Stand-up tricycle with engine attached for commuting
 

My idea of the ideal bike should be:

1. Standing like Dreamslide bikes http://gajitz.com/standing-ovation-p...-like-a-dream/ or this http://www.toxel.com/tech/2010/11/07/stepper-bicycle/ - no back pain, neck pain

2. Possible to put a big trailer so as to put belongings and grocery
3. Has engine so that when you are tired, you can cruise with the engine - or your pedaling charges battery which could be used when you are tired.
4. Foldable so that you can put it in your car
5. Three-wheeled so that you can never slip and fall and hurt yourself

Here's electric folding bike for $280: http://www.kingsmotorbikes.com/kmb-e...g-bike-blk.htm


I'm thinking of something like this (A tricycle with big trailer): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ma...adu,_India.jpg
Another tricycle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Workhorse_Trike.jpg But its container is too small to carry enough stuff.

If the trailer was long enough I guess you could even sleep in it with a small opening for air.

So basically I want: Stand-up tricycle with engine attached.

I found an electrical tricycle with a small large basket in the back and a basket in the front: http://www.saferwholesale.com/EW88L-...ewh-ew-88l.htm
Electricity might be more expensive than gas, and the baskets might not hold as much as I want. And way too expensive.

How might I be able to make a stand-up tricycle with engine attached? How much money would it cost?

I dont want to share any liability for even suggesting this is a good Idea..

the expensive part is the welding and machine shop to make one , so price out that.

How about just buying a Segue.

they are motorized and have 2 wheels and you stand to run them.

Why might it be not a good idea?

Yeah I've seen something like this...in fact, they're pretty darn popular around here, except they usually have 4 wheels instead of 3 and I think they've eliminated the hassle and cost of the battery by converting the electric motor to some kind of combustion mechanism. :o

Where do you live, chucky?
What is it called?

I think the standing ovation in particular, is more likely to cause lower back pain than relieve it. My back pain is actually less, since I restarted bicycling (on a traditional hybrid bike), and the handlebars are in an upright enough position that I can see without over flexing my neck bones. I think those upright bikes in general will be murder on your lower back, especially when you hit bumpy stretches, and the bumps compress your vertebrae.

I'm just thinking though, without hard evidence beyond my personal experience. Thinking. A dangerous pastime, I know! ;)

Worksman has what you're looking for. http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_s...ml/page47.html

If that set up doesn't work for you, compromise on the fold (especially seeing as how any e-bike will be too heavy for anyone concerned with or suffering from back/spinal issues to lift on a frequent basis), find the tricycle of your dreams and start researching conversion kits.

It's called a car!

Have you ever ridden anything with three wheels?
There is a reason 3 wheeler atvs are illegal.

Get a two wheeled bike with no motor and it will be so much lighter you won't need them.

NB if you don't have to pedal it, to make it go, it can be required to be licensed and you to carry Insurance..

Most of the guys that come into the Bike Shop and want a gas power kit for their Bike,
have had the Judge suspend their driver's license for DUI .

If you're getting into motorised territory, you'd be better off just buying a moped. For anything with an engine, you must register it and pay whatever tax, insurance etc as is required for that category of vehicle. Oh and you need a valid licence and are subject to whatever motorcycle helmet laws exist.

As a side question, where could I in the US get something like this? Would I have to have it shipped from India? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ma...adu,_India.jpg

The guy is pretty much standing in that picture so I guess that's good enough. I wouldn't want as big of a trailer as shown in the picture though.

Why are they illegal? I wasn't imagining anything like that though. It must have heavy tires for instance that add to the weight, and go at a speed that might be too dangerous.

If its got a gasoline motor, and you want to use the public highways , and streets .
You have a Motor Vehicle, you will be cited if the constabulary sees you ..

[ if you keep it on the farm and off the roads you don't. then its like a farm tractor.. ].

for clarification contact the DMV in the state where you live.

Pedal Electric Bicycles Fall in a different category,
because when you stop pedaling the motor assist quits.

standing ,there are weird exercise things, like the Horse on a treadmill Bus..

thing about a Bicycle is by not standing, but seated,
the muscles can turn the pedals more easily, than walking, and supporting your weight.

I think she's standing because there's only one gear and that contraption doesn't look light. Maybe a Worksman trike would be up your alley.

They kept flipping over.
A three wheeled vehicle, with one front wheel, is very unstable cornering with any speed.
The only time they are better is when sitting still or going very slow.

:roflmao2:
If you're referring to the Indian trike, that is actually a guy. That is a traditional outfit still worn in parts of Southern India. Unlike the Scottish kilts though, people wear underwear with this :)

Thank goodness! :lol:

I found some worksman trike for 400-500 dollars :
http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_s...ulttrikes.html
It seems kind of expensive.

Wow that's really expensive.
How do I go about researching conversion kits?

A traditional tricycle (1 wheel in front) is unstable when cornering. Unless it has a very low center of gravity (like a child's Big Wheel) it will easily flip over. Three-wheel ATVs are gone for this reason.

Have you ever pedaled a bike that weighs 50 lb? The weight of the motor and battery pretty much ensure that you will use the motor and battery. Unless it is absolutely flat where you live and you are content with 10 mph.

Tadpole trikes (two wheels in front) are different. I would consider adding an electric motor to something like this:

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/CargoTrike.jpg

Search results from duckduckgo on "e-bike conversion kit" http://duckduckgo.com/?q=e-bike+conversion+kit

You can also start hanging out in the e-bike forum here.

Would it be pretty expensive to ship it from India?

Hate to break it to you, but this is a bicycle forum. Bikes have two wheels. You may want to see if there is a trike forum.

:thumb: