Trikes: what is the ideal engine layout?

Question

As bikers and trikers will be aware, trikes come in two main flavours:

1. motorbike-based, a modified motorcycle with the two rear wheels driven on a swing-arm mounted live axle or with IRS,

2. car-engined, usually with a VW flat-four motor located behind the rear axle.

Dynamically, what is the ideal trike? A rear or front engined machine? Any other dis/advantages to bear in mind?

Trikes appeal to my wierd tastes. I'm trying to narrow it down by considering the pros and cons of bike or car engined machines!

Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

The simple answer? I'd go with the motorcycle conversion instead of a car engine bolted to a bike.
Reason - The motorcycle conversion can be repaired at any motorcycle repair shop. With a car engine, a motorcycle repair shop won't work on a car engine. With a car engine, an auto repair shop won't know how to fix any part of the motorcycle.
Are you going to be doing all your own work? Still I'd go with the motorcycle conversion. You'll run into less problems during repairs. Imagine the problems you'd run into with a VW engine in a Ford Pinto. You could get it to work, but you're looking for headaches down the road.

Answer 2

Dynamically, there is a third option that is better still:
the engine between the two front wheels, with a single rear wheel.
May be less fun, or less traditional (although I'm sure fans of the pre-1934 Morgan, or the 1980's 2cv-based Lomax, will disagree), but it is more stable. These are more trikes for car enthusiasts, while those with a single front wheel appeal more to bike enthisiasts.

There are also some with a single motorcycle front wheel ahead of a car engine and running gear from a front-engined rwd car (e.g. Rover v8), which would be better balanced than one with a VW flat-4 hung out the back.

Answer 3

I personally prefer the look of bike derived trikes. I've seen some really nice V Max based ones.
I think the lack of reliability of car engined trikes is more due to the age of the components. The VW engine is used a lot because it is rear engine and rear wheel drive all mounted on a sub frame making it a reasonably easy conversion. To have a front engined trike you need to use rear wheel drive running gear and preferably an in line engine. Trouble is most cars these days are front wheel drive with a transverse engine which means you need to go to quite old cars to get your bits. I've seen Reliant parts used and I think I once saw a Triumph Herald engined trike. This is all old technology, old worn parts and so unreliable.The only modern inline ream wheel drives I can think of are some of the four wheel drives. The Suzuki SJ and Jimny engines are good so maybe you could leave out the transfer box and do something with one of these??
Good luck and sorry to rattle on

Answer 4

My girlfriend has a car-engined trike, with the engine at the front. And a hard-tail rear axle...

I know of a Rover V8 engined trike, which is rear mounted.

There are several front-engined VW trikes about.

Boom Trikes produce a Harley-Davidson powered, rear-engined trike.

The options are as wide and diverse as your imagination. Personally, I think front engined (conventional bike engine location) regardless of whether it's a bike or car engine, looks best. It would probably give the best overall weight distribution, too.

Always remember two things -

1) Bike engines aren't designed to be coupled to an axle.
2) Car engines aren't designed to be exposed to the elements.

(This is allegedly why trikes, including my good lady's, often break down...)

Answer 5

Just a personal choice but I go for the bike based idea more than the car base

I just think that a bike based appears to be bike in it's looks

I work in the motor car industry and feel that the car based units look just what they are. A VW cut down and a pair of forks slammed on. Sorry to all of you out there that have spent hours developing your trikes from a car base

Sorry but that is just my way of thinking.

Answer 6

mine is a 911 engine and running gear,
pros -- very fast good looks (will have when comes out of paint shop)
cons-- insurance/fuel/traffic jamsand more
but i still go for the pros any time