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Forum » Three Weehler EVs » TWIKE / TW4XP

TWIKE Pictures

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Author	Message
Written on: 14 July 2009 [16:44]
TWIKE-BarbaraWilms Topic creator registered since: 14.07.2009 Posts: 1	May I invite you to share your TWIKE pictures with me, or just look at my flickr site to see mine? There are much pictures of TWIKE and other electric vehicles in action. http://www.flickr.com/photos/electric-vehicles/ You are welcome to comment them, use them or share the link with your friends.
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Written on: 14 July 2009 [23:23]
iamian registered since: 23.02.2009 Posts: 107	thanks for posting those 2000 MT Honda Insight MIMA & FAS equipped ... PHEV in progress. Franken E-Bike 36V NiMH 600W Hub-Motor.
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Written on: 15 July 2009 [04:24]
childress Administrator registered since: 14.08.2007 Posts: 136	Twike 433 in Chicago Shot by Stephan Meister on Lake Shore Drive, Chicago IL (prior to me owning 433, and prior to "TWIKE" decals being added) Der Twike 433 at "The Hall" I shot this one in Champaign-Urbana, home to the University of Illinois -- the big white mushroom thing is The Assembly Hall, a basketball stadium and one of our most recognizable landmarks (from both the land and air). I've got lots of video on Twike 433, but it's mostly all "this is how I fixed this" as it's a 10-year (almost 11) old vehicle and the nearest Twike Repair center is across the big pond (The Atlantic Ocean)... Commute suck? Twike it; You'll like it! http://www.uiuc.edu/goto/twike
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Written on: 15 July 2009 [10:12]
iamian registered since: 23.02.2009 Posts: 107	childress wrote: I've got lots of video on Twike 433, but it's mostly all "this is how I fixed this" as it's a 10-year (almost 11) old vehicle and the nearest Twike Repair center is across the big pond (The Atlantic Ocean)... By chance can I down load a copy of any of those videos somewhere? Pretty please 2000 MT Honda Insight MIMA & FAS equipped ... PHEV in progress. Franken E-Bike 36V NiMH 600W Hub-Motor.
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Written on: 23 July 2009 [02:32]
childress Administrator registered since: 14.08.2007 Posts: 136	Before posting all the fixes/problems I've encountered there are a few points I want to make clear: 1. Twike 433 is an 11-year old vehicle and was not manufactured by FINE Mobile (it was made by S-LEM AG -- and that company is out of business). In no way should my statements reflect upon the quality of what they're currently building, however they've been very helpful via e-mail supporting me doing my own repairs as well as they maintain a parts inventory that will fit the old Twikes (though the shipping, customs and exchange rate will encourage you to find equavalent parts in the USA or your locale -- it's a greener/more sustainable method anyway). 2. Almost all of these fixes have been either simple enough for me to fix on the weekends OR I've been able to find someone locally to help guide me through it (but I do live in Champaign-Urbana Illinois, home to a world-class University, so finding engineering specialists is not a problem). So when I list a problem as 'unresolved' the major reason it is unresolved is that it is not preventing me from using it as my daily driver. 3. I LOVE my Twike. It's hard to have a rotten evening even after you've had a rotten day because many people honk, smile and wave at you on the way home. Still, if I could get a new one... 4. The Twike is a blast in the wintertime. It is very stable, and the regenerative brakes work very well as anti-lock brakes. The worst situation to drive a Twike is when it is dark, windy and storming. The exact thing that makes the Twike great in the wintertime (90% of the weight is over the back axel) makes it difficult to control in high gusty winds -- if the wind hits you broadside, it will cause you to unintentionally 'change lanes' much like when you drive on the Interstate/Freeway on a windy day and go under an overpass (where you're naturally compensating for the force of the wind on your car, and then it disappears because the overpass blocks the wind and you swerve). A television interview I did last fall Twike Horn Replacement The video explains it as well, but the default horn in the 433-era Twikes points up into the front nosecone, which directs the majority of the sound back towards the driver. I found a lower-tuned horn with an actual horn/bell on it which allowed me to direct the output forward. It is very rare that I would ever use the horn, so I've toyed with the idea of replacing it with an old-model T-style KAHOOOGA horn, but those take a lot of juice and are more difficult to install (as well as requiring more space). Twike Problem - Canopy opens too far This problem is not fixed yet, just describing the problem and a proposed work-around. Replacing Wheel Skirt Tack (Hardware) for US tack A lot of the problem of US Twike ownership is sourcing local parts so you won't go bankrupt due to monetary exchange/shipping/customs fees. Tires are a problem (finding local tires that go to 80psi -- the best we've found go to 41psi, so losing quite a bit of efficiency, but less-than US$100 for 3 Pirelli tires that arrive next day beats nearly $400 from the factory). Would eventually like to get a set of expensive tires for endurance demonstrations. Ghost Pedaling/Slippage of pedals This is also an ongoing problem... Various sounds in Twike 433 Not a problem, just a demo of what riding in an older Twike sounds like. I hear the newer ones have less noisy motors/gear boxes as well as tighter construction (which makes the bumps less loud) Twike be Jammin' (and blinkin) Pedaling is easier/more fun with Tunes (433 and I both prefer AC/DC). But Twike 433 didn't come with a stereo system so my dad and I added one. This shows some of the early testing, it's now operational complete with cigarette-lighter for charging the mp3 player or GPS-navigation unit (anyone approaching a Twike with an actual cigarette will put the owner on high alert, as it will melt the skin/canopy). Still gotta figure out what's going on with the HD radio system/antenna. Miss my NPR on the 5 mile commute to/from work. In addition, I've done simple things like swapping out the driver's side pedals for pedals that are clipless on one side and normal pedals on the other so I can wear bicycle shoes and apply force in both the push AND pull directions. I swapped out the rear trailer lights (literally trailer lights, as they're DOT approved for the US) for round LED-based ones that not only look better but are brighter and use less electricity. In doing that, I burnt out some MOS-FETS (electrical component) on the driver's side computer board, and the Twike engineers e-mailed me a photo of the board and an electrical engineer on staff at the University of Illinois took the board out for me and soldered on new FETs on a Friday evening (total cost was $15 for the parts + shipping). There was an electrical charging/charring event where I was pulling an 16+ amp fast charge and due to the age of the wires the insulation covering the hot and neutral wires arc'd and scortched a 5" diameter circle in the underside of the rear bench. The electrical choke/isolator took damage and needs replaced, but it still charges and runs fine, and there's no local part source so I'll need to order that from Germany (probably when I get a set of official tires, so we're looking at $500-$1000 expendature). The adhesive holding on the canopy (a very expensive part to replace, as it's FAA rated because it's used by gliders) worked itself lose either due to road vibration or the afore-mentioned problem with the canopy opening too far (the canopy acts like a sail when you open it, so you must be very careful in high winds or it will snatch it out of your hand and whip it open). So I had to remove it and then glue it back on. So far, so good, though I did end up putting a couple of cracks in it where I couldn't get the old adhesive to release The cracks aren't in my field of vision, and it's watertight which is good enough to get me back and forth to work. And with that, it's time to go unplug from the front yard of the University YMCA (my on-campus charging station) and Twike home! Commute suck? Twike it; You'll like it! http://www.uiuc.edu/goto/twike
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Written on: 05 February 2010 [21:11]
Gander registered since: 05.02.2010 Posts: 1	TWIKE-BarbaraWilms wrote: May I invite you to share your TWIKE pictures with me, or just look at my flickr site to see mine? There are much pictures of TWIKE and other electric vehicles in action. http://www.flickr.com/photos/electric-vehicles/ You are welcome to comment them, use them or share the link with your friends. Cool pictures? Is there a website where I can learn more? Thanks KG
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Written on: 10 March 2010 [20:23]
SamTHorn registered since: 10.03.2010 Posts: 5	I would like to find out more about these twikes. Is there a website where they sell them? Thanks Sam
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Written on: 10 March 2010 [23:59]
iamian registered since: 23.02.2009 Posts: 107	SamTHorn wrote: I would like to find out more about these twikes. Is there a website where they sell them? Thanks Sam There are several ... in the US. http://www.twike.us/ 2000 MT Honda Insight MIMA & FAS equipped ... PHEV in progress. Franken E-Bike 36V NiMH 600W Hub-Motor.
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Written on: 12 March 2010 [20:52]
SamTHorn registered since: 10.03.2010 Posts: 5	Thank you for posting the link. It's exactly what I was looking for. The price range is a little high but I'm sure it will come down. ~ Sam
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Written on: 13 March 2010 [01:57]
iamian registered since: 23.02.2009 Posts: 107	SamTHorn wrote: Thank you for posting the link. It's exactly what I was looking for. The price range is a little high but I'm sure it will come down. ~ Sam If you want a lower price... look for a used one... in either good condition or pay to get it fixed up. I wouldn't hold your breath on the Price of the new ones coming down any time soon. As great as the Twike is ... it is a low volume production vehicle ... like a Lamborghini ... just a different target market ... as such ... I don't expect the price to drop significantly any time soon... economies of scale that people are used to in other mass produced vehicles just don't exist for the low volume production vehicle like Twikes and Lamborghinis. Although the Performance might be getting better... the production intent vehicle of the 4th version of the Twike is currently underway to compete in the Automotive X-Prize... The planned specs for the IV will be ~80MPH top speeds and better acceleration etc... We should see the results of that concept car by the end of 2010 maybe as late as 2011. Hopefully the price does not end up going up as much as the performance does... but only time will tell. 2000 MT Honda Insight MIMA & FAS equipped ... PHEV in progress. Franken E-Bike 36V NiMH 600W Hub-Motor.
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