Welcome to
Three Wheelers...the inspiration is unashamedly Morgan!
the official manufacturers of the BRA CX3 BRA MG3 & BRA CV3 cycle cars
Classic Morgan replica three wheelers
www.BRA-Cyclecars.com
www.veetwintrikes.com
www.morganreplicas.com
www.aero-cyclecars.com
www.aerocyclecars.com
Updated
16/11/2008
New Beetle-back chassis and vintage looking 19 inch wheels and tyres!
New light weight front suspension!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Changes from SVA regs
to BIVA in 2009 do not affect our vehicles! We are under MSVA regs.
BRA MG3 & BRA CX3
We produce the MG3 with
Moto Guzzi
850/950/1064cc engines, and the CX3 model, with a Honda CX/GL500/650 engine, and will build you a complete car in turn-key guise,
fully tested and registered, or simply a rolling chassis...or you build it
yourself! If you constructed airfix kits or used Meccano as a child...you can
build one of these!
Very Important Point!
Moto Guzzi bikes use different swing arms, there are three different types. Firstly, the early round barrelled engines 850/948cc, will most certainly have come from the Lino Tonti designed frame, known as the "Tonti frame", and these will have the shorter parallel round arms swing arm. California models had a longer wheelbase by approx 50mm, consequently, the swing arms are longer with a longer drive shaft contained within. Then came the swing arms to accommodate a wider wheel, and these are recognisable by curved round arms to the swing arm. We need to know therefore which swing arm you are about to use if you are purchasing a kit, as the location bushes need modifying from the basic "Tonti" style. The wider swing arms are found on the later square finned engined bikes.
We can supply all donor parts if you do not wish to source them yourself. Please ask.
Certain types of both motorcycles will not work. Honda CX500 and GL/Eurosport differ. Whichever engine you use from Honda, only a CX500 swing arm is appropriate. The GL/Eurosport/650 swing arms will not work. Ignition systems differ across the CX range. If in doubt, please ask.
Likewise, with Moto Guzzi, models differ. Forget the V7. Ideally keep to carburetted engines, (they look more vintage, and more to adjust!). Fuel injected motors can be fitted, but not the latest Norge type motor with 6 speed gearbox. If uncertain please ask. Non "standard" motors in the Motor Guzzi range most likely can be adapted, but you will have to adapt to suit, or simply pay our additional charges at cost.
We have an extensive stock of Honda and Moto Guzzi parts, and can supply most. Our Honda engines are re-built by the renowned Sam Day. Our Moto Guzzi engines are re-built by Moto Guzzi specialist Motori di Marino.
Aero Cycle Cars
reserve the right to alter kit specifications without notice.Tel. 01273 843749 ~ e-mail art@spitfireart.com
Fax: 01273 842632 Mobile: 07976 312058
All kits are MSVA compliant.
All major credit cards accepted
For used Honda CX bikes/engines etc check out ebay.co.uk
For superb CX maintenance and general tips check out CX-GL Web Resource Courtesy of Rob Davis...master guru!
Carburettor tuning/balancing Morgan Carbtune
Honda spares, check out local dealers but also David Silver
Aero Cycle Cars and the Moto Guzzi drive chain.
comparisons with Honda & Moto Guzzi engines
Moto Guzzi V-twin air cooled engines (that we are interested in) range from the 850T series right up to the modern 1100cc fuel injected electronic ignition engines as fitted to the current bikes.
The old Honda CX 500/650 engines put out 50/65 BHP respectively and the design is over 25 years old. These engines/drive trains are no longer available new and parts though still available, are becoming scarcer. 650 units are rarer than 500 motors. The swing arms are no longer available new and they rot, though having said this they are repairable and I have a jig for this.
Moto Guzzi motors are more powerful, between 75-90 BHP and possess far more low down torque. For example, in order to maintain 70MPH in a CX 500 car, the engine will have to rev to 8500RPM! The CX 500 will output approx 11MPH per 1000RPM. Therefore that it has to be kept at high revs to keep up speed. The CX engine is a highly compact 4 valve per cylinder jewel of an engine/gearbox weighing 48KG and can be lifted in and out easily. It is a lively responsive unit and easy to maintain. In its day it was the despatch rider's dream. Bikes/engines can be found quite cheaply on ebay
Conversely, Moto Guzzi engines red line at 6500RPM or 7500RPM with the higher specification motors. They deliver the power in a far more relaxed fashion.
Motor Guzzi running gear is all available brand new! Used Moto Guzzis are quite rare and consequently hold their prices well. Complete road-worthy used bikes might fetch from £1500-£2500. Against this, I purchased an 850T5 engine/gearbox and complete running gear including rear drive and wheel for £1000, clearly re-furbishing will be extra. See the Moto Guzzi page. Check out moto guzzi on ebay.co.uk also specialist Moto Guzzi breakers and dealers
When pricing out new Moto Guzzi running gear it is possibly cheaper to source a brand new bike! I did just this and bought quite cheaply an unused 2002 California 1100cc bike from which the importers had removed a few parts. This was exceptional and worth while in comparison with costing out new individual components. Recently, (2008) there have been low mileage 2003 California stone bikes selling on ebay for around £2500-£3500. These would be the fuel injected electronic ignition 1064cc engines. The sum of the parts is almost likely to be more than the whole!
In our opinion, the older round barrel engines are best, they have a more vintage look, rely on carbs and a simple distributor, therefore there is more to tinker with! You take your choice however, and whichever, round or squarer barrels, you'll have a good engine.
Another disadvantage with the Honda units, age apart etc, is the water cooling. Don’t misunderstand, it all works! However, on the bike the radiator is at the front. In the car, the radiator is behind the engine. They run rather hot as a result and necessitate running an electric fan which is fine in the winter as a heater, but in the summer absolutely cooks the feet and wafts hot air right up at the driver! This can be alleviated somewhat by running a supplementary radiator at the front of the car low down, and an oil cooler is fine for this. However, this strictly speaking will contravene the MSVA regulations unless done in such a manner that it doesn’t form a forward projection! There are many Honda engined examples being driven around and enjoyed and most people put up with what amounts to a little discomfort in exchange for the sheer eccentricity of ownership. You get more power and relaxed driving if you pay more, it is that simple!
SVA is Single Vehicle Approval or MSVA (Motorcycle SVA) and believe me, I know all about it! VOSA, or the old Vehicle Inspectorate used my Honda engined demonstrator in order to train some of their inspectors at their Mitcham depot and I spent a whole day with them. It was all very helpful. SVA is all about forward projections (amongst other things) which might harm a pedestrian, I have concise notes on all aspects. SVA requires a hydraulic rear brake and most CXs did not have this, whereas Moto Guzzi have this as standard. The CX set-up can be modified however.
Motor Guzzi engines present little or no difficulties as the finned barrels comply with their regulations, or more importantly are outside of the scope! Every object that potentially projects must have a minimum radius of 2.5mm. There are some more complexities however I can offer guidance.
For a fully factory built up, Motor Guzzi drive train car, the cost will be in the region of £16500 depending on final specification.
I mention SVA and can deliberate further as your enquiry develops, however other three wheeler manufacturers might conveniently forget to tell you about it! SVA for three wheelers came in August 2003, and has been in force for four wheeled kit cars for some four years, so cars do indeed pass it. You cannot proceed to register your car or MOT it until you possess an SVA certificate and this applies to cars built or finished after August 2003.
MOT, MSVA, DVLA, VOSA applies solely to the UK, there are similar regulations in the Europe. For USA, you will have to check your individual State/Federal laws.
Brand new factory fully built up cars which have a new
registration will not need an MOT for three years.
email me for any help/info
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