Victory trike finished

[rustic bob]

Finished installing the Frankenstein trike kit on my 8-Ball today. Just
picked up the fenders from the paint shop, all that is left is bleed the
brakes, and wait for the snow to melt for a test ride. Will try and get some pictures posted in a day or so. need help from the wife for that. It looks
great, can"t wait to ride.

 

[americanbadass]

Cool....can't wait to see your pics, and get your first ride perspectives!ThumbUp:xszpv:

 

[rustic bob]

/Users/Lizzie/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2012/Dad's albumn/DSCN0057.JPG

 

[rustic bob]

OK still cant figure out how to post pictures to this forum, guess I need a complete walk-thru. Pictures are uploaded to the computer (Mac) but cant get them here. Tried badass paperclip, didnt work. Anyone??

 

[americanbadass]

Sorry Rob-I am posting to bump this up to the front. Mods can direct you on how to upload on your gallery-I don't use it, can't help you out on it. But I really want to see your pics!!!:Shrug:

 

[rustic bob]

finally have pictures posted on the pic gallery, with help from my 17 year old daughter. hope to have some better ones when the snow melts and I can get it outside. Let me know what you think, Thanks for being patient. :xzqxz:

 

[Bruce]

Nice looking trike -- what size wheel is on the front ??

 

[vstrommer]

Looks great!!!:10:

 

[americanbadass]

Looks great!!! Post up the results of your first ride...I am curious about what you think of the steering?

 

[rustic bob]

Front tire 90/90/21, stock on most victorys. 215/60/15 on rear. looks like the rear end sits a little lower with the trike, but could be just an illusion. most of the snow is melted,maybe by the weekend the gravel will be dry enough to get to the blacktop. thanks for all the nice comments guys, will post more later after a test drive. :xzqxz:

 

[Bill Reber]

Very nice , let us know how she rides !

 

[rustic bob]

O.K. first test ride twenty miles, horrible, low speed on bumpy roads just about ripped the handlebars out of my hands, hiway speed on road with lots of bumps and dips wanted to follow them. smooth flat road 70mph no problem. Went home and tightened the steering bearings as someone suggested. Second test ride, thirty five miles, much better, still fairly hard to steer. Dont think I can tighten the bearings much more, but that might solve the problem. Dont want to spend 2,000.00 bucks on a rake kit , but will if I have to. Think once I get used to it I am really going to like it. Have been looking at stabilizers, but would like to see what one looks like mounted on the bike. It is currently snowing again so will have to wait a while before the next test ride.

Reason for going to a trike, broke my hip in a construction accident seventeen years ago. Road a two wheeler for as long as I could. Hip is getting weaker, and I am not getting any younger, (61) years old this summer. Wife said if I would go to a trike she would start riding with me again. Scared the crap out of her last summer when I layed it down at a stop sign. Only my pride was hurt, first time i have done that for many years. Will let you know after more test rides. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. :xzqxz:

 

[ronc4424]

Two words............Rake Kit !

 

[americanbadass]

Here are the pics you ask for Rob. I used a 2 inch muffler clamp (polished it), and a piece of 1" angle iron (finished in spanish chrome, the kind that comes in a can), for the fork tube. For the back support, behind the crash bar I just fabbed up an L bracket. It looks good enuf for me, and functions properly. Good Luck with whatever you decide, hope that pm I sent gives you some ideas.ThumbUp

 

[rustic bob]

thanks for the pictures badass, they are much appreciated,
and I really did like your former avatar better. :xzqxz:

 

[skuuter]

That 8-Ball Frankenstein looks GREAT....CONGRATS...ThumbUp...I came real close to buying an 8-Ball 2-Wheeler a few years ago....Love the way they ride and handle.....:10:

 

[Indian64]

Heard that the steering was a little stiff. Love Victory products however.

 

[rustic bob]

Badass, did you get your Kewlmetal rake installed? Picked up my old triple tree from the shop today. Had a few problems, am going to take him the whole bike after riding season so he can get a good build on it. Will have to put up with the hard steering for a while yet. later.:xzqxz:

 

[americanbadass]

Badass, did you get your Kewlmetal rake installed? Picked up my old triple tree from the shop today. Had a few problems, am going to take him the whole bike after riding season so he can get a good build on it. Will have to put up with the hard steering for a while yet. later.:xzqxz:

pm sent.....

 

[oldtimer1]

Looks great. Can't beat the Victory.

 

[slick rick]

:Coffee::Coffee:........I hope it works out for you Bob,,,I know what it's like to realize it's safer for you and the misses if you add another wheel . In my case it was just to hard on my knees so I had two choices and chose to keep riding . Just give it a little time , learn to ride a little different and the rest will take care of itself .:LooksGreat::AllGood:

 

[Rollin Thunder]

I'm late getting on here. But I think it's a BADASS little trike. Plus you did it yourself ThumbUp. Good job Bob. Hope you and your wife enjoy it.

 

[skuuter]

Sounds like a "Rake Kit" is in Your Future.....I consider Them a necessity.....ThumbUp

 

[RoadBoss]

Pics?

 

[rustic bob]

Click on View Photos By : rustic bob, only have four pictures, can't figure out how to post them on the forum. Will take more later . Just got back from a 500 mile trip, and 120 mile poker run at Emminence Missouri. The trike performed flawlessly. Curvey roads , but smooth, so the stiff steering didn't bother me too much. my wife was happy also. Just before we left I went down to the local welding shop and he bent a piece of metal for a belt guard, made a few small adjustments , painted and installed. Looks good , and works fine. Have put on about a thousand miles since the trike install, and am getting more comfortable with it each day, the worst thing is roads with lots of potholes, we have plenty of them here. Later:xzqxz:

 

[GoNoGo]

Rustic Bob..

Thumbs Up on the look of your Victory Trike.

Question: Which Frankenstein base kit did you order as to match up the (Frankenstein) rear with your swing arm, because Frankenstein only sells Harley Trike-rear kits? Also, did you ever RAKE your 8-Ball trees? (I was unable to garner this info above). Thanks!

 

[rustic bob]

GoNoGo, sorry for the delay haven't been on here for a while. The Frankenstein kit I used was the 38" Softail Sport. Frank made the swingarm for my Victory. When I first called he said they were to busy to make anything but harley swing arms. I called back a couple of months later and offered to make a substantial down payment, then told him I did all work on my bike except for the motor. had to wait a couple more months for delivery. Picked it up at the factory since I only live about a hour away from them. With the design of the kit it will work on either left or right hand drive by simply turning it around 180 degrees. Did the work my self in about eight hours in my shop, read the installation manuel very carefully, its a harley manuel but worked fine for the vic. Could probably do another one in about half that time. the only problem I encountered was about an eighth of an inch side to side play in the swing arm, solved that by installing a 1/16th" fender washer on either side of the arm, everything else bolted up perfect.

Am very pleased with the trike, have not put on a rake kit yet, but am getting used to riding it. bought the Frankenstein kit because I did not like the looks of the other ones on the market, and they were the only ones who woukd make a swingarm for the vic. Still do not know if my machine shop owner is going to make a rake kit for me. Hate to cut loose with the kind of money every one wants for the kit when you can buy one for a harley or honda for half the price. Hope this answers your questions, if not please feel free to contact me again.

 

[rustic bob]

160 mile ride today in pouring rain, stayed mostly dry, about twenty bikes, two other trikes, had a good time, trike performed very well. live band tonight, it was a good day.:xzqxz: