Three Wheel Weight Distribution

[Robert "Bob" Woods]

Has anyone seen EM address this issue?

Although Polaris hasn’t revealed the exact weight balance of the Slingshot 3-wheeled motorcycle, engineer James Holroyd says the rear wheel carries between 34 to 41 percent of the vehicle’s weight, which we can presume is the difference between the vehicle unoccupied and occupied. If too much weight is on the rear tire, the Slingshot won’t want to turn. Conversely, if the Slingshot is too front-heavy, the unloaded rear will have a tendency to snap out in corners.

 

[Gas-Powered Awesome]

I expect the distribution will be each wheel gets 1/3 of the weight. Maybe slightly more on the fronts empty, slightly more on the rear full. The laws of physics can't be engineered out, and the Elio will have a computer nanny to make sure the driver doesn't crash so it doesn't really matter.

 

[slinches]

The Elio being front wheel drive makes a substantial difference too.

 

[floydv]

The Elio is more sling than shot.

 

[booboo]

The Elio being front wheel drive makes a substantial difference too.

Agreed. It will be like any compact front wheel drive. All the weight in front. Elio has a long wheelbase, 110", so unless fatty is sitting in the back seat, a couple of heathens could probably pick the rear end off the ground. The driver sitting in about the middle of the wheelbase length should be enough added weight to keep it on the ground.

 

[Ian442]

I'm a big man. A BIG, big man.

 

[Coss]

Has anyone seen EM address this issue?

Although Polaris hasn’t revealed the exact weight balance of the Slingshot 3-wheeled motorcycle, engineer James Holroyd says the rear wheel carries between 34 to 41 percent of the vehicle’s weight, which we can presume is the difference between the vehicle unoccupied and occupied. If too much weight is on the rear tire, the Slingshot won’t want to turn. Conversely, if the Slingshot is too front-heavy, the unloaded rear will have a tendency to snap out in corners.

As others have pointed out, the Elio is Front Wheel Drive; while the SlingShot is Rear wheel Drive.
Besides the weight (and power) difference the drive wheels make a big difference on handling characteristics of the vehicle.
That 173hp in the SlingShot will snap that vehicle around and upside down faster than you could ever respond.
At 55hp-60hp fwd that's not going to happen.

 

[champsman]

The last published weight (by EM) was 70% front and 30% rear

 

[wizard of ahs]

I'm a big man. A BIG, big man.

I'm also"big-boned and fluffy"

 

[floydv]

The last published weight (by EM) was 70% front and 30% rear

The Trihawk 304, a tadpole-style three wheeled vehicle that was lauded in 1982 by Road & Track for its exceptional handling characteristics, had 74% of its weight on the front wheels and 26% on the rear. [see second page, http://yellowtrihawk.com/Trihawk304_RT_05-1982.pdf.]