Any Sinclair C5 owners?

[Targarama]

Well they are partly pedal powered, and officially electric trikes

I have an odd urge to get one. Anyone else had experiences?

[Google [bot]]

As an early teenager I really wanted one and had big plans. Didn't happen though, and I think they're worth quite a lot these days.

[JQ]

Had one as a kid, in fact still got it - it's sitting in my dad's garage, having not been used for 20 years. Good fun, not particularily fast or good handling - you'll get overtaken by bicycles. You're very low down on the road so I wouldn't want to be on any busy roads in one.

It used to break-down alot and finding parts became a bit of an issue (before the days of Ebay). If you can get a cheap one in good working order go for it, but it won't stop you using your car as your main mode of transport.

[Chris71]

My DT teacher at secondary school had one! He used to ride it (drive it?) around school occasionally as well as rocking up in his Scimitar GTE.

[ML]

I think there's a guy on RetroRides who's put a 70cc Honda engine in one. Looks great fun

[Targarama]

Great. I just fancy something for local running about when its not raining. We have hills in Wycombe though ... I can handle 5-6 miles of range if it helps me get up the hills without having to pedal 1,000 calories away (a bit of pedaling is OK).

In 2010 this kind of transport is understood and less nerdy, but I know I'll still look a twonk riding one, but who gives a cluck. I drive a Fiat Panda too :-) Its amazing how people are complete snobs when it comes to transport. I will find one to try for size before going any further, I found a few forums too.

[john_p]

I give you three days before a myopic taxi driver runs you off the road.

Our university lecturer had one, so we took it out on a razzle. It coped pretty well with hills. We also found that its top speed was slightly higher than a gang of pissed undergrads could run. You are very vulnerable to traffic and I have no idea where you'll get spares from, and ours broke a wheel hub with no real abuse at all. Might have needed greasing tho.

[Panclan]

There is an unboxed C5 on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SINCLAIR-C5-STILL-ORIGINAL-B... Also 4 or 5 used ones.

Edited by Panclan on Monday 3rd May 21:52

[Oily Nails]

There is a C5 for sale from 'Vintage Clothes' in Headingly, Leeds

[ndtman]

ML said:

I think there's a guy on RetroRides who's put a 70cc Honda engine in one. Looks great fun

Here you go.

http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s177/banana-spl...

Full thread

http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=d...

[DrMekon]

If you are going to do it, do it properly and put a Bionx rear wheel in a tadpole trike. Something like this:

.

You could put one in the back of an Ice Vortex.

.

[Chris71]

DrMekon said:

If you are going to do it, do it properly and put a Bionx rear wheel in a tadpole trike.

Surely a two-wheeled recumbent (or however you spell it) is even more hardcore?

[Targarama]

Chris71 said:

DrMekon said:

If you are going to do it, do it properly and put a Bionx rear wheel in a tadpole trike.

Surely a two-wheeled recumbent (or however you spell it) is even more hardcore?

Yeah, no kidding. I'm not into all that stuff. Just a nice wimpy C5 for popping to the Post Office and the takeaway.

[ML]

ndtman said:

ML said:

I think there's a guy on RetroRides who's put a 70cc Honda engine in one. Looks great fun

Here you go.

http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s177/banana-spl...

Full thread

http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=d...

That's the bunny. Thanks!