Three Wheeled Fun on a Tilting Trike

[chukchee]

What diameter are the wheels?

[martulda]

I love thay trike; is there a way to build one for my self??? Any drawings, plans? THANKS!

[fathippy2]

I wish my 400x four wheeler could do that.

[martulda]

Quite a exiting video; I have been looking for a good (and practical) trike for sometime. Eve designed and build one, then second generation, front wheel drive type, with real wheel stearing, quite a fun to drive, but I am still not happy...

Wouldlove to take a ride on your!

Any drawings to build one for my self?

Will you finally get organise to produce a serie and offer to hungry people like me?

Ouh, I forgot, alittel details: What is the price?

Martin in Montreal

[dougmctx]

Very cool ... turns a lot more tightly than I would have guessed!

[Opspin]

Uhm, not to disturb crazy talk or anything, but shouldn't you all just be concentrating on making this bike available to as many people as possible? I doubt anyone will get rich either way.

Oh and this might not be practical, but couldn't you make a full fairing (velomobile) for this bike? I realize it might be troublesome because of the turning and twisting but it would be my dreambike.

[purplepeopledesign]

I am working on getting the 2.0 version of this trike to market.

[IFlick]

These bikes, tilting or otherwize will never be practicle. For the price of a good recumbant, you could buy a really great conventional bike. The best rider in the world cannot make up a grade more than a few degrees from a dead stop. They are not for the road. We all know the terror of a car sailing past you on the highway on a two wheeler. Imagine the same experience with your ass a half in off the ground! Also, most are  cumbersome to haul or transport anywhere.

[purplepeopledesign]

While you are right that most recumbents are more expensive than a similarly equipped diamond frame (DF), that is due to small mfg quantities. Most recumbent riders can climb the same hills as most DF riders.... it's the engine that counts. On really steep hills, the trikes have an advantage because they don't have to be balanced. Most of the low racers are cheaper than the expensive Treks and many are about 20 lbs. Because of better aerodynamics, they are now climbing better than the DFs.

[purplepeopledesign]

As for hauling, some recumbents are bigger than DFs but most of them fit on the same racks. In fact, after removing the 2 rear wheels with a 6mm Allen key, the trike in the video fits in the back of our 2006 Civic with the rear seat folded. This is not a hatchback and yet the trike fits under the rear window deck well enough that I can shut the trunk lid.

[purplepeopledesign]

I can report that my long-tail cargo bike is more susceptible to wind gusts than my trike. Even though it is heavier, I surmise that being upright is what is catching the wind. I would guess this can be compared to standing against a strong wind vs. lying down in it.

[freddotu]

My ass is four inches off the ground and I experience no terror from automobile drivers passing me, because I've taken bicycle safety classes and know how to operate safely on the roadway.

It does not matter what type of recumbent (not recumbant) one rides if that rider is unskilled and untrained.

I have had no problem transporting my various recumbents, but recognize that the solutions are different than that for conventional upright bikes.

[purplepeopledesign]

I'm not trying to win any arguments, merely correcting the lies. Every one of my machines has been a test of something different, usually with suspension. As a group, Paul, Dan and myself shared what we learned with each other as we experimented with many different things. Paul understood vehicle dynamic, especially in turns. Dan was a mathematician and worked on light weight and transmissions. I knew about braking and suspensions. We never built anything we could just borrow from the other.

[purplepeopledesign]

cont'd. Built a tadpole with rear suspension in 1992 and shown at Yreka IHPSC '92. Built a tadpole with fully independed suspension in 1994 and shown at Eureka IHPSC '94. Then a 14 year hiatus on building recumbents until last year to concentrate on a career. During that time, I took ownership of my mentor's trike and continued to ride and study developments in recumbents and bike suspensions. Started again last year, with a SWB for winter use. Currently making a long-tail cargo bike.

[supersk8t3r]

I have read these posts for a few days and waited for the end...seems bodybuilding guy has not had been smashed as his posts look like truth compared to your purpledude. I wonder why you have not built a single trike at all though and why have you rode your friends trike in this video almost 15 years after it was made? You seem to have beuilt recumbants but do not ever mention buiding a leaning trike like the one you are riding? Sorry dude, bodybuilder wins here..

[purplepeopledesign]

I'm glad that this is your last comment as you obviously have no idea about this trike or my history. I will elaborate for the benefit of other's understanding. Georgiev welded the trike but only after Paul Smith designed it and told him what to do. The architect tells the carpenter how to build the house. Some highlights of my recumbents that I built. The first in 1986, a SWB bike with rear suspension. Converted a BMX into a SWB in 1990 with suspended seat. Shown at Portland IHPSC '90.

[purplepeopledesign]

This is my leaning trike. Georgiev did not design it. It was previously owned by its designer and my mentor Paul Smith, who sold it to me in 1998 before moving to Austria. The frame was welded by Georgiev to Paul's specs. Paul explained the design to Georgiev but said that he didn't understand some parts. Paul died from smoking in 2007 before he could build more. If you believe Varna can re-create Paul's design, call them. I can, because I remember everything Paul taught me about bikes.

[bodybuildingrulz3]

1-You bought this trike from your late friend

2- Varna designed and created this trike and sold it to your late friend

3-You are using a trike in your video created by Varna (early 1990's)

4- You did not and currently (2009) have not created anything.

[bodybuildingrulz3]

5- Please stop using VARNA products to try to improve your financial situation.

6- You have not created any trikes in YOUR LIFE, first CREATE 1 trike, if you can. As it is now, you sir are a liar and a scammer!

7-This is my last post because anything said after this is redundant.

[bodybuildingrulz2]

The leaning tricycle you see on this video was made by Varna Innovation and Research Corporation, if you would like to obtain one please contact Varna.

[bodybuildingrulz2]

BTW blocking me from telling the truth is disgusting and shows what you are really about. You clearly are a non-respectful person and your Trikes " I will be building these custom" will be nothing more than cheap ripoffs from an uninformed and unconsented Mr. Georgi Georgiev.

[bodybuildingrulz]

This guy DID NOT create this leaning tricycle, it is his bike that he bought from the man that used to own it. This leaning tricycle was created by Georgi Georgiev (Varna Innovation and Research Corporation). I know this as a fact, as I personally know Mr. Georgiev and we talked about these "misleading" and "inaccurate" posts by purplepeopledesign. Give Mr. Georgiev his credit; it is HIS DESIGN and HIS CREATION!

[purplepeopledesign]

Actually, this design is neither mine nor Georgiev's. It was designed c. 1991-92 by my mentor, the late Paul Smith, formerly of Vancouver. As Paul told it, George welded this trike frame to his specs to pay back for helping with the aerodynamic and fork design for the early Diablo-type speed bikes. Paul tried unsuccessfully to explain to Georgiev the nuances of the leaning motion. Videos of the Varna trikes prove that Georgiev doesn't know how to make this exact type of leaning motion.

[purplepeopledesign]

Furthermore, Paul had also explained the design to myself and our other late friend, Dan Trayling. I have never said that this design is mine, only that I will build them custom. If one looks carefully, there are many long expired patents and early inventions for leaning tricycles, including the General Motors Lean Machine, which Paul studied very carefully. In this case, you are giving Georgiev more credit than he is due.

[bodybuildingrulz]

R.I.P. your friends who can not vouch for you. It is ABSOLUTELY Mr.Georgiev's creation, I have seen with MY eyes the very prototype this leaning tricycle was created from and I also viewed a videotape of Mr. Georgiev riding THIS very tricycle prior to Mr. Smith obtaining it from Mr. Georgiev. Not only does Mr. Georgiev know how to make this type of "leaning motion" he created the very concept! Please give credit where it is due, Mr. Georgi Georgiev created THIS leaning tricycle!

[purplepeopledesign]

Go ask Georgiev.... Paul was also his friend. Like you, I have nothing but respect for Georgiev, a builder of the highest caliber and owner of the fastest world records. OTOH, your comments are insulting to the memory of Paul Smith.

[bodybuildingrulz2]

I know ALL of the truth. If you respected Mr.Georgi Georgiev at all you would have at least given him credit for building this trike, asked for his consent, or even informed him you were going to use his leaning tricycle in this video for your financial gain, but you chose not to and also chose not to tell the truth to the readers and viewers that this IS Mr. Georgiev's creation. Your reply does not challenge my facts. The truth is always the truth, but you sir are the insulting one!

[Duncan55Watson]

Very cool design. Love the lean.

[daccop]

very nice, Do you have info on how to obtain one of these?

[nickswebtsv]

Wow, you are great. Did you make that bike? You are quite a remarkable designer. Kirwan State High School will most likely like to talk to you, more me, the team captain about some information on designing a recumbent bike that would suit the MTC (Marybrough Technology Challenge). Great bike.

[geminisamurai]

Is your Web site up yet? I'm interested in purchasing a trike--at a reasonable price, of course.

[knoxieman]

Nice!

So quiet as well!!

Knoxie

[purplepeopledesign]

Thanks.  It's quiet because the powerplant is just me. There is no motor.

[philosbonacci]

I wonder if that is possible on a tadpole?

[purplepeopledesign]

Yes. Many people have done that, including Wayne Soohoo and Alan Maurer. The problem is that it requires some extra complexity due to the necessary linkages. If you make the tadpole a simple lean, it ends up more like skateboard steering and cannot adapt to different speeds and turning circles.

[purplepeopledesign]

I will be building these custom. Watch for my website... it will be ready soon. If you want to make one yourself, search for leaning trikes. Many others are complicated and have multiple linkage rear axle. You are riding a Cruzbike so I suggest something a little bit more advanced to build, but still simpler machine like a SWB recumbent or tadpole trike.

[bodapro]

great job! could you give me some more information about this trike, link or something similar. thanx ;)

[bodybuildingrulz2]

Hello! Please contact Varna Innovation and Research Corporation, they built this very trike shown on this video!