Sinclair C5 Thread

[arfur mo]

ok open season declared on Arfur - will he ever learn?

i own 2 x Sinclair C5 3 wheelers, madder than a box of frogs but a riot to ride around in.

i don't risk taking it on main roads, but tend to buz along local side roads @ 15 mph if i'm lucky to be on a down hill slope (very quiet and rural where i live).

club meets up with other owners, range is oly 15 - 20 mile on a car battery but you can fit them into a Toyata Yaris or onto a rood rack for transporting and we ride though places like Cambridge and along seafronts simply because they have cycle path's and are pretty flat.

bet your thinking i've finally lost it, trust me once you get over feeling like a total tit, and you concentrate more on people's varied reactions, most smile in pity or laugh, point, exclaim, true some scowl others in total disbelief that so many survived and are still in top working order, end up with the broad C5 smile.

agreed its mad, barmy as a bag of bats in butter but its also 25 years old, totally very British - what else is more so, and still working today? it just hooks you in.

not a dear hobby, decent one cost around £450.00 - £800.00 immaculate with prices rising fast, or as i did buy one not so good condition and restore for fun. no tax, insurance of petrol needed, just need to be over 14 to legally ride one but i'd advise 3rd part injury., do't need a massive tool kit or a hoist, just a decorating platform and tyre pump

last year 9 of us met up and road along Brighton and Hove promenade bike lane, looked like a string of signets dodging along in file, we stopped every few miles and got beseeched by interested public, very keen to sit in them and have a photo taken, kids were amazing one heard to say "Dad, i don't want a ps3 for my birthday i want one of these cool 'new (lol!)' machines".

we all rode into Mc Donald's drive through, caused a bit of a stir and a jam, but other drivers were so fascinated they stayed cool and good nature, no doubt deciding best to humour those bunch of nutters,.

every on remmebers the disastrous public launch and the bad press, stupid to release an electric vehicle powered by a small battery on a freezing cold day, and on top of one of the biggest hills in London nowthats brainless, the C5 was way ahead of its time and green, body designed by Lotus, and if done today with modern motors and batteries would make good sales i'm sure

so feel free to snigger away and say what you like, but it won't be anything new to me, imo real good giggle and great fun to take the grandkids over the local park with.

regs

Arfur Mo

[MrHappy]

I guess care in the community with them spending there payments on electric toys is cheaper than building a secure hospital......

[RichL]

I kind of get where you're coming from, and Im sure they are great fun but I couldn't own one.

Presumably you watched "Micromen" recently, it was great TV.

[james.wilson]

how far do they go an a car batt arf?

And can you put modern batts in them?

[IAS]

no picture?

[MrHappy]

much the same ?

[arfur mo]

I guess care in the community with them spending there payments on electric toys is cheaper than building a secure hospital......

git!

lol,

what i can do is get my revenge on the maniac disabled chariot drivers we have around here, penalty of living in a heavens waiting room area.

regs

Arfur Mo

[arfur mo]

how far do they go an a car batt arf?

And can you put modern batts in them?

with any battery, ambient temperature and terrain affect its range, there is no throttle, its a simple on/of push button so you operate the motor in short bursts, and you peddle to get going, mainly to save the wear on the gears and drive belt which also helps the battery, but it will move off on electric power only. once moving it accelerates quit well.

the original batteries are obviously all dead, you can get near copies for the ultra original fans, tbh way to small gets about 5 miles, the size was to keep weight down below the then regs (ooh! get me )

forums owner makes a battery conversion with clip on connectors, which also protects against reversal - which will fry the controller, as will rolling it backwards to much.

lot of debate on the best car battery, some favour normal, heavy duty and others go for leisure versions and keep them trickle charged as you do on a caravan to maintain capacity. some have gone Li Ion but they are serious money.

the yellow C5 is converted for 24 volt and has a throttle control, it will get to about 26 MPH, but the original plastic gearbox is very fragile, needs to be use sparingly and with care at full throttle.

once going stopping can be an interesting experience, it has bike brake on the plastic front wheel, and a sort of drum brake on the rear off side wheel, drive is to the rear near side wheel, brake to hard on the front and the rim cam melt, brake to hard on the back and you lurch to the right, or if ground is wet perfrm a spectacular doughnut.

mind you there is a rocket powered one - and i'm very serious yes there is - it will go a bit faster, just stopping the bugger is a ver real problem so will it will go a lot further because of that

only used on test priate tracks., think it did over 100 mph on a test run (and you thought i'm crazy), but obviousl heavily modified wheels brakes etc.

get one, stick you logo on it and make it look like you siren, and drive around the town center, better than any bell cover to grab attention

regs

Arfur Mo.

[MrHappy]

I was thinking cbr 600 engine ?

[arfur mo]

no picture?

Hi Paul, i had a quick look but can't find the ones taken last year,

white one is bog standard so plenty on that site, but have a look for the 'cobolt blue' and '007' just shows what you can do to customise, not had the courage to go cruising down Southend with the lad yet - can't get it to 'burn out'.

if interested or curious at all in electric vehicles, also google 'mini el' . these are still made i think in Denmark newones cost cost a bomb, look like a bigger more powerful version. 50 mph range 50 miles, 36 volt, these do have to be insurred and MOT'd but no road tax i.e. free disc..

Paul, your into advertising, you will know you need to get a high visual impact to draw attention, example scanty clad girls get the guys interest, but then having got a business card generally many of those prospect sales targets, expensive to procure will move away embarrassed, having fallen over their tongue, end of impact,

so imo, nothing but nothing can beat these things for sales impact, it will initiate interested, then draw out inquisitive conversation where you can sell yourself as a decent guy, gain initial trust the main platform for all sales (like everyone, hey won't buy if they don't trust you), and you can then capitalise on that 'ice breaking' bridge.

so perhaps i'm not as mad as many make out?

well not all the time folks - honest .

regs

Arfur Mo