Saw a morgan 3 wheeler yesterday

[rnr]

Driving down 101 yesterday. Looked to be a really clean example.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7017/6547369471_a6997c27fd.jpg

Morgan 3-wheeler by rnair, on Flickr

 

Shamed me into driving the Seven to work today. I love living in CA

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6549684237_8c78bc9dca.jpg

Untitled by rnair, on Flickr

[BMW RACER]

I'm impressed you found such a good parking spot!!

[Kitcat]

All it needs is a 4th wheel and it wld be as good as a se7en! Just kidding, they get my drool meter all fired up, in part because they just have 3 wheels.

[jimrankin]

I can't be sure but looks like a Harley VTwin sitting up front. The original V twin did look a lot like that though....

[timax]

Not a Morgan but an ACE . American Cycle Car Endeavor. And yes a Harley Engine. The cars are made in Seattle. They have some sort of licensing agreement with Morgan and somewhere I read where Morgan were basing their new 3 wheeler on the ACE which was based on their old 3 wheeler !!?? Too confusing Need to read up on that one. Great car though . Always loved them.

Edited December 21, 2011 by timax

[rnr]

Not a Morgan but an ACE . American Cycle Car Endeavor. And yes a Harley Engine. The cars are made in Seattle. They have some sort of licensing agreement with Morgan and somewhere I read where Morgan were basing their new 3 wheeler on the ACE which was based on their old 3 wheeler !!?? Too confusing Need to read up on that one. Great car though . Always loved them.

 

That would explain the ACE 11 numberplate and why it looked much cleaner than the average Morgan version

http://cycle-car.com/

[ihckb2]

I may be incorrect here but I believe Morgan bought out ACE and now produce the Morgan 3 with a different engine not a Harley.

 

Check out Jay Leno he did a test drive.

Also check out Morgan site.

[scannon]

The new Morgan uses an S&S engine which is based on the H-D. The transmission is from a Miata.

 

There is a Morgan dealer in the Denver area. He brings various Morgans to our Cars and Coffee events. He was passing out brochures on the three wheeler awhile back and will bring a three wheeler to the C&C when he gets one in.

[rikker]

what colour socks the driver was wearing?

[pi7ot]

I figure that I'm funny in the head for using a 7.

These guys who run a single back wheel and aim between the heads of an H-D or V-Twin are the true Nutters. :jester:

 

m

[notakit]

I seem to remember the Morgans were outlawed from racing because they actually have an advantage over some traditionally four wheeled cars.

[notakit]

As for the "Harley based" power plant, I don't know why anyone would choose such a piss-poor engine for anything more than a boat anchor. There are all kinds of inherent design flaws with a 45º v-twin mainly the vibration. That was fine for torque a hundred years ago but when compared to current 60º or even better 90º twins i.e. Ducati, all incarnations of 45º twins are best left below the water's surface.

[scannon]

This article explains the progression from the ACE to the new Morgan trike. Also has a road test.

 

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/feature/41/Morgan-3-Wheeler-Road-Test.html

[timax]

ACE wanted to use a Guzzi V twin like the "Triking" from the UK but was having troubles getting them. When you start digging with these cycle cars there are some fantastic creations. Personally i liked the Triking with a 4 cam Guzzi 1100 supercharged engine.. You would never keep it straight. Google "Triking" and then hit "images". You will be there for ages. Cafe racer for those who don't want a bike.

[S1Steve]

Looks like fun..

[JohnK]

Automobile had a typically excellent review a month or so ago.

[BusaNostra]

In some states a 3 wheelers considered to be a bike?

 

Put a prop on that morgan, it will fly. Engine look like for bush plane.

[rnr]

In some states a 3 wheelers considered to be a bike?

 

Equivalent of a motorcycle with sidecar. I believe most states will let them into the carpool lane as well.

[timax]

Out here in Aus basically if it has a steering wheel instead of handlebars and you sit in it rather than on it , its a car. Being then a car it has to pass all the legalities of other cars . Noise etc with is WAY harder than a bike. We had 1 Triking come into the country back in the 80's and I think that was it!! Very sad really. And annoying when you hear a new Harley go past thats loud enough to have me taken off the road if it was my car.

[ottocycle]

I agree with Crazymike in your assessment of the Harley motor. The Morgan uses an S&S motor which is a combination of car engine, Harley and S&S parts. With 1900 cc capacity and a little more than 100 hp delivered it is a heavy inefficient unit although it has a great torque curve. It does have visual appeal and being a pre unit motor it is easy to separate the gearbox (not the case with more modern bike motors) and run the Mazda transmission with reverse.

The Italians and Japanese build better V twins but they do not have the visual appeal in the sportbike models (water cooling and fairings cover up the engine architecture on most models) and the big Jap cruiser V twins are too asymmetrical, in my opinion, to be appealing.

I had a Moto Guzzi Le Mans during my bike riding days and I like them a lot. If I was in a position to do a 3 wheeler in the Morgan tradition I would seriously consider a Guzzi powered unit.

The ACE, Triking and Morgan all look to be nice cars and I would be happy to have any one in my garage. Having a Hayabusa LSIS myself I am a fan of bike powered cars.

 

Dermot.