The Pagosa.com Special.

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A couple months ago I ran an article on Pagosa.com asking the Pagosa community if there was anyone out there with metal fabrication experience. I had an idea while recovering from a heart issue to build an ATV like vehicle that could be used by lower limbed handicapped sportspersons. Ray Emery volunteered for this project and the build has started.

Ray with the Kawasaki mounted on a trailer for the build.

The main design concern is to offer a small and light vehicle a person can drive from a bucket seat rather than having to perch on top of. This vehicle may not go anyplace and everyplace a regular ATV can but it will come closer than anything I can find on the market today for the handicapped . The desire is to offer a kit a person can buy that, when combined with a Kawasaki 650 off-road type motorcycle, will result in this ATV like vehicle.

The vehicle will be offered in two forms, one with two wheels on the back and one with a single rear wheel. The single rear wheel option will be a “trike” and legal for street use. So, this vehicle will be versatile beyond other vehicles currently offered.

Here Ray is working on the frame that will connect the motorcycle with the aluminum sand buggy front suspension.

Stay tuned to Pagosa.com for updates as this vehicle comes together.

If anyone wants to contribute to this worthy project please make contact through Pagosa.com. 

Two swingarms will be built, one will mount a single wheel and the other an ATV two wheel axle.

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A complicated system provides a reverse drive ability for the machine. There is a 12 volt winch, note yellow tag, tucked in under the gas tank. It drives the machine backwards through the pully system.

At the front a cage will serve as a bumper protecting the driver's feet. The steel tubes on each side form a platform where roll bars will be mounted soon.

The front end is coming along well with the basic steering inplace and the spindles ready for the disk brake system.

A close up of the steering box and mount frame. It took considerable thought and engineering to make the steering center mounted in the frame instead of on one side, like a car. Next is building a protective cage around the driver's feet and legs.

Out back a lot of that engineering has gone on. That is an eight inch wide Harley chopper wheel that normally had belt drive. Ray had to convert it to a chain drive and fit it under the 650 Kawasaki frame. The complete wheel and low profile tire is about four times wider in ground contact than the stock Kawasaki unit.

Here is a bunch of head scratchin.' Extending the drive sprocket outward, providing a custom system so the vehicle can go in reverse and engineering a drive train shock cushion device between the engine and wheel is all done in very little space. The pulleys will be turned by belt from a winch, not shown. Because this vehicle is made for the handicapped a "reverse gear" is critical. The winch can operate in both directions so, the rider can do short and slow distances, both ways, on electric power alone.

The rear wheel in not just big...it is BIG!

An entirely new swingarm is being fabracated for the wheel.

Just before Ray mounted the seat...

and just after. Yes, that is the front axle under my knees!

The frame is reaching out now to accept the front suspension. The low frame allows easier side access from a wheelchair.

Ray is building in a lot of strength with cross bracing.

Just at the point of thinking about putting a person in the vehicle. This is the location of the seat being considered.

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