jawfish

Tuk Tuk Fever
john posted in rides, technologies on July 15th, 2007

As part of our investigation into alternative greener transport, we’ve stumbled upon the infamous Tuk Tuk.
A Tuk Tuk is basically a small motorcycle front end with a frame attached and two rear wheels, with many different types of bodywork. “Tuk tuk” refers to the sound they make, and according to numerous sources, they are ubiquitous in Thailand and India.

image by JPButler

by Scott Westerfield
by nyhoff.net … seen here

A large Indian company, Bajaj, has begun importing them into the US in small numbers to be sold at scooter dealers. They are so simple that they arrive on a pallet for assembly at the dealer. We went down to drive one at world famous BigAssMotors in Northridge CA, a small scooter wholesaler in an industrial park. Prices start at $6500 USD.

Bajaj US site, Argo shows the three models, a pickup, an autorikshaw, and a delivery van.

Bajaj autorickshaw Bajaj pickup
Bajaj delivery van

Why are we talking about these strange little beasts?
I have been doing a lot of research into getting us a green around-town vehicle. We can’t afford a new Prius at $25k+ and it seems just plain stupid to drive around town in a 3000 lb car. Out beyond the safe but expensive choices of Prius, Civic hybrid, and such, there is a land without consumer-friendly choices. In the US, because of our draconian safety laws, tiny, fuel-efficient cars are not legal, and we are deprived of a number of clever microcars electric, diesel, and gas powered, available in Brazil, Japan, and Europe. The Tuk Tuks are classed as motorcycles, so they are able to work in a performance envelope unavailable to standard cars. The pickup is a single seater with a 1000 lb payload. Yes one thousand pounds in a bed about four feet square. All three models have a top speed of about 35-40 mph and get 60 mpg more or less from a single cylinder four stroke 185cc motor.

Our performance requirements:
We need to be able to drive around town with two people and light cargo, and we don’t need much weather protection. We aren’t replacing our gas cars, just trying not to use them so much. Later, I am thinking of converting it to electric drive.

What we thought of the Tuk Tuk:
It’s almost unbearably cute, just crying out for goofy decorations like tiki torches and Christmas lights. Its tiny, you might be able to park perpendicular in a parallel space. It’s made of unlined sheet steel much like a garden tractor, with some odd controls borrowed off a scooter. The brakes are on a foot pedal, the clutch is motorcycle-style on the left handlebar, the throttle is motorcycle style on the right handlebar, and the gears are on the left twist-grip, Vespa-style. There is reverse and a parking brake, and electric start.

It drives like a fast garden tractor with 8 hp, so you can rule out tire-shredding starts. The steering feels very quick, but the vehicle does not feel tippy. These things are used off-road or on terrible roads all the time in India, so it should stand up to American roads. There is no catalytic converter, and the engine mechanical noise is fairly high. A little sound insulation in the engine box, and an aftermarket catalytic converter ( there’s lots of room under the bed) should fix that and clean up the exhaust somewhat.

Conclusion:
The Bajaj Tuk Tuk has most all the right features for a cheap local transportation: simplicity, good mileage, carrying capacity, manuverability. It’s somewhat noisy, slow, has minimal weather protection and it’s far far beyond stylish. If you live in a cold climate, or have more than a minimal need to be seen in high-status vehicles, or work in a conservative shop where oddball transportation is uncool, then save up for a one of the new hybrids, or a Smart.

There is one major problem for my family with the Bajaj Tuk Tuk. The front seat is made for one rider only. You can squeeze two people in, but not with seat belts or any comfort. There is an alternative with two seats: the trusty Cushman Truckster, 4-wheel version. The Truckster can be bought on ebay for less than $3000 used, and is built like a tank, but only the 4-wheeler has a double front seat. As a used, often very used and aged vehicle, Trucksters are an option for backyard mechanics only.

Here is a gallery of more detailed pictures of the yellow pickup we tested.