Formats and handling

[OldNick]

I posted this question on another forum, but there were lots of opinions, so I figure I just have to look at as many ideas as possible and use consensus.

The two types of "standard" trike are bike conversions and full builds. Mostly the difference with VW and other smaller motored builds is the motor is over or behind the rear axle. I can see this will aid stability in turns, comparred to forward engined styles, but I have two things I would like to hear about.

Has anyone had experience with forward engined "conversion" trikes being tippy?

What is the braking and steering like on a rear-engined trike? With braking, my years on a bike taught me tyhe value of the front wheel when braking, but with a rear-engined trike, there will be less weight on the front wheel. Regarding turning, I read one post here about trikes being safer than bikes and the guy said he went to a carpark and found that in the end the trike would understeer, meaning of course that an attempt to turn a corner fast results in simply ploughing ahead.

So again, any tales to tell, please?

I have to admit that while my head asks these questions, my heart calls me to a built trike... rear engined. I am a long haired grey beard ex hippy and the "classic" trike just makes me fit in with all the others cruising about . But I would like to hear about people's experiences, and maybe hints on how to test trikes for safety, without upsetting the present owner!


Nick

 

[OldNick]

To that I will add:

It seems that often the conversion, front-engined trikes are not as wide as the built ones. Given that they are inherantly less stable with more weight forward, why are they not built wider to try to compensate....or does it make little difference as the pitching force tends to be forward and outward anyway?

Nick

 

[OldNick]

Nothing? I may be "over thinking" but surely there are tales tall and true...........

Nick

 

[Keystone]

Not sure I have even seen what I would call a "forward engined "conversion" " trike. :Shrug:

 

[OldNick]

The picture below your post is "forward engined" isn't it?

 

[Keystone]

The picture below your post is "forward engined" isn't it?

Not by any definition I've ever heard/used..... so to answer your question, no they are not "tippy".

 

[OldNick]

I am just truying to find stuff out. I have no agenda. You have questioned my terminolgy and now you seem to be not trying to make friends.

You are not suited to be a mod. You have issures andf are tired

I am outta here.

Nick

 

[Motorcycle Mike]

My Yamaha RSV/Hannigan is not "tippy" at all. I have lifted a rear wheel but I was trying to and it took quite a bit of effort.
I would think the" forward engin conversion would aid in keeping the front wheel in solid contact with the road.
I have no expierance with the rear engine trikes but have heard the front can get loose under acceleration. :Shrug:

 

[OldNick]

Thank you Mike. If that is your experience, then that encourages me a lot. Appreciated. I can only think that any bad rep the front engined ones have is becaused some of them are _built_ narrower. have noticed a Goldwng one for sale locally that is a full car width (probaly with a car's rear end) and would probably be quite stable. Unfortunately it's a '79 GW! I worry about parts and stuff, even though it's low Kms and may well be in very good condition.

And yeah I can see that a rear-engined trike could get squirrely under hard throttle. Apparently you do not want to power on hard going in to a corner, from what I am finding out.

Nick

 

[rvance]

You don't get it.

Thank you Mike. If that is your experience, then that encourages me a lot. Appreciated. I can only think that any bad rep the front engined ones have is becaused some of them are _built_ narrower. have noticed a Goldwng one for sale locally that is a full car width (probaly with a car's rear end) and would probably be quite stable. Unfortunately it's a '79 GW! I worry about parts and stuff, even though it's low Kms and may well be in very good condition.

And yeah I can see that a rear-engined trike could get squirrely under hard throttle. Apparently you do not want to power on hard going in to a corner, from what I am finding out.

Nick

All the trike conversions with the engine behind the front wheel and 2 wheels in back are very well engineered and not "tippy" or, unstable at all. If they used a full width car they are not likely to handle with the more narrow trikes. All the top conversions can more than hold their own with 2 wheelers in the handling department. The one you are looking at is likely to be a project more than a dependable trike, but you can always ride it and see what you think.

 

[skuuter]

I am just truying to find stuff out. I have no agenda. You have questioned my terminolgy and now you seem to be not trying to make friends.

You are not suited to be a mod. You have issures andf are tired

I am outta here.

Nick

You really lost me with this Post. The Moderator You aimed this at simply made a statement, and answered a specific question that You posed. Pretty much all that was posted. I have a problem with Your statement of "...now You seem to be not trying to make friends." There is nothing in the specified Moderator's statement or answer that even remotely states or implies this type response. Please simply read the stated words in all Member's posts without adding "personal interpretations" to them. In person conversations are much different than "blue screen posts" in that no facial expressions, hand/body gestures, etc. can be used...just simply read the words...Thank You, skuuter...ThumbUp

 

[roadking2]

I converted a RoadKing and it isn't the least bit "tippy". You have been listening to way to many ignorant riders that think a trike is somehow just like the tricycle they had as a kid. It isn't. You would be hard pressed to find many stories about someone tipping their trike. You really have to be riding it exceptionally hard to even get a tire to lift a little much less have the trike tip over. Something you failed to consider with your thinking that you need the front for braking just like on a 2 wheeler. A trike has 2 big fat tires in the rear and each has a brake on it. You not only have twice the number of rear brakes, but you also have a much larger surface on the road in the back end.

 

[Larry Sobczak]

I ride a 2011 H D Tri- Glide with over 112,000 miles and the only time my rear wheels have left the pavement was on the interstate that was being repaved, sign said " bump ahead " but could not slow down because of a guy tail-gating me. Trikes are a very stable ride.

 

[Chappy KC]

My Kawasaki with the independent supspension from Motor Trike is not tippy. I don't consider myself a hard rider but I do like the twisties and have had no problem in them at all. I think I would come close to flying off the machine before I got it to tip over.:clapping:

 

[stinger608]

I personally ride a VW trike with the full IRS (independent Rear Suspension) and while it does handle quite well, it won't compete with the Harley, Honda, Yamaha, and other types of "factory" conversions.

Another note to remember if deciding on something like a VW trike; when cornering at lower speeds, such as being in 2nd gear, one has to watch how much you accelerate coming out of the corner. The rear engine VW trike will likely lift the front wheel off the ground. To help in this issue area, the main beam running from the rear to the front and up to the neck has been filled with cement on the one that I have.

Of course this makes the trike much much more heavy overall but it really helps with keeping the front tire on the ground.