Heritage/Frankenstein Trike

[Greydog]

Well the kit is installed and I pick it up this afternoon. Saw it yesterday before the rake kit was installed and am really not happy with how much of the drive belt that's exposed as the belt guard can no longer be used.:Shrug: Now need to get an estimate to paint the fenders Tequila Sunrise/ Harley Orange. I don't think it will be cheap!! :AGGHH:

 

[Nana]

I can't wait to see pictures, Greydog! That Tequila Sunrise is a gorgeous paint color!!!!!

 

[Greydog]

I can't wait to see pictures, Greydog! That Tequila Sunrise is a gorgeous paint color!!!!!

Well, I got her home and found that the front forks are leaking oil. Called Ben and he said Frankenstein uses their own fork caps instead of the OEM caps and maybe the Mechanic didn't get them tight or damaged the O-rings. Taking it back in the morning. Otherwise I'm happy with the conversion...can't notice any decrease in acceleration from two wheels at all!! I did order quiet baffles for the V&H Short Shots due to some decel popping.

Will post up some pic's when I get the fenders painted. It looks like crap with primer on them!

 

[icebite1]

Ive done a few of the Frankenstein kits and have never had the front forks leak. Even one I put on an '01 Police FL that had air ride front and rear didnt leak so im guessing it is an installer mess up also.

The shortshots are loud also and the quiet baffels dont help much with that but should help a little with popping. A lean AFR and /or air leak will also contribute but you probably already know that.

Did you get the wider rearend instead of the 38" ?

I agree with the good acceleration, you didnt add much extra weight.

It is a lot of belt showing altho I have not had any trouble with it like that. I did mess around for awhile trying to come up with a guard for it but guess I lost interest as its still laying on the back of my bench.

One thing to check as it is easy for it to happen is that the tires are on correctly as they are directional ie:L&R. They are marked on the sidewalls but I dont think it is mentioned in the instructions.

Enjoy your ride and dont forget the pics, a couple without the fenders would be good.

 

[Greydog]

Yes, I put the 42" on it. I think overall width is 54" vice 50" with the 38" rear end. The forks were not really leaking. The mechanic forgot to install the plugs on top of both fork tubes. That was about a four hour mistake. Weather is gonna be bad here for the next week or so. Will hold off on the fenders for a while.

 

[icebite1]

Neal,

Im sure that you have read the thread by Larry on his Sportster Frankenstein.

It seems that a different brand tire is being sent with some kits so unless you have the General Ultima brand they may not be directional, sorry for the confusion.

Glad your "leak" is taken care of. Strange they ended up with extra parts and didnt know where they should go.

Charlie

 

[RSW]

Looking forward to seeing some pics also !!!!

 

[icebite1]

Neal, Its been awhile since we heard from you on your conversion. Im waiting to see some pics, especialy from the rear of that 42" with or without fenders..

 

[Greydog]

Neal, Its been awhile since we heard from you on your conversion. Im waiting to see some pics, especialy from the rear of that 42" with or without fenders..

Been a little busy lately. Fenders should be done in a day or so. Will try to post up some pics later today. Not at all happy with the Short Shots exhaust. Lost a lot of low end torque and gained a lot of decel popping. Bought and installed the quiet baffles which was a waste of time and money....doesn't appear to have changed anything. Damn!! I wish I had never sold the Copperhead...best motorcycle I ever owned!!

 

[icebite1]

I had short shots also and tried quiet baffels same as you. I went to the big radius and modified the baffels, got my low end back and quieted it down. They also point more to the ground which helps noise and keeps rear axel clean.You can see them in the thumbnail pic

 

[Greydog]

I had short shots also and tried quiet baffels same as you. I went to the big radius and modified the baffels, got my low end back and quieted it down. They also point more to the ground which helps noise and keeps rear axel clean.You can see them in the thumbnail pic

What did you do to the baffles in the Big Radius? I thought the baffles were welded in them. Attached are the photos of the heritage with the 42" rear end. really doesn't look a lot wider than the 38". The last photo is a shot of the results of one of my hobbies.....these are Italian.

 

[Nana]

Greydog, I think when you get those fenders back from the painter and put them on, you will have a beauty there! I do love that Tequila Sunrise color . Did you consider going with the big fat tires since you went with the wider rear? Just curious. I think that would have also looked good!

 

[Greydog]

Didn't consider the big tires as I would have to lose the fenders. If you look at the fender brackets on the rear of the trike there will only be about 3/4" of clearance between the existing tire and fender. I think it looks sort of neat without fenders

 

[icebite1]

I ran mine without fenders also for a short time while they were being painted. It does look cool.
The baffels are removable same as shortshots. I fabricated a cap/restrictor and welded it to the baffel. DK Customs sells something simular that is a bolt on, supposed to do the same thing.

 

[RSW]

I like it a lot!!!!!!! How does it ride/handle?

 

[americanbadass]

I like it a lot!!!!!!! How does it ride/handle?

I am curious about the ride as well, I think GD had an IRS before, it would be interesting for his comparison comments. Also, I am wondering about if he had ezsteer installed?:Shrug:

 

[Greydog]

It rides and handles much like the Ultra/Champion I had before. Steering is much lighter but I have more head shake with this front end. Probably would have been OK without the raked trees as this trike is a lot lighter than the last one. The last one was solid axel also. I rode a friend's trike with IRS and didn't like it. It didn't behave as I expected in the hard curves and actually scared me a couple times.

 

[icebite1]

Just speeking from my experience the head shake you are refering to is very pronounced without the ezsteer

 

[Greydog]

This is what she looks like with fenders.

 

[Nana]

WOW! I love that, Greydog! Those fenders really set her off, and it looks like the painter was able to match the color perfectly

 

[John Luciano]

Head shake is not just because you are not raked. My trike can be ridden no hands from 10 MPH to 60 . One reason I am affreaid to rake it.

 

[icebite1]

Head shake is not just because you are not raked. My trike can be ridden no hands from 10 MPH to 60 . One reason I am affreaid to rake it.

I have road 4 of these frankies on diff. models, befor rake and experenced no head shake from say 7 to 95 mph. Only under 7mph, ie:low speed ,without rake was shake felt, after rake gone (its pertty hard to pin down the actual low mph without a dig.speedo).
I always suggest to the owner when I help install one of these to try it without the rake first so you know what the diff. is. The rake will dampen low speed shake and ease steering. So whatever you are comfortable with is what method you should use.

 

[icebite1]

This is what she looks like with fenders.

Looks good to me And wider,. If only something could be done with that center fender support a bag of some type maybe could be incorperated.
I know a tour pac installation would work and really change the looks again.

 

[RSW]

I really think it looks great!!! I do think I would add some more lights in the back.

 

[Greydog]

I have road 4 of these frankies on diff. models, befor rake and experenced no head shake from say 7 to 95 mph. Only under 7mph, ie:low speed ,without rake was shake felt, after rake gone (its pertty hard to pin down the actual low mph without a dig.speedo).
I always suggest to the owner when I help install one of these to try it without the rake first so you know what the diff. is. The rake will dampen low speed shake and ease steering. So whatever you are comfortable with is what method you should use.

Perhaps "head shake" is the wrong term for what I'm experiencing. The trike rides and steers great at all speeds until I hit a bump in the road like an expansion joint on a bridge, especially in a curve. At speeds of 60MPH+ I feel a pretty aggressive "twitch" in the handle bars. The Ultra/Champion I had did it too except to a much lesser degree. I'm thinking they did not adjust the fall away for the trike.

 

[skuuter]

NICE...!!! I Really Like the Super Clean Look of the Frankenstein Kits...CONGRATS...!!!.....pepper ThumbUp

 

[icebite1]

Perhaps "head shake" is the wrong term for what I'm experiencing. The trike rides and steers great at all speeds until I hit a bump in the road like an expansion joint on a bridge, especially in a curve. At speeds of 60MPH+ I feel a pretty aggressive "twitch" in the handle bars. The Ultra/Champion I had did it too except to a much lesser degree. I'm thinking they did not adjust the fall away for the trike.

Now I get it, I was talking about low speed wobble.
I rember you saying the installer left somel plugs out on the front shocks causing leaks . Possibly the fluid level is off/not equal.

 

[KindaOldTriker]

Really nice! Great color!
Wifes yellow Pearl Sportster should be finished in a couple weeks!

D.

 

[HDHoggly]

Great looking ride!

 

[Strohkr]

Greydog - what didn't you like about the IRS? That's what I'm going to be doing with my Road King (Motor Trike Gladiator kit). I've ridden solid before and they seemed to shake the daylights outa me. Most say IRS rides better??
Just wondering since I have no clue - probably each to his own huh.
Thanks!
Greg