Printable Version | Subscribe | Add to Favourites
New Topic New Poll New Reply
Author: Subject: Thinking three wheels
Andi

posted on 5/11/17 at 11:24 PM Reply With Quote
Thinking three wheels

I have been getting an itch for years now about owning a trike. A ready built one with a bike engine and chopperish in appearance.
I have never rode one before and know nothing about them, I do have an ancient car driving license so should be able to
drive one legally.
I am about to take the plunge and wanted to know if anyone had any knowledge about them and any pitfalls etc.

Cheers
Andi

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
nick205

posted on 6/11/17 at 09:09 AM Reply With Quote
Not a motorcyclist and never ridden a 2 or 3 wheel one on the road.

One thing I'd check first is whether a trike should have a reverse gear. If it's a car gearbox then not such an issues, but bike gear boxes tend not to have a reverse gear.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
Mr Whippy

posted on 6/11/17 at 01:04 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Not a motorcyclist and never ridden a 2 or 3 wheel one on the road.

One thing I'd check first is whether a trike should have a reverse gear. If it's a car gearbox then not such an issues, but bike gear boxes tend not to have a reverse gear.


they don't need a reverse and many trikes are just retrofitted motor bikes with the rear axle replaced. Depending on the weight reverse could be as easy as pushing it back with your feet.

You can ride a trike on a car licence (if it's pre 2013 issue) but I would not recommend it being a biker... cars and bikes are totally different and need different skills to be used safely. Always wear a good quality full face bike helmet. Oh and it won't be any safer than a normal motor bike and much less maneuverable or agile to get yourself out of danger.

View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
Ugg10

posted on 6/11/17 at 01:53 PM Reply With Quote
I think there are probably three different types of trike (based on one front wheel and two rear, not reverse trikes) -

bike with the rear wheel replaced by two using bike engine and chain/shaft drive,
bike front end with spaceframe to take longitudinal car engine and rear axle (often using a rover v8),
bike front end on space frame with VW beetle rear end.

Bit of inspiration:

http://www.westwalestrikeshack.co.uk/

http://boom-trikes.co.uk/

http://www.eurotech-trikes.co.uk/

http://www.rhino-trikes.co.uk/

Ebay trikes

if you want to look at the reverse trikes then MEV/EXO Sports cars with the TR1ke is a good place to start.

http://www.exosportscars.co.uk/sve_tr1ke.html

Otherwise there are a few 1950's morgan style reverse three wheelers - pembleton, blackjack etc.

[Edited on 6/11/17 by Ugg10]





---------------------------------------------------------------
1968 Ford Anglia 105e, 1.7 Zetec SE, Mk2 Escort Workd Cup front end, 5 link rear
Build Blog - http://Anglia1968.weebly.com

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
kenton

posted on 6/11/17 at 07:45 PM Reply With Quote
Why not convert a bike into one with a kit
https://www.casarva.co.uk/

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
trextr7monkey

posted on 6/11/17 at 09:05 PM Reply With Quote
Not what you are looking for but I remember seeing the Tri King shortly after it was launched back in the Late 70s/ 80s? over the years we have crossed tracks with the original car which has now lapped the globe in mileage terms. Looks like it is from the 40s but had a Moto GuzzibLe Mans 850 engine up front . A friend who bought a Morgan reckoned he saw one st the Morgan Factory which was the daily driver of one of the workers
Looked at Boom trikes at various shows and they look very very American and rather expensive
HTH!
Mike





http://www.flickr.com/photos/14016102@N00/ (cut and paste this dodgey link)

Our most recent pics are here:
http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p211/trextr7monkey/

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
Mr Whippy

posted on 7/11/17 at 12:54 PM Reply With Quote
some thing to bear in mind when being sucked into bikes -

1) bikes are freezing cold to use, even in summer
2) you will get very very wet in the rain (carry a change of clothes)
4) rain fogs ups your visor so you need it open a bit (rainx works a bit)
5) rain hurts like hell even at 30mph
6) your face/clothes/helmet will be covered with bugs
7) people will pull out in front of you even if you wear a hi viz jacket and have the lights on
8) bike brakes (and grip) is just awful compared to a car
9) their range of fuel is generally poor so always looking for the next filling station
10) big windshields slow you down but make a cruiser so much more pleasant

saying that I love riding them

View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
Andi

posted on 7/11/17 at 07:45 PM Reply With Quote
Thanks all.

Andi

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member

New Topic New Poll New Reply


go to top






Website design and SEO by Studio Montage

All content © 2001-16 LocostBuilders. Reproduction prohibited
Opinions expressed in public posts are those of the author and do not necessarily represent
the views of other users or any member of the LocostBuilders team.
Running XMB 1.8 Partagium [© 2002 XMB Group] on Apache under CentOS Linux
Founded, built and operated by ChrisW.