horizon wrote: ↑29 Jan 2022, 5:48pm
There was time years ago that I looked at better methods of motorised touring than a car and considered a motorbike. But I looked at the possible engine and decided 600 cc could be put to better use in a Deux Chevaux, complete with open top, comfy seats and no need to wear a helmet or leathers.
I hope you don't mind the re-opening of this thread months after your post, horizon, but I think you've put your finger on something. French quadricycles come between bikes and small cars, the best of which by far I'd say is the (electric) Renault Twizzy, but it's not very comfortable and pretty much a single seater. Citroën has recently introduced its electric Ami quadricycle, but it's desperately slow (30mph) and crude. A 2cv was an amazingly versatile, cheap, tough vehicle, there's nothing around today which quite fills its space.
The closest I ever came to what you might consider suitable was a handbuilt open top 'sports tourer' based on a 1970s (Citroën) Ami8 chassis which I bought years ago. It had been constructed rather beautifully by an ex RAF fighter pilot and was a little like an ancient Morgan 3 wheeler. He and his wife had toured Europe in it, "absolute luxury" compared with an aircraft cockpit and being shot at. 60mpg, 95mph if you were really in a hurry, you felt more 'connected' with the road than any motorbike and was so much fun, yet also very tough, practical and capable. There are similar things today named 'Triking', a little pricey and though.
One aspect of all this is perhaps that you've achieved near perfection with your touring on a good bike, with good company, good kit, enough experience to make things well organised and so on. But I do feel there is a market out there for a quadricycle-class vehicle which can achieve the equivalent of 240mpg, sit at 65mph, carry two people plus luggage and ooze charm. It would appeal to commuter, student, world-tourist, and possibly cyclists and bikers who didn't want to have the ignomy of owning a car. We've forgotten how to be innovative in the small vehicle sector, so should legislate for such a thing!
I don't think an electric motor on your bike would actually improve anything for you, I've found ebikes best at doing local trips when otherwise I'd take a car - when time or energy is limited.