Manky Monkey Motors

Does anyone on here own one ? Question is why are they so easy to wheelstand  and do they all do it ? It's that why most are built so long ?

I understand the weight all hung out the back doesn't help and that the torque of th  engine is multiplied by the gearing but it's hardly a torque monster is it, what's it make , 40/50lbs per foot? multiply that by gearing in 1st , say 4:1 by axle ratio 4:1 and that's still only around 400lbs with maybe 210lbs of rider and another maybe 210 of trike forward of the axle ?


What are they like handling wise compared to a 'standard' trike ? I've been caught out with a high power Beetle swapping ends when turning right quickly.

Ask Lunatic.
Is there a standard trike ?   ;)
PM sent.

Mr Loon's the chap to ask about custom Beetles in general & his Dad has a triked one.
TrikerPete's built a couple, (& may have another in the pipeline at the moment). ByzMax has experience of them too.
Chris Ireland, who used to trade as "Desperate Dan" & also edited/part owned BritChopper magazine, used to do Beetle trike kits, called the Preying Mantis. Early versions had the fuel tank at the back with the engine, but later ones used a long thin tank under the front of the frame to keep the weight forward. Plainy Janey's Dad, Jacko, has one & brought it along to our pitch at the Basingstoke transport festival last year. He lives in Frimley, near Camberley, Surrey & I'm sure would be happy to chat if you want a look at one. 

As pointed out by Olds I forgot they actually make good torque , twice what I was basing my calcs on, OOPS  Although I've a lot of experience with VW engines I forgot that the poor bhp is at very low revs , approx 3800 and the breathing is the limiting factor. I used to run a 1776c beetle lump ,making around 120bhp , back in 1988 and first started playing with Cal Look Beetles before Volksworld had even starting being  published.

So the Beetle isn't a mystery to me , nor it's handling quirks, rather it's application in a trike and associated problems that I'm interested in. A mate local to me built what's now known as a Swedish style trike back in 1977 , based on a very similar chop built by another mate Terry 'Hoot' Howell of the old Custom Scene chopper shop in Chichester.

Here's link to the old Custom Scene website . Andy see if you can spot Pop Brown in there with his chop ! Some early chop history in there .

http://www.customcity.co.uk/Pictures.html

Sorry, reading that back again it sounds a bit arsey or bragging, not meant to be, just trying to fill in some of my background so you can see it's teh trike 'effect' I'm more interested in.:)

 :D
Think that you are on the right lines with reversing the engine but not going with the extra trans case. Always seems like an added complication
to what could be a simple but effective design.
Keep it simple. Simple works.

I have a swing axle box and shafts sitting in the shed at the moment. Idea's so far have been rear-engined reliant, mid engined, or with the extra dummy box as in Swedes.

Some great photos in there Kev -the 70s always looks cool to me! I had no idea Kris was into bikes.

Was talking to him about it a couple of years ago and he said he didn't ride it on the road cos it's lethal!

 I know most of those guys back from the day, didn't realise how lucky I was at the time but used to hang out at Jagos / Custom Scene a lot.

I bought my first full project Capri from Kris , he needed to sell it to pay for taxing his Old Iron Fordson van. I think the Consul  Capri was only 11/12 years old at the time ::)

 A tuned Beetle can be as well , I don't have a T shirt but something best not to talk about in polite company ;)

Was talking to him about it a couple of years ago and he said he didn't ride it on the road cos it's lethal!

-that was Loony's Dad Bobbi. Janey's Dad's the guy with the big Mexican moustache.

I saw Kris's old Fordson, "Old Iron" last weekend. It was driving the other way through South London when I was going to the Detonators' party.

Janey's Dad, Jacko.

Loony & his Dad, Dave.

Plainy Janie.

Some crazy BikerGran person.

Goiod grief that's an old pic of me!

This was the trike I meant - I knew it was someone's dad!

Yup, that's Dave's, (Loony's Dad).

I remember the one built by Brian Godber. Very short wheelbase, had to put wheelie bars at the back as it wouldn't keep the front down.

Do you mean Golly Godber of Havoc Morry Thou van fame, trike had SLY 7 reg if I remember correctly ? If so , my word you're old !! LOL Must be the same of af age as me !!

"Havoc" was one of my favourites -very garish, but cool when I was 12  :)

His trike.

ONE of his trikes apparently he built 3 . havoc is now back in this country after a good few years in the States, was at Wheelsday about 3 yearas back.

Yeah, that was the one I remember. Peculiar styling, but very much of it's time -& I love the hat!

One of his others, courtesy of TimeTravel DVDs.

The problem with reversing the engine is that you have to sit so much higher.... See pictures. Awful to ride.

Rear engine is fine. Built a few in my time and never had a problem. Even an XS1100 trike goes light on the front when you hit the throttle. ;-)

Yep thats the one! And I am that old but if asked I wouldn't admit to it.

Didn't he sell that to a very rich Arab who just locked it away in a garage with a lot of other exotic automobiles.

That was Nick Butlers original Nykilodeon T , now dusted off and recommisioned.