AL-58 wrote:

FatRakoon wrote:

Symbolizm wrote:Very nice conversion FatRakoon, mine is having a rear end re-build at the moment very similar to yours, it will no longer be a hardtail, which has to be better for my back!

Thank you.

Yes, the ride is very smooth.

My only issue, is just how hard it is to turn the thing.

That's why many sidecars have leading links, a trike has the same issue of too much trail in the front suspension.  You need to push the front axle further forward (not by raking the steering head, this will make it worse by increasing the trail further).  Custom triple clamps that offset the forks further or rake just the forks forward will achieve this.

Al

Al

Dai wrote:Yes, get the links on and then see if you can live with the backend.

FatRakoon wrote:

AL-58 wrote:

FatRakoon wrote:

Thank you.

Yes, the ride is very smooth.

My only issue, is just how hard it is to turn the thing.

That's why many sidecars have leading links, a trike has the same issue of too much trail in the front suspension.  You need to push the front axle further forward (not by raking the steering head, this will make it worse by increasing the trail further).  Custom triple clamps that offset the forks further or rake just the forks forward will achieve this.

Al

Al

Im now very confused.

I was told to first increase the rake by getting yokes that allow me to push the frotn out a little.

I was then told to get Leading forks as this will be a better option.

I was then told that leading links are old tech and no one does this anymore because it does not work and will make it harder to ride.

And then I was told that I would be better off simply getting lober forkes, and this will raisew the front a few inches, therefore, pushing the front end out a little in the process, and this wil be the best way!!!

Sheesh!

And now its back to the leading links idea?

So, leading links WILL help the steering yes?

I am definitely getting wider bars, that are a little higher, and further back towards me, for both comfort and better leverage , but this will onlt help so-much.

The suspension in the rear is using a combination of the stock bike shocks, plus extra support from 2 more shocks, and I have been tols that independant rear suspension will also make life easier.... Not cheap though.

All options, but the trike is a 1984 model and so not a young vehicle by any standards, and its cost me a few grand already...  I dont want to keep spending money on it that I dont have, only to get minimal benefit from the work done.

Id rather have huge arms to be honest. LOL.

FatRakoon wrote:Once again, Im wondering... Why is the back end so problematic?

K75cster wrote:Fatrakoon, if I wanted forward controls on my bike, the only way I could see it working is to fabricate a u shaped plate for the sump, where the crash bars bolt up is where I would bolt up the subframe for the forward mounted pedals, its not somewhere I could stand on the pegs but it should hold the weight of my feet when riding well enough. That would put the feet midway along the motor, the back of the subframe could quiet easily run back to where the centrestand used to be and brace there. It would entirely depend on what a mechanic said about the sump being capable of holding the extra weight without leaking. Maybe worth asking about.

Dai wrote:The good thing about that trike is that it actually has some load-carrying capability. I've seen so many trikes where I could carry more on my solo than I could on any of them.

Gauntlett wrote:Hi Symbolizm

I have posted on my newbie status about my final drive ratio's, I have the same axle as you and this should give either a 15% increase in rev's for th same speed  or 15% less speed for the same rev's ( an overall decrease in final drive ratio's, lower gears), I run same BMW 14" rims with 205 70 14r tyres these almost match the original bike tyre diameter, can you give me some indication of your speeds /rpm figures for your set up as currently I dont have a rev counter, I seem to top out at around 80-85 mph and Im not sure what revs Im currently achieving.

Many thanks in advance

Big Dave

RicK G wrote:That's lookin good a real credit to you.

Gauntlett wrote:Great to hear your mechanicals are coming together, what top end and revs are you achieving.

Gauntlett wrote:Mine accelerates like a bullet up to around 6000-6500rpm about 80-85mph, but its almost impossible to continue accelerating beyond that point, how do you find it above this speed. Reliant A diff, 245 50 r14 tyres, so overall ratios must be slightly lower compared to yours

fishboy316 wrote:Looks Awesome! Love red.

MartinW wrote:Back in the 70's a mate imported a VW trike kit from the US. NSW transport refused to register it as they didn't have a category for it. He managed to get an old category  book and eventually found a category. It took a lot of persuasion on his part to get it through. He registered it as a three wheeled tractor.  
Regards Martin.