Bike Trike Conversion methods

[OldNick]

OK. So I have gone away from the "real" trikes where they hang a VW engine off a custom frame with a bike front end and, I am looking at bikes with a rear added.

I am seriously attracted to two trikes: one is a Valkyrie with a Ford rear end, which has travelled 120,000 Km around Australia and still looks stunning, the other is a Hornet-based trike that has a US custom trike rear axle, not a car-based one. A serious cruiser and a zapper trike.

I have asked the Hornet guy to let me know if the swing arm on the trike is one-piece or two, because if it's one piece, then I have a fear of the trike hopping about on rougher roads because there is not even a "live axle": if I hit a bump the whole axle will tilt by kicking the trike sideways, because it's bound to the swing arm anchor point on the frame.

I was also concerned that the trike still had the bike's spring/shocky setup as the main suspension, where force angles are not the same as they were built for on a bike.

HOWEVER...on looking closer at the Valkyrie trike, I see the bike suspension is still there. So how are these trikes done? Is the hornet a stiff-trailing arm system or indepentent? What effect does it have that the suspension on the trike is basiially a bike system? Do all bike-trike conversions use a swing arm that is fixed not split to either side, to make sure the bike-based suspension system is only impacted vertically? What happens on a wavy rough road if the whole trike is thrown instread of one rear wheel, if they are that way?

Sounds over-thought? That's me.

Appreciate some advice

Nick

 

[Future Triker]

Maybe my thought process is a bit different than most. My mind goes to replacement parts, how easily can they be acquired with both? No one ever wants a breakdown, but if you have one, will you be down a week or two while you get parts locally, or might you be facing a 6 month repair time while trying to get custom one of a kind parts?

In the end, go with what you like, and what makes you smile the biggest!

 

[07BlueCSC]

You have to break down each trike kit by manufacturer(of the TRIKE kit).
There are SOLID axle and IRS, both have good and bad qualities.
Many of these TRIKE kits have been around for 20 or more years, so reliability is not a problem.
If you abuse the equipment , you may have problems.
If you worry about breakdowns, keep some parts around. (Brake Pads, Rotors and other wear parts)

 

[OldNick]

Thanks for the replies.

I understand that there is IRS and SRA. Both trikes have Solid Rear Axle (one has a Ford EA Falcon setup). But looking at a car, many have/had solid rear axles, but each end of the axle could still rise and lower independently of the other end, by allowing the axle to twist in relation to the car chassis, as the springs flexed. So one wheel could go over a bump while the other stayed on the ground.

Bikes have a single piece swing arm, because there is only one wheel to deal with. If a _trike_ had a single piece swing arm, with the swing arm ends out on the axle, so that the rear wheels could only go up and down together, rather than one go up and the other stay on the ground, then that feels like a handling disaster to me. If the right wheel hit a bump, either the whole rear end would flip at an angle, or the left wheel would also jump up in the air, or a bit of both.

The trike I am concerned about is a "Custom Built" and not one by a "Name Brand" that I know of. It does not have a car rear end, but a custom axle with a wishbone shaped swing arm ....a sort of wide version of a bike's swing arm. I am concerned if that swing arm is unable to "walk" its ends over bumps to right or left of the trike.

I am asking if anyone has experience with this.

While parts and enjoyment may be important, surely possible really bad handling under duress has to be more so.

Both trikes appeal to me a lot from the enjoyment POV, but I am concerned about the handling/safety aspects.

- - - Updated - - -

Just found what I am talking about!.... Lehmann. They have a "no lean" rear end and also a fully independent one. The "No lean" does indeed have a completely solid swing arm. Their claim is that this stops (outward) lean in corners. OK. But what happens if one wheel hits a rock, even in a straight line?

Nick

 

[dirtdobber]

Since it uses the factory shocks for suspension im thinking Frankenstein. I have built a few trikes. The swing arm mounting is the only way. There are 2 ways of using the swing arm mounting. One is a modified swing arm, the other is the rear end incorpates the swing arm with the rear end, not a modified swing arm. Hope this makes sence. The Frankenstein kit uses a modified swing arm to mout the rear end. My mystery kit uses the swung arm, modified. I have both irs and straight axle but never had any hopping or a rear wheel come off the grond. If this occurs it is most likely they are going to fast or the suspension is not dailed in correctly.

My mystery will not go on one wheel, no mater what.

It does not use a car rear end. It is a piece of art.