Prototype T-3 Tecate with independent rear suspension? PICS

[8686]

Long story short i come across a guy that claims to own what is probably the most rare trike ever built. He had my attention. I was directed toward a building and was told that a Tecate three wheeler was up on the top shelf. He said Kawasaki hired some guy to develop an independent rear suspension for the trike but it never made it close to production with three wheelers on their way out. I climbed up and snapped a half dozen or so pics. I will let you be the judge.

This is what I saw when I walked in the barn. More pics to come.

http://i57.tinypic.com/fogm5f.jpg

[8686]

Here is another shot before I grabbed a ladder and climbed up.

http://i62.tinypic.com/168ev46.jpg

[ONEBAD350X]

moooooar please! that looks interesting

[ATC-Eric]

So wheres the rest of the pictures?

[El Camexican]

Maybe he fell off the ladder before he could post?:wondering

An independent rear axle trike sounds like a deathmobile to me.

[ATC-Eric]

Why only post 2 pictures?

[8686]

Sorry, I was at work. Stand by.

[8686]

http://i58.tinypic.com/wre0s0.jpg

[Tri-Z 250]

That's great! I seriously thought this was gonna be one of those ghost post. Thanks 8686 good stuff.

[Mr. Clean]

I wonder if this would be some of Barnett468's handi-work. http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-laughing013.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)


He said Kawasaki hired some guy to develop an independent rear suspension for the trike but it never made it close to production with three wheelers on their way out.

If it was towards the end of the wheelers being on their way out why would it be a first gen Tecate and not second gen?

[ATC-Eric]

Sorry, I was at work. Stand by.

I thought you were going for dramatic affect. It was eating me alive inside.

[DohcBikes]

If it was towards the end of the wheelers being on their way out why would it be a first gen Tecate and not second gen? Lol because obviously some dude slapped that together in his garage. Apparently Kawasaki hired some guy to put shocks from a newer Chinese quad on there as well.

Homemade hybrid. If not, then I suggest every member here submit a resume to one of the big 4.

[Mr. Clean]

:lol: I wont pass judgement til Barnett468 clears this up for the community. :Bounce :beer :w00t:


Lol because obviously some dude slapped that together in his garage.

[ironchop]

:lol: I wont pass judgement til Barnett468 clears this up for the community. :Bounce :beer :w00t:

LMFAO.......taking a deep breath....then LMMFAO AGAIN

and I agree with Camexican....the idea of an IRS trike just sounds dumb as trailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro

[ATC-Eric]

I would want to ride one with independent suspension before I passed judgement. It may be the bees knees for something like a big red.

[ironchop]

I would want to ride one with independent suspension before I passed judgement. It may be the bees knees for something like a big red.

yeah I thought about that for a second....but then I can`t remember NOT sliding the ass end of my trike around frequently so the whole idea of it rolling a little until the swaybar catches up before the lateral slide just makes me cringe

[DohcBikes]

Definitely not passing judgement on anything, its just obvious that theres no research or money in that, whatever it is. If barnett built it i sure hope he claims it:D that would be a fun time:lol:

Personally i think IRS would work great for a utility trike. Jeeps have quick disconnect swaybar links, why not a quick disconnect link to make the rear solid for going faster when necessary. The more people that say IRS will never work the more i want to try. There have been trikes produced in other countries with IRS.

[slashfan7964]

I need to here something from barnett before I pass judgement.

I can't tell if it was a hack job or not since it's got just a little more work than someone that was doing some redneck repair would put into it as far as effort.

[DohcBikes]

I need to here something from barnett before I pass judgement.

I can't tell if it was a hack job or not since it's got just a little more work than someone that was doing some redneck repair would put into it as far as effort. Not from where im sitting.

And have we even established if this is actually IRS or not? Is it one wheel drive or what? With a chain drive i dont see how it wouldnt be. unless u-joints outside of a chain drive carrier. That would be cool.

[Afrothunderkat]

More pics? From the rear looking forewords?

[8686]

http://i62.tinypic.com/2upqmah.jpg

[8686]

http://i60.tinypic.com/2z844eu.jpg

[8686]

I'd have to go back for better shots. I was dangling on a ladder to get these. Lol.

[8686]

http://i58.tinypic.com/wre0s0.jpg

[El Camexican]

I would want to ride one with independent suspension before I passed judgement. It may be the bees knees for something like a big red.

My guess is that you'd be calling it the "Tri-Tipper" 5 minutes into the ride.

[8686]

http://i60.tinypic.com/6i8xe1.jpg

[El Camexican]

Looks like the guy put a lot of thought into it. I wonder if it's the same guy that was determined to attach a parachute to the wheelie bars of a Pro Stock drag bike a few years back? (I'm not kidding about that)

[DohcBikes]

So its one wheel drive?? OK no now I see e carrier. Why no pics of the setup from the rear where it counts? Can't tell how it works/doesn't work from those angles.... would be neat to see more!


Does not look independent to me. Looks like a straight axle with a carrier converted from mono shock to dual shock and a bunch of unnecessary parts

Independent rear suspension does not include a straight axle, even if the arms pivot at the frame. Which it does not look to me like it would do very well.

[8686]

That's all the pics I got, but I can probably get more, and I'll try to take better ones next time.

[DohcBikes]

Lol the more I look at it the funnier it gets! There is so much wrong with that setup. The suspension has two choices there, go straight up and down, or twist and bind, stressing the swingarm at the carrier every time.

Imagine the twist on the chain if it were to truly articulate at the pivots.

There's a reason its up on the shelf.

But hey the guy was right, its one of a kind. Doesn't get much more rare than that:D

[Mr. Clean]

I would have zero worries thrashing thru an MX track, trails or dunes with that swaybar a couple inches from the ground!!!

I am not sure which is more unsafe riding that or standing on a ladder to take pics of it ? :)

[DohcBikes]

LMAO^^^^

Im really sorry for post whoring here but I had to look at this one on the t.v.

Im almost impressed with the supreme lack of comprehension of how suspension actually works.

Is there a sway bar at the top too? what is that? and its so hard to see but it almost looks like the monoshock is still there too...unless its just the other side i see.... oh how i hope this trike has three rear shocks!!

[El Camexican]

Whenever Barnett does get around to commenting on this he’d better not claim this one weighed less than a 250R:lol:

[barnett468]

Long story short i come across a guy that claims to own what is probably the most rare trike ever built.I certainly agree with that.

Did the seller look like this?

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSOVfHpIt5_4Z6fupZ94lfmB8nGLIDgT QECDOG6DSAFCHRad_nRGN7cD6uT





He had my attention. I was directed toward a building and was told that a Tecate three wheeler was up on the top shelf. He said Kawasaki hired some guy to develop an independent rear suspension for the trike but it never made it close to production with three wheelers on their way out.Yeah, they sent it to the sellers twin brother [see photo below] because I was too busy working on the new Turbo Encabulator made from Prefabulated Amulite.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSOVfHpIt5_4Z6fupZ94lfmB8nGLIDgT QECDOG6DSAFCHRad_nRGN7cD6uT




This is what I saw when I walked in the barn.Did you run right back out?

Did you cal 911?





I will let you be the judge.Ummm, there is not much to judge other than the quality of the design and craftsmanship [or lack thereof] because it never happened.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTx6KWTM7jAVma2zTeKGLQWtWYdoy6jC W0W_dTCXxmqgDWYG0FVWZuyJPI




More pics to come. OMG, please spare us.



It looks like a pig in a poke to me! Believe me, I should know.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTDheK_NT7A9cIdJnV_1Pg7lGbLDWNu5 AVQnY60FToKElt_Wip72n1nHA



Oh my, what the hell is that?

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTPVl94GrqAajvACcWSWBuCH4Hr1ehM_ b2Mu35gKuNf00fTPAdNX-Dhgl4

:beer

[barnett468]

Whenever Barnett does get around to commenting on this he’d better not claim this one weighed less than a 250R:lol:
Well actually it does if the 250R is being weighed with this test rider on it.

http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu210/HawkRider/th_super-fat-man-on-a-scooter1.jpg?t=1301371941

[barnett468]

I would want to ride one with independent suspension before I passed judgement.No...you wouldn't.

[barnett468]

I'm really sorry for post whoring here...No you're not. http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-laughing013.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)




Personally i think IRS would work great for a utility trike.Please stop thinking.




I had to look at this one on the t.v.Why?




Im almost impressed with the supreme lack of comprehension of how suspension actually works. http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-laughing013.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)




oh how i hope this trike has three rear shocks!!Why, do you live in San Francisco?

[DohcBikes]

Why, do you live in San Francisco?Hahaaa Nope, and as Seinfeld would say..not that there's anything wrong with that....:lol:

Another vote against the IRS trike. I still think it would work if you had the right engineer on the job.......

No seriously its already been done, produced, worked. IIRC there's pictures here on this site of IRS trikes overseas that reportedly are used on a regular
basis and work just fine.

[barnett468]

Whenever Barnett does get around to commenting on this he’d better not claim this one weighed less than a 250R:lol:Actualy it does weigh less, and this was achieved by the use of uber lite Prefabulated Amulute, hollow carbon fiber shock springs and lots of super nano thingamajiggies. In addition, we put helium in the tires instead of air.

[barnett468]

I wont pass judgement til Barnett468 clears this up for the community.


Definitely not passing judgement on anything,


I need to here something from barnett before I pass judgement.


And the verdict is…………………………..NOT GUILTY.


Thank God I bought oversized gloves.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ztkgQyBYDXE/R7N5Du9Jy8I/AAAAAAAAAB8/J9ahi9SInV4/s200/OJSimpson.jpg


I swear I never touched that bike.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1lGFYYNkw_o/S_ts7cX5aYI/AAAAAAAABF0/Uf-tMFijd-w/s1600/!!clintonochio.jpg


I swear I never touched "it" either...ever.

. . . http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ2fWsyBtsqV37K37JPqHEbviE5lvM-lPHLfVwMM9FnPyOVkW8ocJw3T_lu


Holy cr_p.
http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-laughing025.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)

[CRAZY70MAN]

I Have been thinking of the Dyson sweeper type ball design on a swingarm:lol::lol: :wondering:wondering Bet that tecate weighs 350lb the way it sits.

[barnett468]

I still think it would work if you had the right engineer on the job...
You mean like this guy?

http://www.maniacworld.com/Turbo-Entabulator.jpg


Special instructional video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLDgQg6bq7o

[barnett468]

.

Maybe he got the idea from this.

http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_lrg/swingtrike-2.jpg

[ATC-Eric]

No

Yes,





you

I





wouldn't

Would

[ironchop]

outside of the fact that I am totally willing to pass judgement even without Barnett`s input, This is still an interesting thread nonetheless and I thank the OP for finding and posting pics of this thing. Although, it offends me somebody jacked the whole ass end of a perfectly good T3 for an exercise in complete madness. I`m not sure if the entertainment value of pointing and laughing balances out that fact that BLASPHEMY has been perpetrated.

Just sayin.......

[atc300r]

I see a huge cob-job.I dont see where its a IRS there are no a-arms.I dont know what you would call that mess.Stump ripper maybe.I see why it didnt go into production.

[8686]

Definitely an entertaining thread and I never claimed it was pretty. And it wasn't me that pegged it for a Kawasaki Prototype. Lol. IIRC, there are two smaller swingarms pivoting back there independently. I'll get more pics when I can.

[barnett468]

I see a huge cob-job.I dont see where its a IRS there are no a-arms.Hi atc300r;

Actually they could have done it just like the photo in post 43. Hard to say with no rear view but that's my guess so far. I do not see a rear carrier connecting the swing arm at the axle but it's hard to tell for sure by that photo.

there is no reason to have a shock mounted on the left arm or a sway bar either if it is not irs

also it still has the orig shock which is connected to the dog bone.

there is no reason to leave any of this on unless it was being used. they hopefully would have at least removed the dog bone if it was not connected to anything so it was not just swaying in the wind.

if they were missing a swing arm it would have been much easier to build a stock type one than what they built.

my guess is they did it like the photo i posted, used the red shock for the left side and the original shock for the right side.

i'm kinda afraid to see anymore especially how they secured the axles.

[DohcBikes]

Definitely an entertaining thread and I never claimed it was pretty. And it wasn't me that pegged it for a Kawasaki Prototype. Lol. IIRC, there are two smaller swingarms pivoting back there independently. I'll get more pics when I can.Ya theres two attatchment points, but there isnt anything independent about it.

After having built many 3, 4, 5 link, paralell, triangulated, dual triangulated etc. suspensions for baja trucks and hot rods, i can assure you just by looking at those few pics that it doe not have two individually pivoting arms.

It has a live axle carrier, so at best, one would call that a multi-link.

Thanks for being a good sport:beer

[atc300r]

So it has trailing arm style of independant rear suspension. 192428 192429

[DohcBikes]

there is no reason to have a shock mounted on the left arm or a sway bar either if it is not irs.

Those are the extra parts i speak of. If that carrier is split i gotta see it. If they made those into trailing arms, there would be no need for this,,,,,,,,


also it still has the orig shock which is connected to the dog bone. so youre saying theres still a chance for three shocks.....

Edit: also lets not forget that if those ARE trailing arms, its one wheel drive, not to mention only one side would recieve braking power.

Which would be completely......

Awesome!.... if you hit the gas and the brake at the same time.:D:Bounce

No damn way is that carrier split!! more :pics:

[barnett468]

So it has trailing arm style of independant rear suspension.If those two halves of the swing arm are separate that would be the case. but 8686 saYs he thought he saw a second swing arm looking thing in the rear.

We just gotta see this.

http://media0.giphy.com/media/dxwYVGx3Q94pa/200_s.gif

[barnett468]

so youre saying theres still a chance for three shocks... ...i gotta see itThere could be but either way it looks like one of then is right where you might like it.


Now that is somethin I gotta see!

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTDheK_NT7A9cIdJnV_1Pg7lGbLDWNu5 AVQnY60FToKElt_Wip72n1nHA


OMG Bacon...I think I'm gonna be sick.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTPVl94GrqAajvACcWSWBuCH4Hr1ehM_ b2Mu35gKuNf00fTPAdNX-Dhgl4

[atc300r]

It could be 2 wheel drive if there is a jack shaft .If you look close at the yellow frame I posted .Brake could work same way. On the Tecate the trailing arms would have to be almost touching each other to be setup with the right width.I cant wait to see more pics.The owner probably "built" (I use this word loosly) it for a conversation piece.

[barnett468]

also lets not forget that if those ARE trailing arms, its one wheel drive, not to mention only one side would recieve braking power.

Which would be completely......Awesome!.... if you hit the gas and the brake at the same time.:D:Bounce
That's right...cool huh?

. . . http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxr9P5OYMQvRhaWZ5QfBVTS7isj4zCS JQ6Ku1TmxO1HY-ScDvHod7NuYM

[DohcBikes]

It could be 2 wheel drive if there is a jack shaft Thats why i said it one wheel drive and one side braking if its split, because it really doesnt look like it has a jackshaft. Im trying to see another sprocket and chain, but the pics just arent good enough to be sure i guess.