Just found this in my recommendations. Thank you for sharing. It's not always easy letting go of projects, but as you said, lessons learned will be used on later projects. May your next project go more smoothly and give you even greater satisfaction.
I love these narrative design process style videos! It's always heart-wrenching to see an old project move on but perhaps this will be the catalyst for another trike!
Brilliant Paul, you never cease to bring a smile. I too have designed similar vehicles in my past. Another reason Elio for me has been so inspirational. Another classic video you put together.
Elio had me inspired until they took all of our money and squander it. They are a sham of a company. That is 1500 bucks i will never see again. The only way to get a three wheeled commuter trike to is build it ourselves!
I had no Idea that was an almost 30 year project. I have also dreamed of something like that, but using a newer Goldwing with reverse. I could see myself slipping in reverse and breaking the reverse drive unit. AKA my leg! I was an awesome ride. You've proven my concept, so thank you for doing all that first draft prototyping work! You're awesome sir
Truly, very inspiring. I'm looking to build my own 3 wheeler with a very similar style, similar drivetrain, and the same reason (high gas mileage). It's nice to know what obstacles you've overcome to make it a reality. Thanks for sharing your story!
great work Paul. I too have dreamed of making a high efficient vehichle. after watching this, I realise you just have to start and perhaps, not be in a hurry. thanks for the inspiration
I remember the trimagnum. I had a 78 Honda hawk 400 I wanted to turn into a trimagnum in 1985. I first went to the CA dmv with the popular mechanics mag and told them what I wanted make this and asked what was needed. They told me I would never be issued a license plate or be able to register that thing in this state. I stopped dreaming and I stopped being disappointed.
Paul Elkins Very well thank you Paul. I got some aluminum cased lifepo4 cells from ElectricCarPartsCompany in Utah and put together another 48v pack. Spend a day a couple weeks ago tightening up and aligning the front end. That was a bit of a chore, but worth the time. Definitely a better ride and much less scrubbing. I imagine you've had similar experiences with front end alignment on your machines. Been using a catalytic propane heater on the cold and damp days. Really helps eliminate fogging and makes the interior comfortable. I keep sufficient airflow. Always a pleasure to see your ideas and projects. You inspire many.
I just looked at your photos of the trike build. It looks like you've gone thru many a trial and error. I'm not too familiar with electric vehicles but I do see the potential, especially seeing your mileage and if used on a regular basis. Yes, steering can be a pain, but I like your trike front suspension. Damn near auto complexity. but still frugal. Not familiar with this trike. Where did you find the acrylic dome?
Paul Elkins the lexan canopy was blown for an RV 8 sports aircraft by Todd's Canopies in Florida. It was a little off size for his customer, so I got it at cost.
Lucky you! I've been looking around for lexan canopies but some day may just try to blow my own. Not an easy task but lately I've been taking a composites class and am fortunate to have a very skilled teacher in all facets fabrication.
Well, I have studied the Tri-Magnum for many hours. I even located one and was able to go sit in it. At 6 foot tall, I was unable to close the top, and the fit of the steering and my legs was terrible. Then I had a tough time getting out of it. The builder had done 2 of these and stated that the other one was taller and that they split the VW axle to widen it 6 inches. I really wanted to do one but the glass work scares me to death. I am at a point today that I have the VW front end, and two different bikes in the garage that could be donated to the cause. Still the though of glassing and climbing back out of the TM keeps me from diving in. Your setup shown her gives me a bit of hope. Now you have me thinking again...............
What a nice story, in my plan i was also thinking too use the VW front end and the motorcycle at the back, with you,re experience I know now what to do directly what to do with the shocks!
I think you are amazing and inspirational! The love of my life and I watch your videos and gather ideas for minimizing, love, and adventure! Thank you! 😍😍
Inspiring as always. Tomorrow if the guy shows up, I am trading two of my paintings and a custom paint job for an arc welder and a jigsaw; I thought waiting ten years for this to build my buggy was long; but you waited twice as long. I am going all electric, ultra light weight, peddle powered when juice is off.
The trimagnum on popular science was also an inspiration of mine. I was right in subscribing to your channel. I also hope that I put to life my designs before I get too old. I'm no 54.
well ..... I think I was a bit sad to see it go. pretty neat though having someone wanting to buy your creations. looking forward to the next one! :) have a great day!
Pretty good almost done vehicle. I like the guys idea of an online three cylinder from a metro. A 1 liter engine should get pretty good mileage. One of my son's had a metro a few years back and did the math at 42 MPG and it desperately needed a tune up. I recently bought an 82 Metro convertible and am working to get it back on the road as soon as possible. My current vehicle is left over from having a lot of kids. Now that we're empty-nesters, a full size van with a V-8 5.8 liter is overkill and takes too much gas.
Awesome video ! I always had a dream of building a car based on VW drive train. Great to see your dream come true. Then its time to move one. Thank You for sharing your video.
I once made similar plans.. but use an aftermarket aluminum front vw front suspension. a Honda 750cc and make it a 2 seater. the seats set back just a bit towards the sides of the motor, with a cooling duct from the front grill to the motor..
lot of the motorcycle engine conversions use a startermotor and a flexplate from a car mounted straight to the solid rearaxle to reverse the car i thing the vw bug front end uses two torsion bars per side but they couldve been a stack of twisting springleaves too , maibe deleting one of the two per side or have them machined a lot thinner or replace a few of the leaves with a plastic spacer will make it a lot softer
Gas is history. The sun isn't going to run out anytime soon. We just need to get better at using it. We have the ability to harness the natural cycles of the earth. The waves in the ocean, wind, rainfall, sun, and geothermal. It's all there happening every day, yet we'd rather pump toxins out of the ground and belch it into the sky.. =[
If synthetic fuels (like ethanol alcohol that's also good for drinking although might not taste particularly good) don't work (because it takes space and time to grow the plants, and space and time to convert them into alcohol ethanol), then compressed air is the way to go, since it can be easily (and rather cheaply) be made with the mechanical energy given by wind turbines and solar heaters + stirling engine.
This was the greatest video! Thanks for sharing! It seemed like it was about me not you. The closest I've come to my own desires is the crosley cars. It's a 50 mph tiny car that sits on sheet of plywood with 40x80 wheelbase. I still dream of building something from scratch but health is preventing me from that at the moment. I had in mind to do exactly what you did and use motorcycle donor. Tag and insure it as that motorcycle. Nobody needs to see it where I live. We don't have inspections. I wouldn't be worried because it would be mechanically sound if we did have inspections. I'm not laying down my dreams regardless of what doctors are telling me. Thanks again!
a sad moment mate when you sell off one of your babies, i felt the same way when i sold my first trike. i hope your next one will be just as awesome. have a great day mark
Love it Paul. I'm on the list for an Elio. What's your next project? Years ago I had the full plans for the Tri-Magnum. Never went anywhere with them but had fun dreaming. Happy New Year.
I look forward to your next car. Have you seen the Zoleco? He's got construction videos on RU-vid. It looks like he did similar to your chickenwire and paper mache technique but used tape and spray foam which he then shaped and glassed.
i feel u bro!! i have dreams to... so far im still working on it and hopefully i get to reach it(riding my own crf africa twin in 5 years... no kidding, thanks for the motivation man!! love it!!
so sad Bro! I have a fully restored 76 Toyota celica ST trunk model burnt orange! it's on the block this very moment on Craigslist I'm in Gig Harbor, near you sort of, it's a nice car! wished I could keep it, but I'll find another project the next step up!
Its a wonderful job you did Mr. Paul. Now, I've got a similar assignment and that is only for two months, Therefor, can you guide me how I can do it. Thanks
27 would've called tesla a scam it seems their first "real" production car that wasn't recalled en masse was in 2008, 5 years after the company was founded and even then they were a media darling and got funding out the ass even when they couldn't make a dime in returns ello has no such backing, it has to work with what it can..and securing funding and a place to actually produce the things hasn't been easy Racer eventually gave them the funds needed to use an old GM factory, but yeah...not all that useful, hell even Racer knows damn well the chances of them being able to repay on time (or get production on time) is unlikely due to sheer funding problems most cars take 3+ years to start producing, even when absolute power houses are designing and producing the machines cars..if not absolute garbage take a long..long time to produce if you run into any issues along the way it bogs down to such an extent that it feels like forever
You can go with up to a 12 inch rim on those from the factory. Just in case you didn't know as far as I have read the rims from a Honda will also fit onto the Yamaha hubs. Just for future reference :) Also try registering it as a motorcycle and not a car, it is only 3 wheels :D Thats how Polaris is getting away with that new 3 wheeled "Car" looking vehicle they are selling called the Slingshot.
The washington state three wheeled vehicles law keeps changing. Now if you have a steering wheel and roll cage you don't need a helmet and no need for a motorcycle endorsement . (I think)
Oo ok. I know things can be quite different from state to state. I do know though that the new Polaris Slingshot is very similar to what you had built but is considered a "motorcycle" even though its more like a car, lol.
One way to do a fairly cheap and easy REAL reverse? Simply use an electric motor dedicated only for very short spurts in reverse ...actually a car starter motor would be plenty!
hey man, i really like trikles, and the retro car, desing for the frontal suspension. i maybe change for phnewmatic like bikle, in front, and fat tire in rear, but it awesome build, relli like it tell me about the suspension, fron where came cuatritrike, VW, sandler ¿?¿?
I have been thinking about a Metro/Swift powered reverse trike for a very long time. Is there anyway to get an update on buddy there who bought your trike given that he was planning to use a Metro motor?
Thank you for sharing! Can you share any insight into the registration and insurance process for Washington state if you ever looked into these things?
Your drawings are beautiful. Good effort with the trike too but it seems you just ran out of enthusiasm for it. Happens to the best of 'em mate! Good luck with the next build.
