Wild Idea for a new three wheeler?

[chowder]

Guys,

Bear with me for a minute while I ramble. I think that we all know that it is a snow-balls chance in H**L that we will ever see a major manufactur sell new 3 wheelers, yet there will always be a desire from a certain segment of the population to buy one (us). Now, I know that one can go to a fabrication shop and get a new quad or dirkbike hacked into a pretty good trike, but then you are left with something that may require a ton of custom bits.
Why don't we gather a group of folks to approach some of these aftermarket chassis manufacturers like Lonestar and Roll-Design to see what they could do? It might be worth a shot? Now, I know that this bike would be $$$, but no more so than a custom. Additionally, it would would lend itself to the aftermarket parts companies like Maier and DG etc? I think that if they were to bite on it we should expect to have to sign a release of Liability but maybe the Big Cheese could put his legal skills to work and draw up a document that we could submit as part of the package?
I am just trying to look for ways to get around (the now defunct) consent decree. I can't go this alone, but if we can get some folks that can put a compelling business case together to approach one of these companies, I am in. Hey even if they could dedicate one one of their assembly lines for 3 days a month to building a trike frame, I think it would be worth it?
Think of it, all that they would have to build would be the FRAME, there are already dozens of aftermarket companies (that would benefit from our proposal) producing everything else we would need.
In any case, think about it and if there would be interest, let's put together a set of next steps.

Chowder

[Merriman]

I'm in, I would just like to have an aftermarket (stronger but lighter) frame for my 85 250R. That and try to get a company like Applied that makes all those triple clamps to start forging a set up that would allow for our bikes to run dirt bike forks. That would be great.

[Dan10]

sounds like a fabulous idea. The hard part would be to make the design I think. I'm pretty sure it would be easy to make a jig, and pay a good welder to come up with a prototype once the specs are completed. There is also a large amount of money required to start a buisiness. It would be hard to get a loan from a bank when the CPSC has said they are dangerous. Id like to help as much as I can.

[Caterpillar]

I'm in!!:headbang:

[250sx]

I'll draft some killer release forms :demon:

[Bob]

Hey guys I think this is a great idea. I've been thinking the same way.My friend and I have been talking about a custom shop. aluminum frames,custom motors,etc...The hardest part in doing this is the coin of course,but besides this it would be designing the right geometry,would you want to model it after an existing trike or totally design a new one?Let me know what you guys want it would be interesting to see this. and besides I'm up for a challenge and new project. I'd like to show my 350 x but i cant figure out how to shrink my pictures.but email me with what you want to see.

[chowder]

Guys, What I am getting at is; if we can convince one of the aftermarket frame manufacturers that there is a market for trikes, then they already have all of the cash intensive equipment in place? By the way, I did put in a call to LoneStar and they pretty much told me to get lost??

[Bob]

Chowder I know what your saying,about going with an existing company,but what i'm saying is that they are outrageous on prices plus they all cater to the more popular crowd(quads). I think(99%)that i can fabricate a true frame and if I cant i know of a shop that can,I'm going to try and check on this tomorrow and go from there.

[Dan10]

Cant you take an aluminum quad frame and put a new front end on it?

[bonzdo350x]

I wish someone would start making trikes again. but as it was mentioned prviously. engineering a set of forks to replace the front wheels on a four wheeler sounds alot easier. But u are talking like mass production, right? Oh i wish?

[Bob]

Hey guys,I dont know about going with a quad frame for a couple reasons.looks(getting plastic cut right to fit),the overall fit(tank,oil coolers,radiators)cost(adapting parts to fit).I think going with an existing proven design(350x,250r,tri-z,tecate,etc..) then you would know everything would work.take a 250r frame do in aluminum but say you want to update the motor to a newer four stroke or what ever it could be done in the frame building process. the only down fall to this is an average guy having the right tools ,and all the dimensions of say the swap motor etc.. but anyway thinking about buying a tig welder to do aluminum right ,i already have access to a machine shop and will be making custom parts soon.will post pics of what i made what will before sale.