MG has a new buggy coming soon ... the pics have just been released. What do you all think? (Except Ricardo ... we don't care what you think :P )

The MG Aero has, like most buggies of nowadays, an adjustable back axle. With 4 positions it is now possible to choose your own setup.
Find your optimal height depending on whether you are riding bigfoots or ST wheels.
The buggy is available in two sizes:
44 cm or 46 cm space between the sidebars.

The nice and shiny cross at the back of the buggy adds extra strength to the frame. It is welded to the sidebars to form a unit which means there will be no bolts anymore
The largest part of the buggy is mounted with lock bolts; which had the advantage that you only need one key to screw.
The mounting of the back axle is also completely new. There is no other buggy with a construction like this.

The main advantage of this construction is always having an exact straight axle. Welding is not necessary so there is no problem with heating up the frame during the process.
Another advantage is that the axle is replaceable. Finally, the axle can also be used asymmetric
The down tube has a straight angle for fast control.
The down tube’s angle is adjustable in 3 degrees steeper and 3 degrees less steep.
Each buggy has a black polyester 3D mudguard.
The wheel base of the buggy is variable ranging from 1665 mm up to 1825 mm.
The fork contains 4 holes so you can choose your optimal footstep position.
There are standard holes for tandem buggy and pull bar.
The fork includes an extra hole for mounting balance weight.

The standard footsteps are the deluxe version with an adjustable foot brace.
The weight of this buggy with the full size Cadkat wheels is 46.5 kg.
The weight of the buggy can be reduced by using light wheels instead.

Some Specs:

Model Small Model Large
back axle [mm] 1520 1520
space between sidebars [mm] 440 460
smallest space between sidebars [mm] 365 385
height adjustment back axle [mm] 140 140
wheelbase min / max [mm] 1690 - 1880 1690 - 1880
weight complete (with fullsize wheels) [kg] 46,5 46,5
www.mg-kites.com

Mmmmm....pretty.

Nice looking buggy Dino.

The only thing I'm not sold on (I'll have to check it out when you arrive at NABX), is the U-bolts holding the frame rails to the axle. I can see that becoming a problem. I'll have to reserve final judgement on that for another 30 some days till I see ya.

The only other question to be answered is how many bolts are needed to assemble the buggy, and how long will it take you to assemble said buggy!

srsly, nice looking ride!

Nice looking buggy

Dino will they be about in time for NABX ??

Looks pretty sharp, but +1 on the concerns about the concerns about the U-bolts. Definitely looks to be the weakest part of the equation.

ATB,
Sam

I agree with the U-bolt issue. First thing that caught my eye. Every thing else looks great. I like the adjustable ride hight. Do they come in flat black too?:dunno:

At this time the buggy will not be available for nabx 2011. But there will be atleast 2 maybe 3 of the 2010 model there.

The buggy comes in 2 versions. polished stainless and steel (black)

I agree my first concerns were the u-bolts, but I am assured by the builder that these "can hold up a car" because they are so strong. So we will have to see how they do. As long as they work like they are suppose to it is a really good idea, because it gives you alot of precise adjustments on the ride height. Plus you will have a very strong and straight back axle as it was not welded on.

Also for all you folks with frozen lakes MG is making ice blades now as well. Here in Cali we don't need those

sorry ... i like the old style adjustment on the rear axle. the U-Bolts will not hold up.

geez, is everyone copying AST now???

the footpegs are a copy of the GT

there is only one buggy its an XXTREME APEXX and soon to be ???? .... you'll just have to see at NABX.

Those U-bolts will hold up a truck!

But I think they will get tightened too much and crimp the axle...

Sure hope there is a notch or some other alignment tool for centering the axle.

Nice looking buggy!


Ron

Quote:

Originally posted by RonH Those U-bolts will hold up a truck! But I think they will get tightened too much and crimp the axle... Sure hope there is a notch or some other alignment tool for centering the axle. Ron

Crimping the axle with the bolts is how they make the centering notches.
S

The U-bolts are fine, the adjustable joint is where any weakness will show up and I cant imagine any engineer would suggest crimping a load bearing tube. The u-bolts should come with torq specs that have been field tested to ram bang crash limits , they would be wise to post the testing process , would'nt that be fun to see.

I think the u-bolts will hold the load (BBS has been using a similar system for years), BUT if they are not tight enough I could imagine that the axle could slip in one direction or the other. Or the plates holding the alxe could bend. Time will tell!

I see problems in transport and getting the buggy together. You would have to have some type of marking on the axle otherwise you would be measuring for a while untill it is centered.

And the welded support between the side bars make it impossible to get the buggy small enough to transport it on a plane.

I'm also sure that by having those welded in instead of bolted is going to cause problems after a few 100 hours. There is no place for the buggy to flex and all the torsion will eventually cause cracks close to those welds again time will tell!

Once the plates are bolted onto the rear axle they will be permanent. No need to remove them for transport, just take the adjustment plates apart. Four bolts on the adjustment plates would be easier and faster than 8 bolts on the rear axle plates. Strength shouldn't be a problem at all as long as the bolts are case hardened. With the geometry of the frame rails coming in at an angle to the roundness of the rear axle, the plates could not slip at all unless the adjustment points were loose. If the rails are tight, it is impossible for the rear axle clamp to slide around. Even with all four "U" bolt nuts completely loose, the plate would still be at the exact angle and would not rotate around the rear axle. As far as strength, I highly doubt that you could exert enough force to sheer off 8 bolts holding the rear axle plates on. I don't think you could get that much grip in the buggy, even on the dry lake bed where grip is king. After all, you only have ONE bolt holding on the entire front fork to the downtube - and if you are using a Peter Lynn or Flexifoil buggy, you only have two bolts on the front of the frame rails holding them together. I don't think you will ever break all four of the rear axle bolts.....

It is really a unique design that should work very nicely.

Just my opinion......Worth exactly what you paid for it.

Looks amazing. I wish I could afford one, and had the space to store it/transport it... and somewhere to ride it regularly that would be worthy of its sheer awesomeness... lol. Yeah, I'll never own one, but would love to give one a shot at Wildwood...

How much does one of these buggies cost?

U bolts hold most of the Cell tower Industry together. I used them on my buggy.

powerws, I am sure that buggy is probably in the $2500 or higher bracket!

Edit,

Just checked their website, approximately $2100 not including shipping, so yeah right around $2500.

Quote:

Originally posted by shehatesmyhobbies Just checked their website, approximately $2100 not including shipping, so yeah right around $2500.

Were you checking the MG site?

Seems to be a whisker more once it's passed through the customs dock.

ATB,
Sam

The listing on my site is old and out dated. That is the original mg and not the new aero. I was in contact with Maarten about the new aero. I am set to bring in a new aero for demo but I am waiting on shipping costs. Until the shipping costs are determined I can not attempt to give people retail prices. I make close to no profit on these buggies so the pennies really add up. As soon as I hear something back from MG you will see a new listing on the site with the current up to date info and pricing.

Thanks for clarifying. After Jon's recent post about what it takes to bring the Libre's over, I was just hoping that someone didn't try to do an XE conversion on set themselves up for sticker shock buy guessing too low on what the shipping might be.

ATB,
Sam

how much?
how long will I have to spend time wise to shine it up every day?

I just want to try a buggy!

Quote:

Originally posted by RonH But I think they will get tightened too much and crimp the axle... Ron

I agree, unfortunately. Still a nice looking buggy. Hope that rear axle is heavy wall pipe....