Has anyone seen the Yelvington reverse. Looks interesting.

 

I've not seen it, but did find some interesting things to read and watch.

Video of it in action:
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/ve...deo-87825.html

Patent application, with drawings showing the planetary gear assembly:
http://www.google.com/patents/US7311636

Yelvington Trike's web page about it, with no price listed:
http://yelvingtontrikes.com/reverse-gear/

Yelvington Design's web page about it, with no price listed:
http://mark-russell-y4cl.squarespace...ington-reverse

I think it looks like a very interesting alternative to the gearbox reverses. Would add some unsprung weight, which would cause the ride to become harsher. How much weight and how much harsher? Dunno. I'd speculate about 40 lbs, and that would be appreciable.

I like the idea of being able to actuate reverse from the handle bars, as opposed to reaching down to a lever. Many times when I've wished for a reverse I've been in a position that I can't easily reach down. I'd also be concerned about a lockout, so I don't accidentally actuate it while riding down the highway. Bad things tend to happen when you engage reverse while riding forward.

Don't find anything showing a price. Guessed, speculated, proposed, etc. So no idea what this is going to cost. Though most reverses for the gearbox run ~$1,400, so I would anticipate this unit being roughly comparable.

 

I seen that in Cincinnati, it was actually pretty cool and looks like it would work.

 

Mark, do you know if they are in production with it yet?

 

I do see one thing that does concern me with this design. It's in this picture on their patent application:



As shown, the entire forward driving force is transmitted through a single engagement point on two teeth. That's weak and likely prone to failure. It wouldn't concern me if this was for reversing, but this is what locks it up for forward motion. Now perhaps in operation there will be multiples of this lock, but the drawing only shows one lock, on two teeth.

 

Not sure.

 

I talked to Mark at Yelvington designs yesterday. They hope to have their reverse unit in production by the end of the year.

 

Cool! Did he happen to have a price estimate?

 

They are trying to keep it under $1800.

 

They're bound to try to keep it below Baker's reverse kit price! Currently available no doubt at your local friendly.......