling.
Roger Worcester, Massachusetts
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