Replacement Wheels for a Motor Trike conversion

[Old Rider2]

The wheels on the 2008 Goldwing with the Motor Trike conversion I've looked at, have a considerable amount of rust on them and thought I would like to replace them. I'll be third or forth owner and there isn't any manuals with the trike but on the MT site they show upgraded wheels. The upgrade wheels (I'm thinking normally are upgraded when the conversion is done) shown on the MT site are "American Racing Torque Thrust" wheels. The wheel size shown in a current MT Condor Owners Manual shows the wheels are 15" x 7" and 5 x 4.5". MT gets $627 for the wheels but on the American Racing site the Torque Thrust wheels start at $140 but they only list cars no motorcycles.

Has anybody gone to other wheel distributors and bought new wheels for their Motor Trike?

 

[Gorilla]

You might also consider having them replated or Powder Coated

 

[pwhoever]

Just an FYI, the rear rims used in trikes are in fact automotive rims. They have modified automotive rear ends so they use automotive wheels. That's why you couldn't find motorcycle rims. You can actually use just about any aftermarket rim you want to replace those if you wish.

But besides the size and the bolt pattern, you have to pay attention to the offset. The offset is basically the positioning of the center face of rim in relation to the round outside of rim if that makes sense. If you get the wrong offset, the rims will mount and be too far in or too far out. Normally you can find the offset of your rim stamped into the back side of rim somewhere. This explains offset a little more

Wheel Offset Explained

 

[Papa Zook]

Actually there is no such animal as a "trike rear wheel" when talking trike conversions, they are all unmodified automotive wheels. As Mike said you just have to match the bolt pattern and offset. If you get that right, you can use any wheel you want with those specs, just be mindful of the height and width of the tire you'll be using. Motor Trike is one of the few companies that have used those chrome plated steel wheels as their base wheel option, they are cheap for a reason and they all have rusted. Not a fan of them...

 

[Old Rider2]

Thanks for the information. I'm waiting for some work that had to be done to the trike before I pick it up. That is one of the first things I intend to do. I'll have to reread how to figure the offset. It sounds like if I take the wheels off a good tire/wheel shop should be able to determine the offset even if I can't! I called MT but the guy I talked to said he didn't have offset information. Only size and $627 for two. $$$