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I think I remember reading that the guys with the bonneville salt flats bike originally planned to
turn their engine sideways in the frame. It must be a lot of work, because I don't think that they ever did it.

I must be getting feeble. I completely forgot about Ken Lyon's 1800.
There is more than one way to get the skin off of a cat...... Jackshaft!

so anyway.... my Morgan 3 wheeler has a V-twin mounted sideways and a mazda 5 speed transmission and a LOOOOOOONG shaft

CYBORG wrote:new O ring chains are supposed to eliminate that. I know that it is a more efficient transfer of power. But if you want chain drive, why buy a Goldwing. Might be easier to replace the Goldwing engine with a Harley engine,.....or just buy a chain drive bike

Agree!

rcmatt007 wrote:so anyway.... my Morgan 3 wheeler has a V-twin mounted sideways and a mazda 5 speed transmission and a LOOOOOOONG shaft

Isn't that an HD motor?

SnoBrdr wrote: Isn't that an HD motor?

and a car transmission.
a totally irrelevant contribution to this thread.

Not really totally irrelevant. Just another example of what's possible with a little 'out of the box' thinking.

My plan for the bike is to hardtail it, jockey shift, and springer front end. So with that in mind i feel a chain suits it better (looks cooler imho and opens up wheel options). Also i found some pics of the gl1500 below that got me thinking. I tried talking to the guy that built the bike but he wasn't interested in sharing which is cool. I'm wondering if that is a trike rear end he used or maybe something off a atv. Any ideas or thoughts im open.

That bike is called the motocopter (google it).
It is a pure show bike. Who knows if that setup actually works?
It could be all show - no go.
Call me a sceptic, but I sure would like to see a video of someone riding it.

Yea the original concept of the salt flat bike was a sideways engine and a separate trans and a belt drive.

So how would the output shaft and bearings hold up to a sprocket and chain if you mounted the motor sideways?? Can’t see it working out easily but the 10-25% boost to the axle would be a boon.

ericheath wrote:So how would the output shaft and bearings hold up to a sprocket and chain if you mounted the motor sideways?? .

Good point!
I think an outrigger bearing could be added pretty easily.

dontwantapickle wrote:

SnoBrdr wrote: Isn't that an HD motor?

and a car transmission.
a totally irrelevant contribution to this thread.

hardly.... just an example of what is possible. and it is an S&S v-twin... I wish it were a HD (better made)

to do this the engine is transverse which allows the main shaft to go straight to the transmission. The gold wing main drive turns in a 90 degrees from the direction of the bike. the rear pumpkin gives the 90 degree correction so the bike goes forward. To put on a belt/chain drive you would need that correction at the main drive and then add a sprocket. I am sure that would mean major modifications on the rear swing arm as well. Probably the best approach would be to take out the engine and then make a frame for which this would work.

Track T 2411 wrote:Not really totally irrelevant. Just another example of what's possible with a little 'out of the box' thinking.

And a lot of time and $$$

and not really "out of the box".
Every rear wheel drive car on the road is set up the same way.