Modern Vespa

i tried to build a 'poor man's mp3' by adding a two wheel front end to my aprilia 500 . i'm trying to add other views of it but so far i'm unable to ! this newfangle gadget computerism confounds me! i had built it to tilt and had restricters to prevent premature 'tilting' till i had a chance to ride it i've bitten my share of blacktop, so wasn't anxious to bite more! i found, during my first ride that until i got to 30mph it wouldn't stabilize, and wasn't fun to ride very slowly! having the spring unit 'floating' made it a 'tilter' as opposed to a 'trike' but added challenges at less than wheel gyroscopic force kick-in speed, (30mph).

more pics, the wheels were way bigger than i wanted, but they were cheap! i took a video but so far havent been able to post it' i learned a lot about why they get so much $$$ for the mp3! i bet they didn't make the first mp3 work properly! either!

I don't get it, why ruin a good BV500?

Wow, that is some impressive backyard engineering! I hope you can get it dialed in, Triker.

Forget this project before you kill yourself.

Nice work!
Clever wheel suspension, too, I like it.

I would think those big wheels would make the front end rather sluggish. Wonder if a pair of GTS/MP3 wheels with their respective disc brakes would help out with the handling?

Why not? At least it is getting some attention.

hi web tech. it was a 500 atlantic. nothing got 'ruined', i made everything qd, using herky u bolts around frame members. i put everything back as it was, sold it, as a 2-wheeler, bought my mp3. you probably wouldn't 'get it' why i've built and flown several aircraft, and continue to fly an ultralight , i built, , weather permitting, every saturday, after all, ready built aircraft are available , but you wouldn't 'get it'. hi vintage, 'advisors' have been warning me i was gonna kill myself for most of my 82 yrs! could be they are right! but meanwhile i'll just keep bumbling along, having fun building stuff! occasionally succeding, sometimes not. ps, your not my mom are you? ( she used to warn me also) triker ( perhaps i should give up riding motor cycles and take up flower-arranging or golf?)

hi mad, your right, the choice for materials was largely $$ dictated. the wheels were obscenely over-kill, i did fit some honda m/c discs brakes up front, but after a coupla 'test' runs realized it wasn't happening for me, and i re 2wheeled the scoot. ( i put the whole front end out to pasture, maybe hook it to something else?).

I agree...
Unless your intention is to come up with a Kit to sell, which could have an interest vs the rear 2-wheel kits that are sold for some bikes.

My suggestion would be put the bike the way it was, sell it and buy a MP3.

Keith,
Marietta, GA

this is just me, but continue to innovate. it is people like you that come up with some great ideas just because you say what the hell.

That's interesting. What you have built is mechanically similar to the Peugeot trike but I fear the element that is missing is the control of the wishbone pivots which I suspect is hydraulically or electrically managed on the Peugeot. Have you built in some trail ( castor) and some toe-in to ensure stability in a straight line?

The other factor will be the rotational inertia of those very heavy wheels and tyres. The forces generated when the wheels turn or lean will be very high at speed and your linkages must be able to handle them.

Good luck with your project and take care.

i am thinking about the same thing building a kit that can be applied to other bikes to but due to the regulations here in Europe it will be more difficult

There is a company near Seattle, Washington that builds MP3 style front ends for MCs(mostly HDs) and will make a setup for your bike for $10,000. Jay Leno has an interview of what they do @ Jay Leno's Garage video. Forget what the co. calls itself.


Having met triker, I can verify he is an individual thinker and does what he wants whether anyone thinks it's wise or not.

www.tiltingmotorworks.com

success has many fathers, failure is a 'barstard' orphan!

Keep up the good work young man. I like your style. 8)