Can't get this fantasy out of my head lately.
Take something like this:
and make it look like this:
The goal would just be to have something fun to tool around the neighborhood with. Maybe venture up to a couple miles for groceries and other errands that I don't need to leave 25 mph neighborhood streets for.
I think I want two seats, and setup so that both passengers can pedal. Also maybe want a bit of electric assist. Since this would be human-powered, light weight would obviously be top priority. and I'm not sure starting with a recumbent bike is really much better than just starting with a couple garage sale regular bikes. The difficult design challenge is what to put in place of the engine, since its pretty front and center on the morgan.
Thoughts?
Woody
MegaDork
4/24/20 10:12 a.m.
Hmmm...I already have a couple of recumbent trikes in the basement...
I think that you could accomplish your goal without too much difficulty, however my concern would that the bodywork would effectively become a big parachute.
These things already have a lot of drag, and I'm not sure how effectively you could close up the front. And they are a little harder to pedal than a bike to begin with, because the pedals are out in front of you, rather than directly under the weight of your body.
It'sBenModified is doing something similar. Even basic aero on a recumbent has serious return.
I think you're issue will be having a passenger whom can pedal too. I suppose you could chain both pedals to a center shaft, THEN have the shaft drive the rear wheel- I know some eRecumbents do that. The other question is steering- you could handle one wheel, but you're partner will have to handle the other if you keep that shaft setup.
For a body work head start I thought about getting an old aluminum canoe and flipping it upside down. But that's quite a bit heavier than I'd want the body to be I think - an aluminum canoe is 60ish lbs, and even if you cut 2/3rds away that's still significant for a pedal power machine.
Woody
MegaDork
4/24/20 10:50 a.m.
Use the canoe as a body buck to shape new panels out of lightweight stuff.
Or, do something like a skin-on-frame kayak.
Is it also going to be electric ?
I thought they made foam Harley motors to help you design a frame etc ,
maybe you could use something like that......
californiamilleghia said:
Is it also going to be electric ?
I thought they made foam Harley motors to help you design a frame etc ,
maybe you could use something like that......
Ooh! Or put your battery up front and style the pack to look like an engine!
There's already an electric Morgan. Kind of modernized styling- no visible engine.
Would this work?
Woody said:
Use the canoe as a body buck to shape new panels out of lightweight stuff.
Or, do something like a skin-on-frame kayak.
Came here to say exactly this. Aluminum wire frame. Stitch a covering.
In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :
Oh I knew that but forgot about it somehow. It does look excellent, esp the 3 headlight version.
Just another reason I love this forum.
Build thread!
Build thread!
Build thread!
Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:
In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :
Oh I knew that but forgot about it somehow. It does look excellent, esp the 3 headlight version.
I like the 3 headlight one as a stand alone design ,
But it really does not have much "Morgan" in it
In reply to Woody :
Look closely. they only appear to be sliding pillars. The upper pillar support is actually a control arm with a coil over hiding behind the headlamp..
Morgan made some Trikes with E93A Ford engines entirely within the bodywork too.
also look at another 3 wheeler , google "Velorex Jawa " ,
These were all over the Czechoslovakia in the 80s , and used a canvas body ,
Velorex Jawa is to Morgan like a shorty VW bug is to Ferrari...
