Manky Monkey Motors

Technical Section => Trike Tech => Topic started by: yx600 on February 21, 2007, 11:16:49 AM



Title: Metro trikes
Post by: yx600 on February 21, 2007, 11:16:49 AM
Ok stop laughing now... ;D

Whilst we're slowly progressing with the bike based trike project, its been noticed the bfc metro is dissolving quicker then we'd planned - so rather than lob it in the bin, I'm wondering if I can recycle it.

I seem to remember from way back that someone used to sell plans on frame construction to use one of rover's less than finest. Cant find any info now, was wondering if anyone knew if these plans were still in existence and or where to acquire a set

Ta everso


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: toad on February 21, 2007, 08:41:16 PM
if remember it was a company called austin trikes! i know he had a fire about five years ago! and he said it was doubtful that he would be able to recover the buisness!


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: BikerGran on February 21, 2007, 09:14:08 PM
Here's the info Austin Trikes (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2002/10/18/emntrik19.xml)

But that's from 2002 and the website is defunct.

Oh and it was a mini engine.

I could live with something like that.


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: klogan45 on February 21, 2007, 11:11:17 PM
I wish I'd seen that before I started on my mini trike :'( :'( :'( :'(


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: BikerGran on February 22, 2007, 12:27:14 AM
Wonder if he's still at that phone number?  01677 427997 - anyone want to try it?


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: yx600 on February 22, 2007, 01:51:03 PM
I'll try and give that a a call later. That was the website info I used to remember... ;)

The metro shouldn't be too far removed from the mini version, there's enough of the mini brigade shoe-horning gta lumps into minis - so my humble little 1100 should do just right.
 


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: BikerGran on February 22, 2007, 03:18:47 PM
If that were mine.....  I'd have to alter the angle of the fuel tank, can't see why the rear is so high.......  And I'm not sure about the boxy bit under the seat, I reckon a bit more of a naked look would be good.  And it would need a luggage rack.  But it's pretty much the first time I've seen a rear engined trike I could live with....



Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: Manky Monkey on February 22, 2007, 05:10:47 PM
Bobbi, I was chatting to Saddlebags this afternoon & he mentioned that his brother, who runs a car restoration business, has recently pulled the engine & box out of a Vauxhall Chevette automatic. Apparently not much bigger than a Reliant. Saddlebags was asked if he wanted it for a trike so probably available if you wanted it.


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: klogan45 on February 22, 2007, 05:31:03 PM
I could be wrong, and probably am, but the box thing under the seat looks like a fuel tank to me. It seems to have some sort of filler cap on it, not sure though. Since I saw this one I've been thinking about starting the frame work on mine again,coz its all angles and things, used box section, will post a pic or too and see what the general consensus is on that one. I posted a pic a while back but will post a new one in the next day or two. ;D


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: harley gazz on February 22, 2007, 06:26:40 PM
Bobbi, I was chatting to Saddlebags this afternoon & he mentioned that his brother, who runs a car restoration business, has recently pulled the engine & box out of a Vauxhall Chevette automatic. Apparently not much bigger than a Reliant. Saddlebags was asked if he wanted it for a trike so probably available if you wanted it.
ahh a vauxhall shovitt brings back memories my second car and a viva was my first paid £20 for it and she sailed through an mot ,pity someone had painted her yellow my kids called it the flying banana ;D


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: klogan45 on February 22, 2007, 06:54:24 PM
Did you have to shove it very often. I had to shove my first mini, then I discovered that it had an engine ;D ;D :-[


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: BikerGran on February 22, 2007, 07:23:08 PM
Bobbi, I was chatting to Saddlebags this afternoon & he mentioned that his brother, who runs a car restoration business, has recently pulled the engine & box out of a Vauxhall Chevette automatic. Apparently not much bigger than a Reliant. Saddlebags was asked if he wanted it for a trike so probably available if you wanted it.

Thanks Andy - trouble is I really don't know at present.  I spose I could stick it in the garage but I'm really only just starting to think about this whole thing, dunno yet who would build it for me - Bruce who built Gertie only does bike trikes - or even what I'd be asking them to build!  So regretfully I think I'll have to pass on that one.


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: harley gazz on February 23, 2007, 03:11:28 PM
Did you have to shove it very often. I had to shove my first mini, then I discovered that it had an engine ;D ;D :-[
i thought with mini,s you just put your foot through the giant holes in the floor and walked em along ;D ;D ;D ;D


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: BikerGran on February 23, 2007, 09:47:48 PM
Many years ago when I was young and not a very experienced driver, a boyfriend let me drive his Mini Cooper S - only he didn't tell me that if I put my foot down a quarter of an inch it was just like any other car, but another quarter inch and it would go VROOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!

So it went vroom, straight across a ditch and into a field!  It literally flew so there was no damage except to my pride, but it was most embarassing having to go and knock on the farmers' door to borrow some planks to get out again!  :-[


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: klogan45 on February 23, 2007, 10:24:09 PM
I thought that you put your feet throught the holes too, mine had two great big holes in the floor, then I discovered the engine and it went VROOOOOOM too :o
Much more fun after that ;D Used more petrol though ::)


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: Manky Monkey on February 24, 2007, 11:56:40 AM
My first car was a metallic green Vauxhall Viva. My pride & joy. The electric aerial I installed cost more than the car.


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: harley gazz on February 24, 2007, 04:44:58 PM
I thought that you put your feet throught the holes too, mine had two great big holes in the floor, then I discovered the engine and it went VROOOOOOM too :o
Much more fun after that ;D Used more petrol though ::)
wot you like klogan :D :D :D ;D


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: klogan45 on February 24, 2007, 09:56:30 PM
At the moment I'm driving a 2.0l td Nissan serena, surprisingly nice drive, looks nice to for a people carrier. I like the old style mini, preferable cooper or cooper s, loads of dosh for a nice one though. Would settle for a 1275 GT, in fact would settle for any nice mini, but not practical at the moment.
I like the morris thousand but got no chance, my wife, bless her HATES them with a vengance. Had loads of good times in the mini's and prior to that in the moggie thou that belonged to me mate. We went all over the place, just because we could.
I liked the look of MM popandn quite fancy making a sleeper out of something like that, BUT have got the mini based trike and the virago to finish yet so any other projects are a good while off.
What about yourself DT?


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: BikerGran on March 08, 2007, 01:55:26 AM
I'll try and give that a a call later. That was the website info I used to remember... ;)

Did you ever call that number YX?


Title: Re: Metro trikes
Post by: yx600 on March 08, 2007, 07:39:56 AM
Errr no, not yet, memory like a sieve, or the bottom of my renault van - both full of holes  ::)

Just punched the number in to the phone, will call them later today at a more acceptable hour and post the outcome here - honest I will  ;D

Thanks for the reminder BG