How many on here built their own TRIKE

[Rollin Thunder]

Ok. I've been reading on here that some members have put together their own Trike kits from some manufacturers. I've been thinking of doing it myself also. Since I have the Harley now. I want to order the Trike kits and do it myself also. Plus to $ave about 4 to 5 K for labor co$t. So who and where did you do it. All of you have a story about your builds. Can you share your story with other members ? PLEASE ThumbUp

 

[Bushman4]

It seems like it would be cheaper however it never is. Only build your own if you enjoy building vehicles.

 

[skuuter]

I built a couple of "skuuter-design" VW Trikes many years ago, but I've had a "warm-n-fuzzy" Relationship with my Local Honda Dealer that has become a Trike Builder for many years, so it's been Better/Easier to wait on the "It's Ready" phone call......and there's that "Bazooka Guy" that I've become Really Good Friends with too that I may use in the future.....ThumbUp

 

[Jonesy]

I did my Yamaha venture into a trike with a tri-wing kit myself.

 

[OSM]

I am about 90% done with the Champion conversion of my Ultra Classic. It's not been hard, just follow the installation instructions.

 

[Ray55]

I assembled my trike with a kit from Champion. I have a CSC rake kit on it. I ordered the kit thru a local dealer and from that point on I did everything else. Champion factory is about a hundred mile north of me in Garden Grove Ca. I picked up my kit from the factory on a Friday Morning. All total it took me about 6 days to completely assemble it. By the time that I got the trike kit, I already had installed the raked trees and had the bike disassembled. It took the better part of a day just to get the belt aligned and about a day and half trying to get the body centered on the trike frame. Someone must have some lonnnnnng arms to put the front mounting bolts on the body.


Ray
2009 Kawi/Champion
Tijuana Border

 

[mopar]

I installed my DFT kit and triglide front end. Actually was fun. Took about 18 hours at easy pace. I would do it again.

 

[dcryder]

I built my wife her first trike from scratch out of a 81 yamaha venturer, but I used to build race cars and I am some what disabled. So it took me 2 yrs to complete, and my wife is enjoying it to no end.

 

[skuuter]

I built my wife her first trike from scratch out of a 81 yamaha venturer, but I used to build race cars and I am some what disabled. So it took me 2 yrs to complete, and my wife is enjoying it to no end.

I come from that "used to build race cars" background also...same for building motorcycles...Glad Your Wife is enjoying it.....ThumbUp

 

[Drpepper]

I did my 04 ultra with a Frankenstein kit . Installed in about 10 hours ,without painting the fenders. Kit was complete, simple too install using their instructions .watch the vid on their web site .I paurched the delux kit but have not installed the raked trees ,will do that this winter .the ride has been ok so far ,been in the Ozarks and Sturgis with it ,I like it .I think well worth the money

 

[jackthemachinist]

I converted a 1997 Harley Electraglide Classic using a DFT kit. My wife loves the ride of the DFT fully-independent rear suspension. My build took about a month, which included fitting the body and having the paint done, plus installing a raked triple clamp, which on an Electraglide involves removing the fairing a disconnecting/reconnecting all the electrical.

The build also included dropping two teeth on the compensator sprocket to get the gearing closer to stock due to the larger rear tires and fabricating a trailer hitch. I opted for the kit mufflers so I didn't have to fabricate ab exhaust system.

The DFT kit is excellent quality, the body is nice, but not the quality of a Triglide. The DFT instructions are a little lacking and appear to be general in nature, referring to a variety of models. I had to call the factory a couple of times to get clarification. The factory techs were very helpful and got me pointed in the right direction, despite being exhausted from doing installs during Sturgis all day.

If you are comfortable working on all aspects of motorcycles and maybe have a little racecar fabrication experience, it's not something that requires factory training. But having a full machine shop and basic fabrication equipment probably made it easier for me.

My wife and I are certainly enjoying our DFT trike. We rode it to Phoenix and back from central California in the spring of 2012. The trike ran great and we had a wonderful time. It handled excellent and was very comfortable. On that trip we towed a small home-built trailer similar to the Harbor Freight Tag-Along.

When offered the inheritance of her deceased fathers Triglide, my wife responded, "No, I love my trike. Jackson built that one for me." Health problems have limited our riding this past year, but we hope to log more miles in the future.

Building a trike from a kit is a rewarding experience, and my wife loves to brag that I built ours. (She gets plenty of opportunity. People seem to be attracted to an older couple travelling on a trike.) As far as saving money, you'll pretty much earn it. But you will also have a very thorough understanding of your trike that comes from massaging every nut and bolt.

It's not for everybody, it's not a casual undertaking, but it is very rewarding and riding the trike is a blast! ThumbUp

Just my experience.

 

[Bullet]

I did the build on my GL1800 and Roadsmith kit. Took about 7 days for the kit and did the paint as well (but not in that seven days). Did the install on the rake kit as well. Believe me doing all that work yourself will save you a few thousand.

 

[uralowner]

RT, I'm in the middle of a home build now. 86 GW/84 JAG IRS, having lots of fun, It's a roller now. Have all the brake tools and supplies and am about to start that any day. In process of putting a fore/reverse jog drive with aux. alternator now. This is an air conditioning 12v clutch powered by a small 12v gear motor driving a 10 inch pulley on the pinion yoke. When the trike is in motion the clutch will be in freewheel and driven by the pinion pulley in turn driving the aux. alternator. Looking for a mini alternator now. This will supply power for accessories and aux, battery. This will all be separate of the GW wiring. The drive is installed and looks like it will work, hope to test soon. On paper it looks like about 10"/sec. jog speed, figured without weight factor. I have other posts with a few pictures. Be safe, Perry

 

[saab9k]

I did the build on my GL1800 and Roadsmith kit. Took about 7 days for the kit and did the paint as well (but not in that seven days). Did the install on the rake kit as well. Believe me doing all that work yourself will save you a few thousand.

yes it does. Then you know what you have.

 

[Krautster]

Jack, I have an 02 Ultra Classic I just converted.. I have a 25 tooth comp sprocket, what did you have.. where did you get the 2 tooth smaller sprocket..

 

[Dennis Elliott]

Im still tweeking on mine but im sure happy with it. i just turned 10,000 mile on it since i installed it

 

[2Trikez]

Built my 1985 GL1200A trike with used/old (1996-99) MotorTrike body. Had to fab up the sub-frame components for body mounting, cut/narrowed a Ford Ranger truck rear (axles too) to fit and change rear gear set (from 3.65 to 3.00), made up driveshaft with both stock GL shaft (front half) and u-joint/flange (to Ford 7.5 rear), added aux. 2 gal fuel tank, electric fuel pump to transfer gas to main tank, added Mustang "mag wheels" with 205R/70/15 tires, trailer hitch, plug-in rack and paint to match the baby blue color. No E-z street at present will get later as I don't want the wife or me getting to cocky with fast steering. Took about 40-45 hrs of build time and I contracted the paint job. So, it's maybe 55-60 hrs tops. But I have access to air tools, benders, TIG welder, Plasma cutter and materials (car/truck parts, tubing, etc.) as my friends work (me too) on street rods. Still...without instructions, pictures we have to make these parts as IF we knew what we're doing!!! Luckily some of us have ridden bikes/trikes/sidecar rigs over the years. Anyone looking for a trike body to buy???? I got a few (3) California Sidecar bodies. 2 bodies for the GL1500 and 1 for a GL1800. Just saying.

2TZ

 

[Rollin Thunder]

I'm getting an education here. Please continue the replies. This is some good stuff. THANK YOU ThumbUp..........Rick

 

[saab9k]

I did the build on my GL1800 and Roadsmith kit. Took about 7 days for the kit and did the paint as well (but not in that seven days). Did the install on the rake kit as well. Believe me doing all that work yourself will save you a few thousand.

Yes. Then you know what you have. In todays world, some shops hire part time employes for shop work, some times just so and so.