[NSR] Winter-worthy motorcycle

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:13 pm

TVB wrote:Another factor is that under current laws in most states, you'd need a motorcycle endorsement to drive this, and a lot of them would require wearing a helmet.

Yes, but the cool thing is that you can take your test in this thing, so that should help lower the barriers to ownership. I see a lot of those CanAm 3-wheelers rolling down the Blue Ridge Parkway. I wondered at first (as did some others) whether this was a "real" business. I am well aware that the history of motorcycle startups is littered with companies that failed because of financial mistakes made during the startup process, in some cases because of incompetence and occasionally because of malfeasance. However, this enterprise continues to at least[url=http://green.autoblog.com/2014/01/03/el ... trike-ces/ present the appearance of moving towards production[/url]. I sincerely hope that is the case. There's nothing I'd like better than to see another new made-in-American vehicle, especially one that sells for under $7000.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:41 pm

Their estimated delivery date has slipped by about half a year, which indicates that something isn't going as planned. And it means that I'm not going to be buying one, because I'm pretty sure I'll need a new winter vehicle by the end of this year. But it's good to see that they haven't given up.

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:55 pm

If you are referring to the Elio the last that I had heard was that they could not meet the contact obligations on the factory in LA.. If this is so then they have no where to produce it. It is a great design, but there are others of comparable design floating around. I would like to see them make it but I
think the chances are slim to none.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 12:51 am

Wolfhound wrote:If you are referring to the Elio the last that I had heard was that they could not meet the contact obligations on the factory in LA.. If this is so then they have no where to produce it. It is a great design, but there are others of comparable design floating around. I would like to see them make it but I
think the chances are slim to none.

If the Lousiana plant is the problem, it's not as if there are no other suitable former automotive manufacturing facilities in North America.

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 2:28 am

True but I suspect the biggest road block for Elio is finances. If a good
investor can be found they could make it but is a basically depressed
economy finding one would be difficult.

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 7:19 pm

To illustrate another simular ride research the Snyder 3 Wheel Car being advertised on saferwholesale.com. They offer a two seater 'car' and a pickup truck design. Price is $7469.00 2 cyl. engine 600 cc, 70 mph, 76 mpg. Made
in China. I would not touch one with a 10 foot pole but evidently they are selling them.
Just another example of the Elio style vehicles that are already out there. There is nothing new about the basic design and there are others who have
produced them. Maybe not as powerful or nice as the Elio but they are out there.
IF Elio can bring theirs to the market place I think it would sell and would probably be a good vehicle. Only time will tell.

Howardr · Post by **Howardr** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 8:27 pm

Then there is the "Land Glider."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CAnq5DyNG0

Howard

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 11:04 pm

TVB wrote:If the Lousiana plant is the problem, it's not as if there are no other suitable former automotive manufacturing facilities in North America.

As Wolfhound observed, the problem is not finding the facility - it is paying for the facility. These start-ups are notoriously underfunded. Probably because people with money want fairly strong assurances before they part with it.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 11:48 pm

On the other hand, there are also state and local governments willing to give all sorts of special breaks and even bond deals to get companies to set up shop in their jurisdiction. So sometimes it's a question of finding one who wants it badly enough and propositioning them. I certainly don't have enough industry insider info to know what those prospects are like in this case ... and I suspect neither does anyone else in this discussion.

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 12:13 am

Howardr, very interesting video concerning concept cars but a little out of
date. The problem with concept cars/bikes is that for the most part they seem to remain concept vehicles.I think that the Auto Moto has not sold well in this country and may not even be available now. The Piaggio MP3 is no
longer imported to this country due to slow sales so I am told. I thought that both units had great promise but both had design defects. The AutoMoto had problems with its tilt mechanism and the MP3 required that the rider hit the
lock button in stopping to keep it upright and if he forgot the bike might fall over because he had forgotten. I really liked the MP3 and might consider buying one if the ever started importing them again.

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 5:36 am

This is a little off-topic, but I never considered having to hit the lock button on the MP3s to be a design defect. If you've ever ridden one, it is a distinctly unsettling feeling to be on one of those with the suspension locked, and rolling forward at a super low rate of speed (for example, when sitting in traffic on an incline and just rolling up a car-length).

Yes, you have to be ever vigilant when coming to a stop, or when at a stop so the bike doesn't fall over...just like any motorcycle really.

They are cool bikes...I just finally wanted something a little more lightweight, and with less moving parts (ie front suspension) that could sooner or later go wrong...though I never had any issues with mine.

They have very reliable, long lasting engines, so if you are interested in getting one, you might still check out a used one....both of mine were used.

walke2jd · Post by **walke2jd** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 3:26 pm

Well, it sounds like they are still pushing forward. Elio secured another $7 million in funding and has finalized the lease of the Shreveport factory.

I'm still hopeful that this can make it. Even at a higher price tag, I think it could be a viable player for commuters.

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 3:37 pm

Walke2jd, that is indeed encouraging news. Securing the lease on the Shreveport property was, in my opinion, a necessary step in their program.
If they can produce the rig and sell it at the price they say they can, AND
if the first ones sold do not present the owners with a host of problems then
this rig can easily become a best seller and leave the other reverse trikes in
its dust. I hope that the Elio becomes a success.