Tricycle Drivers Strike Starting Monday...Things to Consider

As is typical, you missed the larger point of my post and zeroed in on your "expertise". The 80 kph is a capability to show it can move with traffic, unlike tricycles. Of course, you will again ignore that main point again (and again). These tuk-tuks have been successful with at least an acceptable safety record all over the world for near 60 years. Certainly market forces would have dictated their demise if their records earned it. The three-wheel ATVs were dangerous and stopped being manufactured because of the way they were being operated (like sideways on hills by children, and mosty offroad). The tuk-tuks are used reliably and safely in the UK and EU (for decades...built by Piaggio). If there was a safety concern, I find it incomprehensible that the UK and EU would approve them for road use as commercial transportation. But, they don't have your "expertise".

 

Makes perfect sense to me having a tried and proven vehicle for use in the Dumaguete area. The fact that the engine is CAPABLE of 80 Km/H doesn't mean anyone is going to actually drive that speed in the city or on our local "highway" network.

Some of those Rusi utility type trikes on the highways only have a 110 cc engine. The drivers need to run at full throttle and still can't keep up with traffic. No one wants to drive the snot out of their trike so they just puddle along at a comfortable speed. Something like a BAJA should be able to cruise comfortably at 60 KPH without having to be over worked.

The biggest danger I see on the highway is when some Yahoo in their SUV or pickup truck try to overtake a 200 meter parade of cars and motorcycles stuck behind a tricycle.

 

I've seen that wobble on some tricycles and not on others. If you don't mind getting your hands dirty I have a suggestion you might try.

It's possible that the rear wheel of the motorcycle and the wheel on the side car are not pointed in the same direction (not parallel).

It's easy to caulk the rear wheel of the motorcycle to the right or left. You could try caulking the wheel to the left and see what happens then try caulking it to the right. There is probably a sweet spot where your machine might behave. It costs nothing to try.

 

Here is one site that shows how to properly align a sidecar. There are many. https://www.cyclesidecar.com/sidecar-alighment
Sidecars can be aligned so that the vehicle will run smoothly, but I have never seen one here that could be aligned after it was installed. The problem here is that all of the sidecars I have seen are just welded into place. There are supposed to be adjustments at the attaching points to align the sidecar. I never saw a sidecar welded into place until I came to the Philippines. Usually they are attached with plates and shims or most commonly, with turnbuckles. Pulling to the right on acceleration and to the left when braking is more difficult to cure than pulling at a steady speed. This assumes the sidecar is on the right. I posted a link to a video here a while back called, "On Any Sunday". It is a documentary about motorcycles and there is a very cool part of the movie that shows sidecar racing.

 

I got it to where it would come up the hill to Valencia at 70 KPH with no wobble at any speed. But with the steering stabilizer the steering was stiff. I sold it soon afterwords. Only lost about 15,000.oo pesos. I really liked the EN125 Thunder until I put the sidecar on.
At least I didn't have to worry about it falling over.

 

Good article.
It said set the side car up for 1.5" toe-in at 6 feet. I had assumed the wheels would be parallel. So 1.5" toe-in it is.

True the side cars here don't have adjustments on the side car. It is possible to install the motorcycle rear wheel "crooked" or cocked in either direction and achieve the desired toe in. If you look at the rear axle there are alignment marks on the swing arm. On a motorcycle ideally the axle is set on the same mark (position) on both sides. For a side car you could set the exle on the right side 1 position forward (or so) that would give a slight toe in.

 

The degree of tilt of the motorcycle away from the sidecar is just as important as toe in and not only is this not adjustable on any I have seen, if you notice, every one I have seen is either not canted or is canted toward the sidecar. That is a big no no.
https://www.cyclesidecar.com/sidecar-alighment "The motorcycle should have about 2-3 degrees of lean out, away from the sidecar. In no event should the bike be tilted toward the sidecar."