All photos are available in I got a chance to drive Crutchfield Performance's Trixster...
The cockpit is specifically built around the individual, with non-adjustable (but very supportive) racing seats and controls. It didn't fit my skinny long-legged ass very well, but it was still an intense drive. The steering is quick and easy, something I was concerned about after seeing how the T-Rex drivers seem to be contorting their arms to get around the simplest turns. Acceleration is as you'd expect...not as fast as the donor bike due to the extra weight, but there's something about sitting or being surrounded by a cage that makes it all seem more significant. (I notice it in sportscars too...ride a bike all day long with 3-second 0-60 times, but a car with 400hp that can "only" pull 4 or 5 second 0-60 times seems insanely fast.) I had a hard time getting the revs above 6000rpm without feeling like I was going back to the future. All the instrumentation is still located right there inside the nose piece, and the control switches normally located around the throttle are located on the sequential stick shifter in the middle of the cockpit. Just pull back and let off the gas for a second to upshift, push forward and blip the throttle or use the attached clutch lever to downshift. He's using the motorcycle's brakes on the front for stopping, and they are strong enough to lock the tires, but it takes quite a bit of force. Handling, needless to say, is go-kart-like. Very fun toy and I suspect you'll be seeing more of them soon in magazines and around the area, as they are located in north Georgia. More info at their site at http://crutchfieldperformance.com/
4 comments:
I'm a little confused about the throttle control. At their website, they have a shot of the shifter, clutch, throttle control in the center of the cockpit, just as you reported. But in your picture, you are steering with your left hand. If the throttle is on that central control, I thought you would need to steer one-handed while you held on to the throttle with the left hand. Can you help me with this one?
The throttle is a pedal on the floor, just like a car. That stick in the middle is just for shifting, clutch, and working the switch gear. Never thought of it like that, and it does make sense that one might assume it was the throttle now that you mention it. Gas and brake are on the floor, clutch is in your hand and you don't even need to use it once you're moving, so you can really use each foot for just one control, allowing you to do some cool stuff combining the brake and gas going into, through, and out of turns.
This is why I thought the throttle controls were on the stick:
"All the instrumentation is still located right there inside the nose piece, and the throttle controls are located on the sequential stick shifter in the middle of the cockpit."
Sound familiar? HAHA!! The floor seems like the logical place for the throttle and brake. Thanks for your reply. I bet it was a hoot to drive.
Well that was poorly worded on my part, I'm a dumbass. What I meant was that the controls normally located around the throttle are there in the middle.
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