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Author Topic: Nimbus: Fully enclosed, leaning electric three-wheeler  (Read 1928 times)

JaimeC

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Nimbus: Fully enclosed, leaning electric three-wheeler
« on: March 08, 2021, 06:16:03 PM »

https://electricmotorcycles.news/nimbus-future-of-urban-mobility/

It has three wheels and a steering wheel instead of handlebars, BUT it leans into turns like the Yamaha Niken or the Piaggio MP3.  Both of those last two vehicles have handlebars just like a normal motorcycle.  Also, just like a normal motorcycle, they steer via counter-steering...  pressure on the handlebar in the direction you want to go actually steers those two front wheels in the opposite direction to invoke a lean and it is the lean that actually makes you change direction.

I don't see how this could work with a steering wheel.  I can already picture people turning the vehicle the wrong way and running off the road because the connection between steering wheel and counter-steering isn't going to be as intuitive as handlebars and counter-steering.

Your thoughts?
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Richard230

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Re: Nimbus: Fully enclosed, leaning electric three-wheeler
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2021, 08:54:51 PM »

I am having visions in my head of the Corbin Sparrow.   ;) I recall seeing a Sparrow dealer on the east side of Highway 101 in San Rafael, CA during the late 1990's. But I sure didn't see very many Sparrows actually on the highway before the ones that were sold finally dissipated into - who knows where?  ::)
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Richard's motorcycle collection:  2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.

Crissa

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Re: Nimbus: Fully enclosed, leaning electric three-wheeler
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2021, 09:13:20 PM »

I don't see how this is at all like the Sparrow/Myers.

Looks like Arcimoto has some competition coming.
https://www.slashgear.com/arcimoto-leaning-electric-three-wheeler-tilting-motor-works-acquisition-roadmap-25656561/

-Crissa
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princec

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Re: Nimbus: Fully enclosed, leaning electric three-wheeler
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2021, 09:35:53 PM »

Not sure when manufacturers are going to wake up to the fact that despite repeated attempts over the last century, three wheelers will never, ever become mainstream.

Cas :)
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JaimeC

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Re: Nimbus: Fully enclosed, leaning electric three-wheeler
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2021, 09:49:08 PM »

Not sure when manufacturers are going to wake up to the fact that despite repeated attempts over the last century, three wheelers will never, ever become mainstream.

Cas :)

Can Am and Polaris would disagree.  Based on the sheer number of Spyders, Rykers and Slingshots I see on our roads I'd say you're mistaken.
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princec

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Re: Nimbus: Fully enclosed, leaning electric three-wheeler
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2021, 10:01:31 PM »

I've seen a couple around but... mainstream?

Cas :)
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Crissa

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Re: Nimbus: Fully enclosed, leaning electric three-wheeler
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2021, 11:05:54 PM »

I've seen a couple around but... mainstream?
That'll be more a function of price.

-Crissa
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princec

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Re: Nimbus: Fully enclosed, leaning electric three-wheeler
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2021, 12:58:38 AM »

I dunno, maybe it's more like the way that tricycles have all the disadvantages of both cars and bikes (hot prices included!).

Cas :)
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TheRan

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Re: Nimbus: Fully enclosed, leaning electric three-wheeler
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2021, 01:34:06 AM »

I've only ever seen one Polaris on the road in the UK, a Ryker. They don't really make much sense because you're exposed to the elements and less safe in accidents like a bike but you like a car you can't filter, park where ever you like, and I don't think you can even use bus lanes like motorcycles can. The only thing they have going for them is they can be ridden on a car licence and for the price they're reasonably quick, although horrendously slow by bike standards.

An enclosed 3 wheeler and on American roads (or anywhere else where filtering isn't allowed) makes a bit more sense although it's still competing with cars and doesn't have much advantage over them (mainly the small size and the ease of parking that comes with it).
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NEW2elec

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Re: Nimbus: Fully enclosed, leaning electric three-wheeler
« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2021, 02:29:13 AM »

Nimbus, isn't that Harry Potter's broom?  Market focus groups at their best.
Hard no for me but some places it might work.

As these companies flood the market with three wheeled vehicles, and very bad crashes happen.  Governments will catch on that they make them just to bypass the car safety rules.  The laws will be rewritten and they might just fade away. 

That low riding Aptera really is just a 3 wheeled car nothing motorcycle about it, but it looks like a better choice for any situation short of ultra congested cities.
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wavelet

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Re: Nimbus: Fully enclosed, leaning electric three-wheeler
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2021, 02:10:15 PM »

I've seen a couple around but... mainstream?

Cas :)
Absolutely not mainstream. The global market for such vehicles is <40K units/year (source, search for "3WV").
In Europe, you can get a new European-made B-segment car (Dacia Sandero) for less than the base price of the lowest-cost model, the Ryker, so not surprising.
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