The Other Way

The factory has been closed for two weeks and after earning a bit of cash clearing  eric's garden ( the owner of lovelo), i finally managed to get down to some real uninterupted work. i am very pleased with the results.
After researching on the internet i decided to build a double A arm type suspension. First  i made a rough model out of scrap metal  to see physically how the system would work. I then took the measurements of the components i would use, i.e the wheels, and springs. Eric then machined me some bearings for the arms and axles for the wheels. I did some drawings and then made a cardboard model, much to erics amusement , and when i was satisfied, i built a prototype. just one side.
It seemed to work and so over the last week and a half i built a frame, mounted the other arms, worked out the steering, put a motorized wheel on the rear and took it for a ride. as you can see from the videos , i was very pleased with the result, and still am. the next phase is the drive system.
Eric and co return to work tomorrow and so will resume work on my project in the evenings.
The leaning trike is still a contender, but after seeing how my prototype perfoms on rough terrain and looking at some youtube footage of rough african roads, i think at this moment in time the two wheels at the front is the best solution for my trip.
i will keep you up to date with my progress
WATCH THE SECOND CLIP FIRST FOR THE CORRECT CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.
(i can't seem to move the clips around on the page)
nick

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firstly,i want to say hi flo, hope you are well and enjoying the holidays.

Now back to business.
its nearly the end of week three and progress is being made. we are working on two designs for my new machine. the first is similar to my original trike but with smaller solid wheels and atv style suspension with a simplified stronger drive system. the other and possibly more funky trike has the conventional one wheel at the front but with a leaning steering affair.
in one week the factory closes for a fortnight leaving me as caretaker.
we are part building the leaning trike for me to do tests and make adjustments on whilst everyone is on holiday. i have gathered all the components i need to develop my trike and am hoping i should have a pretty cool machine to show them all on their return as well as some positive conclusions for the leaner. when both ideas are realised then i will take the best one for the job.
I am pleased to say that  i may have possibly helped them solve a big problem they were having, which was battery life on their cargo trikes. They were running heavy loads on motors in the hubs of their wheels, but after seeing my approach and realising that using the motor through the gears is more battery friendy and has more possibilities for speed and torque etc, they have modified and are testing tommorow their cargo trike with a simplified and potentially far superior system to mine, and i am very excited to see how it performs, as is everyone.
anyway i am off to anne maries for the weekend tommorow night which iam looking forward to, i might even take my new bike which eddie , one of the guys has given me . its a beauty, twenty years ago it was worth about 3000 euros, rides like a dream and looks tres cool.
also after their holidays in early september their is a trade exposition of all the current and future weird and wonderful bikes and trikes etc. it is in germany and lovelo are paying for me to go with them. icng on the cake.
In early september,  once i am absolutely positive that the new machine will get me to ghana and back with relative ease, i am going to get busy on the sponsorship front. ihave a few ideas on who and how but am always open to suggestion, so if anyone thinks they can help then get in touch.
thats all for now
nick