Converting a Sidekick into a 3-wheeler - has anyone done it?

[Wüstling]

For an art car project I am trying to get a small 2-seated electrically motorized vehicle. Since I've decided too late to come to BM this year, I missed the MV registration.

I have purchased a "Side Kick" PVC quad-bike kit (still unassembled) from americanspeedster.com. But those aren't allowed with motors on the playa by federal/state law unless they get registered as MV, which isn't working for me this year, obviously.

So I now wonder if it can be converted into having just one front wheel.

Not only would it solve the motor issue, but it would also deal with the instability issue on the uneven playa, I guess.

The challenge is to get the single front wheel, placed in the center, turnable. I'd probably have to use a standard bicycle front fork and mount - but that's all metal, and the Sidekick frame is PVC. I have no idea how to connect both (I'm technically savvy but have not done anything like this before).

Any advice?

[trilobyte]

I can't imagine it can be done either safely or at a reasonable expense. Further, you'd risk it winding up in D-Lot for the week, the BLM and DMV are less tolerant of someone trying to 'lawyer up' the rules than you might think. Before you start mutating the quad bike into an unsellable condition, you may want to send an email to the BRC DMV.

[Wüstling]

Before you start mutating the quad bike into an unsellable condition, you may want to send an email to the BRC DMV.

Fair point, thanks.

FYI, I had emailed DMV about clarification of the rules on this before, but didn't think of asking if this may be seen as a violation of the "2 or 3 wheels only on unregistered el-assisted bikes".

[Captain Goddammit]

Trilobyte is right. It can be done but it will be a custom job that you might as well start from scratch.
Basically you need a trike.
Incidental point, going from four wheels to three generally doesn't reduce instability.
I'm not aware of any issue with a trike seating two people; I've got a two-sweater bike myself.
The way the rules are written, it does need to be "generally recognized" as a bicycle (or tricycle).
While I'm positive that I COULD do what you're thinking of and get it licensed, there'd be nothing left of the quad but the pedals, gears, a few mechanical bits and three of the wheels.

But really, it comes down to the DMV's opinion.
I kind of agree, if you put it on three wheels it DOES comply.
Technically, you could just remove the right front wheel and counterweight the left rear corner!

[Wüstling]

Hi Captain,

The bike is built from PVC pipes, do you know the design? Due to the PVC, it flexes a lot (or so others have written in this forum) when driving on the uneven playa. That means that one of the 4 wheels would always be "in the air", and with the weight of 2 people it, that would bend the frame to keep all 4 wheels on the ground. That bending leads to problems such as that the chain may run off, and that pedaling becomes much harder, supposedly.

With 3 wheels, the front properly centered, this problem should be less as the weight then gets evenly distributed, don't you agree?

My problem is that I only have 5 days in the U.S. to build it, and so I had to go with the PVC version as I have no access to a welding shop, nor have I welded more than 10 minutes in my entire life. I don't think I could manage that in 5 days with metal, while cutting and gluing PVC along with the kit I purchase (which contains the metal bits, pre-fabricated), I have a chance of making it. I had one other option in mind, but trilobyte told me I cannot go that route on eplaya (I had already asked on Fb for help but that didn't get me anywhere, either).

Unfortunately, there is no other forum for the Sidekick models, either, as far as I can see (you'd thing the maker would run a forum, but no).

So, this is my best option so far. I know it isn't a great option, and that's why I ask for advice here. Otherwise I'd just solve it myself.

But then, your pointing out this may actually be my problem with this: "generally recognized as a bicycle". I just read this passage again, and you're right. I may fail that criteria.

BTW, DMV already responded as well, and they, as I assumed, confirm that they're not the ones making these rules but it's state law, and BLM enforces it. So, DMV has no say nor interpretation in this, contrary to what others suggested to me before.

Sigh. I guess I can give up now. Thanks for everyone's thoughts.

[chuckularone]

If I were going to convert it to a three wheeler, I would simplify it by going with a tiller instead of a steering wheel.

[Captain Goddammit]

Oh, I failed to notice you're coming from Germany (congrats on the Cup!)
So - how about just not adding the electric motor?
Those electric bike motors aren't that powerful anyway (at least not the ones permitted on an unlicensed pedal vehicle). You won't have to figure out the infrastructure for battery charging, which on the playa pretty much means generator or fairly large solar installation.
I wasn't familiar with the thing but I looked at it on the link you posted.
Honestly I think it looks like crap, for the reasons you mentioned about PVC flexing too much to keep the gears in position accurately, but I understand your logistic issue makes it worth considering.

Everything I was going to suggest is out the window because of the time constraints you're under while on the same continent.