Adjustable Rear Suspension-a Must On Elio

[Greycat]

Something nagged at me for a while now about the Elio and just dawn on me what it is yesterday. I was out motorcycle riding with my group and one member met his girlfriend at the diner, before we start the ride he adjusted his rear suspension for two up riding. if he hadn't, the bike would not have been safe to ride. The light bulb went on in my head. At around 1,200lbs and evenly distributed on 3 wheels, the 400lbs empty weight on the rear wheel of the Elio are no more then the weight distributed on the rear wheel of most touring motorcycle. Yet when the Elio is fully loaded, you can easily double the weight on the rear wheel to 800lbs (half of the drivers weight + most of the passenger weight + all of 8gal. gas). I think the difference between empty and fully loaded weight is too much for a none adjustable suspension setup. If Elio do not equip the autocycle with adjustable rear suspension it will be my first mod..

 

[Joshua Caldwell]

This is a good question, I just submitted it to Elio. I normally get answers within a few hours or at most the following day.

 

[Craig]

I think it maybe a non issue, they may have engineered max load into the balance and suspension. If anything it’s probably the other way till someone sits in the back,
If this circumstance exist in this configuration at all. JMO

 

[Ty]

Good point. Air shock, maybe? I remember they were really cheap back in the day.

 

[Greycat]

This is a good question, I just submitted it to Elio. I normally get answers within a few hours or at most the following day.

Thanks, I can't wait to hear what they have to say.

 

[Farm Boy]

I though I read that the Elio would have a stability control system. Wouldn't that be incorporated into it and take care of this issue???

 

[Greycat]

I though I read that the Elio would have a stability control system. Wouldn't that be incorporated into it and take care of this issue???

Yes, a well designed stability control system with all the necessary sensors, computer, self adjusting shocks will totally take care this issue.

edit, I am not sure Elio is incorporating a complicated stability control system at such a low price point.

 

[Ty]

Self adjusting shocks aren't a part of simple stability control though. With such a light vehicle, increasing the "cargo" by 200# is the equivalent of me putting about 1,300# in the bed of my truck. It'll be doubly tough as there is only one tire back there holding up the weight.

 

[Joshua Caldwell]

Just so you know, I've received an answer to another question submitted this morning - unfortunately no details as of yet about pricing of a wrap and whether it will have standard graphics or custom. I have yet to receive a reply to the question this thread is about.

 

[Zipper]

There are at least a couple of manufacturers that are more than capable of producing a spring/shock combo that will meet the everyday needs of the Elio. Several approaches are available. Either progressively sprung or manually adjustable pre-load are both relatively inexpensive.