VT750 Trike project

[Leathel]

I have finally made a start to this, I have had bike issues with my main ride and the dirt bikes so this has been put on hold a few times

I am building it on the 750 for my wife to learn the art of riding a trike, She has not used a hand clutch before so this could be interesting.... Better to start with less power I guess? It also gave me the perfect excuse to upgrade my bike

I have a Mortons rake kit (only one I could find for the Aero that had good reviews) for the front end, I am going to build my own rear suspension (IRS) and have Toyota Caldina 4x4 hubs, diffs brakes and bits as a base, thinking I might use and electric clutch and light winch motor for a slower reverse and a starter reverse on drive shaft cog will likely be too fast for the wife to handle?

I started the strip down tonight and will take pics as I go and probably ask a few questions on the way.

Tonight's progress















the easy bit is the strip down

 

[slick rick]

ThumbUp,,You seem to have done your homework and by the looks of the garage not your first rodeo . Looking forward to seeing the progress keep us posted .ThumbUp

 

[Marc H]

This looks cool.Looking forward to pics.

 

[MDGeorge]

I am going to enjoy watching this.
Great project.

 

[Leathel]

I popped the Mortons triple clamps on and fitted the new "ALL BALLS" Race bearings to the steering head to see how much difference it made to the wheel position... Answer is lots!

I am thinking I will trim the front guard back to nearer the shape of my VT1100C as the the wheel is further forward I think the guard looks wrong, That can wait until I have a lot more done..












for reference with the old setup (not a good reference due to the wheel on an angle making the gap look bigger)



I will mod the exhaust front pipes next as their position will dictate where some of the framing will go

 

[slick rick]

ThumbUpThumbUp,,,Good job looking forward to more ,,,by the way you mentioned everything but the hearse at the bottom of your page .

 

[Leathel]

ThumbUpThumbUp,,,Good job looking forward to more ,,,by the way you mentioned everything but the hearse at the bottom of your page .

1960 Cadi Hearse that I was doing work on, still an active hearse (Although costs a bomb to use apparently) I see it often as rust shows its self, slowly working around the car rebuilding one panel at a time as it shows .

 

[2Trikez]

Looks like a 5 degree triple tree...to me. Nice looking piece of work!!! Got an address on that thing???????

I built my 1985, GL1200A Gold Wing with a Ford Ranger rear (narrowed) and I used a MotorTrike (used...1996-ish) body. IRS is fine...just a bit more complex to install/fab, I think. Weight between straight axle/IRS is nearly the same.

As for the "reverse gear"...I did NOT add a motor to mine. It's easier to just park it in the right spot or have YOU push!!!!!!!!!! Really, that's why I didn't add one. Bike is light enough for one to push.

IF your interested....I got a spare "used" California SideCar trike body that might fit????? Needs some work...but can give ya a good price IF your not too far away. Tongue really in cheek!!!!!

Looking forward to this project!

2TZ

 

[Leathel]

Looks like a 5 degree triple tree...to me. Nice looking piece of work!!! Got an address on that thing???????

I built my 1985, GL1200A Gold Wing with a Ford Ranger rear (narrowed) and I used a MotorTrike (used...1996-ish) body. IRS is fine...just a bit more complex to install/fab, I think. Weight between straight axle/IRS is nearly the same.

As for the "reverse gear"...I did NOT add a motor to mine. It's easier to just park it in the right spot or have YOU push!!!!!!!!!! Really, that's why I didn't add one. Bike is light enough for one to push.

IF your interested....I got a spare "used" California SideCar trike body that might fit????? Needs some work...but can give ya a good price IF your not too far away. Tongue really in cheek!!!!!

Looking forward to this project!

2TZ

I think the Morton's triple was 7 deg from memory, it was a good fit with the bearing kit that I got from them as well, quick search and yup 7 but the pictures I took don't really show it well.

http://www.mortonscustom.com/hondatrees.html

http://www.mortonscustom.com/index.html

Being I am in New Zealand picking up the used rear might be a bit far to go

I had a play with the reverse motor last night and it should have plenty of power to use for reverse, not overly big and will be slow, this is for the wife to use so do really need a reverse for when she has a women logic moment and parks nose down hill

I have to get a bit more piping ordered to continue but had a play and measure up with some light pipe for guides last night and most of the frame is sketched up, I wont be running a full rear body. I have some guards made that will hug the wheels and run a rear box and hard bags... well at this stage, I may change tact as I go

 

[slick rick]

ThumbUp,,,Still tuning in don't get so busy you forget the pics ,,,love watching a build !!!ThumbUp

 

[Leathel]

Its a public holiday over here today and I wanted to be hard out on the trike..... but lacking the pipe size I wanted (my fault for not checking the order that arrived last week.... one pipe size short)

So today has just been a bit more shifting things around and measuring space for the top box and side hard bags so I can workout the wheelbase length & width to match, I want to keep everything as compact as I can without going to extremes







Monday is also a Holiday and so is next Friday so work may get in the way of the build being a three day week to get income from and one man away on leave for those 3 days...

 

[skuuter]

Keep adding the Pics as You build.....I used this same set of Raked Trees on my Wife's 750 Aero Motor Trike....I had to drill and tap to add a Memphis Shades Windshield later......ThumbUp

 

[Leathel]

Keep adding the Pics as You build.....I used this same set of Raked Trees on my Wife's 750 Aero Motor Trike....I had to drill and tap to add a Memphis Shades Windshield later......ThumbUp

Yeah they are short of a few factory thread, but being so solid easy enough to drill and tap, the screen I have mounts to the bars so I dont need mounts for that but others I may do, time will tell

 

[Leathel]

I managed to put a little time in this afternoon, Got base for the frame tacked in place, started to look at the suspension links to see if I use the old arm I got from the car or fabricate a new setup.... leaning to using the current arms as its less work but time will tell

 

[Leathel]

I have been looking at luggage storage options so I can set the rear width to suit, I dont want the wheels poking way out the sides.... Both the top box and hard bags are now ordered, Bags are less paint and brackets but that suits me as I will make my own brackets to suit the new frame and I have a spray booth at work so paint is not a problem... Much much cheaper too

http://www.partzilla.com/parts/detail/aftermarket/XP-4794510.html


the top box was the one the wife chose and I am not positive it was the best one, almost a bit of a gimmick but it may look great

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Black-Mo...rcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d4bb1f1ed

With the wider saddle bag it allows me to have the wheel at a width the RH axle can stay std... less work to do than expected. I will fit things when they arrive before doing the final fit up/ setup of the suspension and diff

 

[slick rick]

ThumbUpLooks as if it's coming right along , doing a great job ,,keep those pics coming .ThumbUp

 

[Leathel]

over 10 gig of viewing had my Photobucket acc put on hold :xzqxz:

Upgraded as I am running out of space as well so I can take plenty of pics

I should have the lower arm and diff mounts sorted soon

 

[slick rick]

ThumbUpGREAT !!!!,,,be looking forward to it .ThumbUp

 

[Leathel]

OK so its going to be an early night on the bike tonight...Just ran out of gas for the welder

So I guess an update is in order...

Been some highs and very lows in the last week and a bit.....

Sunday been was a shocker, with a death in the family (uncle) I sort to spend a day on the trike and get some real progress, I had some of the Suspension work done in the evenings so was showing progress





but on a stand back and look Sunday morning things didn't look right, lots of measuring and scratching my head the rear was square to the lower frame..... but not to the upper frame???

OK set the front wheel/ triple clamps to the center line of the bike, lock them there, get a level out and see it the from wheel is vertical (its not I can see it but I need to make sure) and sure enough its not, tilt the bike until it is.... and Houston we have a problem! the lower frame was not a good part to set the plane to measure from as one side is 18mm higher than the other... Faaarkin great. Out with the cutoff disc and drop the new frame of the bike (mostly just tack welded in place thankfully) ... take a break and check my emails and I have one re my saddle bags order... they want another $258 for freight if that's OK.... Faaark that, still trying to sort that one as I can get others the same size for 1/3 that freight.


The dog knows something is up... Look boss I see the problem right here




nothing in this pic is symmetrical side to side...




Bend a couple of the lower pipes, measure again, bend some more, recheck... still a bit more then we have the lower frame in place and Sunday over with zero actual progress

After work it all continues, While the upper is off time to make the bumper and light mounts, finish making diff mounts etc and now back on progress mode

 

[slick rick]

Sorry to hear of the death and also hate to hear of all the problems with the build , but I bet you learned from that mistake and won;t be made again . Still seems your getting a lot done and the progress is looking good but I bet Mamas waiting and wondering .



As far as the boss goes it does seem he has spotted a problem may want to check into that a little closer or if he's like mine thinking about hiking a leg .

 

[Leathel]

Sorry to hear of the death and also hate to hear of all the problems with the build , but I bet you learned from that mistake and won;t be made again . Still seems your getting a lot done and the progress is looking good but I bet Mamas waiting and wondering .



As far as the boss goes it does seem he has spotted a problem may want to check into that a little closer or if he's like mine thinking about hiking a leg .

Yeah wont make that mistake again!

I am lucky.... the dog is a she so no cocking the leg on things

At least I didn't have to rebuild much, just tweak and re-weld in... All square now

Saddle bags freight cant be fixed so the order was cancelled to refund, found the same bag on special on Amazon and with freight works out about the same price as the original order price so just a delay on that front

I certainly had a shit week leading up to Sunday and could have done without the extra Dramas with the frame and parts, the Sunday before a rider died on a group ride I was on and his wife broke her back (to fast apparently, was ahead of the lead rider so not exactly sure what happened) a kid (5 years old) from the school the wife works at died when run over after falling off a trailer in a driveway and being a small town everyone knows everyone. Then my Legend of an Uncle. That's the 3 so no more now ... I hope!

I love building projects and its a good way to take the mind of things..... when its goes smooth :AllGood:

 

[Leathel]

unpacked the saddle bags (similar to the original ones I ordered but from Amazon) and propped them up on the bike to see how they will look

The top box is to small to fit a helmet so have another on the way, the area the wooden box is under it will also be storage but longer than the bags.... plenty for those long weekend trips, the wife can be the gear storage on the trike so I will hardly need to put my saddle bags on

Now I have the bags I can get back to the suspension, had to wait to see the clearance to the bags.

 

[keepinon]

Those are nice size saddlebags, and with the under area being storage also, well, I envy the area!

 

[slick rick]

ThumbUp,,,,Looking good keep it up ,,,enjoying this build !!!:clapping:

 

[Leathel]

I need to make my mind up on the way the bags sit, the wife is not sure.... leaning one way, I am leaning the other.

Thoughts anyone, 1st way or 2nd

or

or

or

or

 

[skuuter]

"Lowest Side" to the rear....much sleeker looking.....ThumbUp:10:

 

[Solidbob]

Taper to rear, you'll need to raise the tour box so it hits you wife in the right back area, may also require a back pad added under the one that there or just a whole new pad to get it to look right. My wife never liked the Givi box for that same reason, it hits in the wrong area and doesn't give enough support.. a happy wife lets you have a Happy Life!! Just my FYI .... Lookin Good!!

 

[Leathel]

Taper to rear, you'll need to raise the tour box so it hits you wife in the right back area, may also require a back pad added under the one that there or just a whole new pad to get it to look right. My wife never liked the Givi box for that same reason, it hits in the wrong area and doesn't give enough support.. a happy wife lets you have a Happy Life!! Just my FYI .... Lookin Good!!

The wife will be the pilot on this, I will be on my cruiser

But yes the top box is going to have the base removed and a new one built to give it more depth and height, it also wont be tapered to give more space. There is going to be a total rebuild on the padding with more shape and a lower pad added

Yes the taper to the rear was my choice and now I have pointed out it will then match the tank shape it is now the wife's choice too

Spent this week up sizing my cruiser bags and shifting pegs, indicators and back rest on that for more pillion space (Some winter overnight rides coming so fitted the bigger old bags from the 750) so the trike hasn't had much done, hope to get a chunk done thi week but am pretty busy with work.

 

[Leathel]

I must do a few update pics, not done that much due to work issues.... But I have done more than pictured last on here.

The trikes desired finished date has been and gone, maybe ready for next years NZ thunder beach the way things are going

Footage from my bike for this year.. TB6. I ran out of space on the memory card twice so I missed some great sections of the trip but it will give you an idea of the event. Rained quite a lot this year... but it takes more than water to stop me




Not as many trikes this year.