PULSE AUTOCYCLE NETWORK

[steveg]

has anyone out there given thought to modifying the litesar/pulse to self balanceing (wile driving) something like a regular motorcycle? i have read toney foals articals and i dont think that it is a big mod to do.. wouldlike other input though..
email me directly stevengeorge@usadatanet.net (note new email address) litestar #009
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steve george litestar #009
otisco NY

[Robert Cervero]

Not any easy task. First of all you need to change over to a straight handlebar system like the Eco-mobile. The steering box doesn't allow the front wheel to self center. Then you have to redesign the front forks to get the proper rake, trail and caster like a normal motorcycle. Then you need a way to get the outrigger wheels up higher or to retract so they don't touch the ground when you are up on 2 wheels but they still need to be close to the ground so you don't fall over when you stop.
On top of all that the front wheel of a normal Pulse is pretty far in front of the driver. The handlebars would have to be in front of the windshield unless you had really long extended forks like a chopper. Not good at slow speed. Then the steering head would have to be between your legs. Also I don't know if there is sufficient room inside the Pulse for handlebars. The Eco-mobile is much wider than a Pulse. I suppose with lots of redesign it might be possible but I'm not optimistic.

[Bob Hichborn]

I've added a picture to my webshots account .
http://community.webshots.com/album/148097077SMkaUz

Jack from Jack's Cycle Salvage in Sanford, Fl just got his Pulse back on the road after several years of sitting around in various stages of disassembly. He went with a Honda PC8 as the donor bike. He completely removed the original Pulse front suspension and fabricated in the PC8 steering knuckle, suspension, wheel, brakes, handlebars, controls, .....the "whole kitchen". To compensate for the offset that Bob described, he ran 2 pitman arms from the PC8 steering plate back to a newly fabricated steering assembly, which can be seen in the image. I haven't driven it nor had the chance to ask Jack if it now handles and balances more like a motocycle than a Pulse, but I will. Obviously, it still has the outriggers, so it's not going to lean any different than it did before, but we're all curious if it actually "balances" on 2 wheels when it's running down I-4.
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"Everyday you wake up with a Pulse,
is a good day!"

[Bob Hichborn]

As a side note..... one of these days I'll try adding an image to my post as per the instructions, so you don't have to follow links around the internet.
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"Everyday you wake up with a Pulse,
is a good day!"